5 Hitters That Are Flying Under The Radar
"Hey Alexa, Play Underground Hits"
Hello everyone! My name is Jeb Maize, I am a new writer for The Skippers View and I have been a baseball fan since I was 9 years old. I have been a lifelong Braves fan, but absolutely love the game and the excitement that it has to offer. My favorite player on the Braves is either Ronald Acuña Jr or Austin Riley, but I have several throughout the league! I live in Hendersonville, North Carolina which is about two hours from Charlotte. I’m very excited for this opportunity at The Skippers View and make sure to follow the both of us on X!
@jebmaize17 @TheSkippersView
With that being said and the 2024 first full month of the season over with, here are 5 of my top players that are having scorching hot starts that aren’t getting enough love. These players range from young superstars to clubhouse veterans. All of these guys are top prospects and are living up to the hype, the veterans are contributing to their teams which is always good to see, and the young guys are breaking out and making their teams more watchable, and exciting.
Jordan Westburg
First up is Jordan Westburg, the Baltimore Orioles are one of the youngest and exciting teams. Jordan Westburg is a huge part of the young core contributing at the highest level. Jordan is one of the more under the radar players because his last name isn’t Burns, Rutschman, Henderson, or Holiday. The Orioles are first place, and coming off of a 101 win season, Westburg had a cup of coffee with the big club last year. In 228 plate appearances, Westburg slashed .260/.311/.404, and wasn’t really great in any rankings besides sprint speed, sitting in the 88th percentile.
In 2024 so far, Westburg sits in the 97th percentile for Batting Run Value, the 99th for xBA, 96th in xSLG and Hard-Hit%. The 94% Average Exit Velocity is also spectacular. In over 400 less pitches, Westburg has produced a higher Exit Velo, Sweet Spot%, and has a positive or league average run value on all pitches besides sweepers in 2024. Westburg has increased his launch angle, which has led to him already passing his total Home Run total from last year. In 2023 he had a league average OPS+ while compiling 1.2 WAR and 10 Barrels. His 1.3 WAR and 9 barrels so far this year is showing flashes of the young and exciting player he is going to become and he will be a big contributor to this Baltimore offense as they look to repeat as division champs, and look to make a deeper run in the playoffs with some experience after being swept in 3 games last year. Keep an eye on this kid!
CJ Abrams
Next up is CJ Abrams. Abrams was dealt to Washington from San Diego In the deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. Abrams was sent over with MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hasselt lll, James Wood and Carlin Susana. CJ, along with Gore were the two “Blue Chips” sent in that deal and are essentially the two young and talented players you can build around.
In his first two years Abrams did not excite anyone. In 2022 Abrams was poor in several stats including Avg Exit Velo, Hard-Hit%, Sweet-Spot%, Barrel% and much more. The only above average stat Abrams had in 2022 was his sprint speed (90th). 2023 was not any different besides the 92 percentile Baserunning Run Value, and a better Whiff and K%. The Nationals decided to let Abrams spend the season with the big club as he played 151 games. This is a move I think will pay off as the Nationals were not competing and can give a young exciting player a chance to mature and develop in the big leagues. In 2023 Abrams had 118 K’s to only 32 BB and so far this year those numbers are more closer (20 K’ to 11 BB). In only 17 games Abrams has compiled 1.2 WAR (1.4 last year) and is above league average in several categories. In the percentile rankings, Abrams is in the 90+ in 6 categories including Batting Run Value (96), Baserunning Run Value (90), xwOBA (95), xBA (97), xSLG (94), and Sweet-Spot% (95). His slash line of .295/.373/.619 is MUCH improved from last years .245/.300/.412. Abrams is a young controllable piece the Nationals can build around and they should be more exciting than last year!
Alec Bohm
Alec Bohm is more or less stuck in the middle between a young star and a clubhouse vet, and that’s why i’m putting him in the middle! Bohm started his career in the shortened pandemic 2020 season, he has been in the league for almost 5 years now, has been to the NLCS in ‘22 and ‘23 along with a world series appearance in ‘23. Bohm has never been a “head turner” so to say but has been a very solid player who has played in over 140 games twice and 44 of the 60 in 2020. Bohm has had an above average OPS+ in every year besides 2021. Bohm has never been an above league average fielder which has hurt him a little but he posts up and the bat has always been solid enough to keep him in the lineup. Thus far in 2024 Bohm is above league average in every hitting percentile except Barrel%. Bohm is in the 100th percentile in Batting run value, and sits 85th percentile or higher in xwOBA (88), xBA (94), xSLG (85), Whiff% (96), and K% (88). In 31 games, Bohm is sporting a 1.018 OPS and slashing .362/.432/.586 (3-4-5!). I don’t expect Bohm to continue this production, but if he is contributing along with this Phillies lineup it’s going to be another potential deep Postseason run for the fighting’ Phils.
Jurickson Profar
Now to the veterans, Jurickson Profar has been killing it as of late. Profar has bounced around ever since he was traded in 2019. Profar was signed in 2009 and quickly shot up the Rangers prospect rankings, becoming their number 1 prospect in 2012. Profar was traded to the Athletics in 2018 , traded to the Padres in 2019, signed with the Rockies in 2023, was released, signed back with the Padres in 2023, and signed AGAIN in 2024. In 2024 Profar is slashing .324/.417/.509 (3-4-5 Again!). In a game vs the Dodgers on April 13, a pitch was high and tight and Profar did not like it. Benches cleared which led to Dodgers catcher Will Smith to call Profar “Irrelevant”, since April 13 Profar has slashed .315/.406/.482 with an .888 OPS. In 2024 Profar is in the 97th percentile in batting Run Value, and is above league average in several other categories. Along with Bohm, Profar doesn’t have a high barrel % but it is the highest it has been in his career. Profar’s Sweet-Spot% has gone down 10% from last year which is not something you want to see, but for a vet who hasn't really put it together it is very good to see him succeeding.
Salvador Perez
Last but not least, Salvador Perez. We all know the resume this guy has, 8x All Star, back to back World Series appearances (WS MVP in ‘15), 5 time Gold Glover, 4x Silver Slugger, and the historic 48 HR season which is the most single season HR total from a catcher. Salvador might not be a Hall Of Famer but he has defiantly been an above average hitter and fielder for the majority if his career. Perez has led all MLB catchers in Caught Stealing % 3 times and had an OPS+ above league average 7 times (currently at 186). This year Perez is in the 90th plus percentile in multiple categories including Batting Run Value (99), xwOBA (98), xBA(97), xSLG (99), Barrel % (97), Hard-Hit (91), and K% (96). Perez is slashing .355/.418/.591 with a OPS of 1.009, compared to last years .255/.292/.422, could this be a career resurgence on a fun and exciting Royals team? 30 games isn’t enough to predict how a whole 162 game season will play out, but Salvy defiantly deserves some recognition!