Who will be the best third year position player from the class of 2024 next season?

[hermanotarjeta]

They’ve all survived the dreaded sophomore slump year. Which of these position players from the rookie logo card class of 2024 is going to have their best performance in 2026?

Obviously, two of the pitchers have done incredibly well, let’s just focus on the position players.

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

They’ve all survived the dreaded sophomore slump year. Which of these position players from the rookie logo card class of 2024 is going to have their best performance in 2026?

Obviously, two of the pitchers have done incredibly well, let’s just focus on the position players.

Is this supposed to be a poll? Not seeing any players listed or do we go scan the checklist?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Is this supposed to be a poll? Not seeing any players listed or do we go scan the checklist?

Poll posted!

That’s a lot of names to type on a tiny screen!

[fabiani12333]

I went with Elly, but I honestly have no idea, Herms.

[mfw13]

There are a lot of "solid" players on that list, but no future superstars.

Junior Caminero had the highest OPS+ at 131, but that's not really enough to move the needle when you've got Judge at 215 and Ohtani at 179.

Pete Alonso is largely a hobby non-entity with a career OPS+ of 135, as is Vlad Jr. at 136.

Soto is at 160 and is getting largely ignored by the hobby. Acuna is at 141 for his career (and reached 163 in a half season last year) and is largely ignored.

I'd take Bobby Witt Jt. and Corbin Carroll over any of those guys because of their combination of power and speed.

[cjraleigh]

I went off the board with Andy Pages...mostly in faux protest to him not cracking the top 9. Excellent production in 2025 and a plus defender to boot.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Elly and Chourio the two bets all-around players.

Caminero hits a lot of HRs, but to be the next J-Ram he will need to raise the AVG and start stealing some bases… and it’s not even like J-Ram sets the hobby on fire. Although if he can consistently hit 40ish HRs for the next 10-12 years and have some clutch playoff moments once he signs with the Dodgers/Yankees, he could carve his own hobby path.

[finfangfan]

I went with Jackson Holliday. Primarily because I’m a Homer for the Orioles, but I also can see him bulking up a bit in year 3 and having more power to add to his .270+ batting average.

[jduds]

Originally Posted by mfw13

There are a lot of "solid" players on that list, but no future superstars.

Junior Caminero had the highest OPS+ at 131, but that's not really enough to move the needle when you've got Judge at 215 and Ohtani at 179.

Pete Alonso is largely a hobby non-entity with a career OPS+ of 135, as is Vlad Jr. at 136.

Soto is at 160 and is getting largely ignored by the hobby. Acuna is at 141 for his career (and reached 163 in a half season last year) and is largely ignored.

I'd take Bobby Witt Jt. and Corbin Carroll over any of those guys because of their combination of power and speed.

Witt and Carroll are right around those guys in terms of OPS+, and neither will likely ever sniff the 70+ Acuna stolen bases Acuna put up. Heck, Soto had more stolen bases than Carroll last year and tied with Witt Jr. which is buzarre, but true. I think you might be asking too much if you want a player to get to Judge's level, and I think the threshold for superstardom is lower.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by jduds

Witt and Carroll are right around those guys in terms of OPS+, and neither will likely ever sniff the 70+ Acuna stolen bases Acuna put up. Heck, Soto had more stolen bases than Carroll last year and tied with Witt Jr. which is buzarre, but true. I think you might be asking too much if you want a player to get to Judge's level, and I think the threshold for superstardom is lower.

Soto's stolen bases last year were pretty shocking.....he had 57 career SB in seven seasons and then stole 38 in 2025.

My point was more that the guys who are multi-tool players (i.e. power AND speed) have more upside, especially those like Soto/Acuna/Carroll/Witt who have multiple good seasons.

The power only guys like Alonso & Vlad Jr. don't have as much upside as the guys who are 30/30 threats every year.

Of the guys on the OP's list, I voted for PCA has having the best shot at a good 2026, but he's got to get a better handle on the strike zone and get his OBP over .300. Everyone else on the list is in the "above-average but not a star" zone right now.

[rfgilles]

I'm going with Chourio based on his age. Next year will be only his age 22 season.

[kipgen]

I'll go with Junior because I really like the way hitting 45 home runs in his age 21 season sets him up in the long run, recordswise

The downside for him will be defense, lowish batting average, and questions around his road performance/how he'll do in a big league stadium

[hermanotarjeta]

Expert analysis of this poll:

Evan Carter is poised to have a monster year in 2026.

[fabiani12333]

Remember when the Jacksons were all the rage on BO? It was only a year ago.

[NickyCards]

Chourio

[ThoseBackPages]

Yamamoto

Pitcher is a position

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

Yamamoto

Pitcher is a position

Orel Yamamoto is past his hobby peak.

[rwperu34]

It always cracks me up in these threads hearing about the guys the hobby doesn't care about. It ends up if you are not Shohei or Judge, you are a nobody. Caminero? Nobody cares. J-Rod? Turrible. Soto? An afterthought.

[elontusk1119]

where's Skenes at?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by elontusk1119

where's Skenes at?

Left him and Yamamoto out on purpose because they are pitchers and have already broken out on the field and in the hobby.

Just wanted to get a vibe on the remaining position players.

[corockies]

Other - Hunter Goodman.

What he did last year went unnoticed because of Cal Raleigh and because his team was awful. 30 HR catcher is a good thing in baseball.

[fulltritty]

Jasson Dominguez will probably never get a chance to break out unless the Yankees trade him.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Elly had a torn quad since July. His numbers pre-injury were stellar. I expect him to come back healthy and repeat that performance.

[sheetskout]

Chourio - what he has done so far at that age has been amazing.

[SaveMeTheGum]

Caminero had the quietest 45 HR age 21 season ever.