Rocky Starts for these 3 MLB Players
Rocky Starts for these 3 MLB Players
Besides every pitcher's elbow being fired into oblivion, the MLB season has been filled with some surprising early disappointments.
All the publicity is geared towards Major Leaguers who are killing it out of the gates. Mookie Betts, Anthony Volpe, and Bobby Witt Jr are just a few names who have been filled with praise and high marks. Even the casual fan can see that right now.
Now, who hasn’t been making any noise?
The players who aren’t performing to their capabilities. It’s never fun for me to highlight who’s struggling, but over a 162-game season, the bad will always have to come with the good.
It’s not that I hate these players, or that I don’t believe in them anymore. I’m more shocked to watch these professionals continue to scuffle, and spar during the first week or so of the 2024 MLB year.
To contradict what I just said, Anthony Rendon has gotten lots of publicity for starting his season off on the wrong foot. Almost every kid who’s picked up a baseball bat could only dream of being in the position he holds, yet he isn’t grateful. I won’t waste my time on the Angels infielder.
1. Vinnie Pasquantino
It pains me to throw the Pasquatch on here. Not only because he has such a great nickname, but because he’s a player I always seem to find myself being high on.
To give the Royals first-baseman the benefit of the doubt, he’s still getting his feet back in the water. Playing in just 61 games last year, Pasquantino’s shoulder sidelined him for most of the 2023 season. Who am I to judge him after just 10 games?
A 4-for-37 start leads the 26-year-old to hitting a dismal .108, and the balls he has clubbed haven’t gone anywhere. He’s racked up zero extra-base hits. According to Baseball Savant, he hasn’t caught a barrel yet.
Advanced metrics can sometimes help make a slump seem better, yet his xBA is just .194, xSLG is .240, and xwOBA is .249 — all good for a bottom 15% in the league. The only thing helping Pasquantino at the moment is his elite plate discipline, as he’s both walking and striking out at a 12% rate.
It’s still early, so I’m not super worried.
NOTE: Naturally, Paquantino went 3-for-3 with a HR and 5 RBI the night that I write this!
2. Nolan Jones
After a breakout rookie campaign in 2023, Nolan Jones shattered expectations across the entire Baseball Community.
He finished 4th in NL Rookie of the Year voting, despite playing just 106 games. Jones posted a 139 OPS+, hit 20 HR, swiped 20 bags, and his just under .300.
Unfortunately, 2024 has been a different story. Instead of coming out of spring blazing like he did the year prior, Jones is looking like a sophomore slump candidate. He is striking out at a 38.5% rate, the 6th worst in baseball — you can’t let the ball travel at Coors if you don’t make contact.
His .174 AVG leads toward a 38 wRC+, and an unusual .261 SLG%. Driving the ball was the name of Jones’ game last season, using his unique power and speed combinations to separate himself.
I believe in the talent too much to be up in arms about this one.
3. Javier Baez
Ever since he inked a $140M deal with Detroit back in December of 2021, Javier Baez hasn’t been a good baseball player. Whether it is the lack of Chicago dogs, a dispute with the Michigan weather, or something in the water for whatever reason the two sides just haven’t clicked.
Ten games into the season, things don’t look to be changing anytime soon. Baez is posting a -12 wRC+ and is hitting just .152.
Worst of all: he hasn’t worked a walk yet this season over 35 plate appearances. Not exactly the best look for someone who had all offseason to try and work on plate discipline.
I miss El Mago. I miss Chicago Cub Javier Baez. I would kill to see the Tigers ooze out any kind of that Baez baseball — if he has anything left in him.