With another exciting MLB season set to kick off in 2024, the amount of possibilities for each franchise in this league is as fruitful as ever. Are the Los Angeles Dodgers going to live up to the hype? What can Juan Soto do as a New York Yankee? For this week’s Daily Campus sports roundtable, our team of writers aimed to give one bold prediction ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
Kris Bryant hits 30 home runs, drives in 100 in bounce-back season
CJ Dexter, Campus Correspondent:
After a historic start to his major league career, former No. 2 overall pick Kris Bryant looked like he was on his way to being one of the best third basemen the game of baseball has ever seen. Bryant made one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory and lived up to the hype with Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, followed by a 2016 season in which he won Most Valuable Player and a World Series ring. Unfortunately, his production never took the leap that he or Cubs fans hoped for over the next five seasons, leading to a mid-season trade in 2021 as the Cubs cleaned house. That following offseason, Bryant inked a $182 million contract for seven years with the Colorado Rockies, but injuries have kept him off the field for the first two seasons of his tenure. The former MVP is healthy ahead of this season with plenty of pop that I expect to come to life in a Coors Field where balls leave the yard easier than any other.
Oneil Cruz wins NL Comeback Player of the Year
Evan Rodriguez, Associate Sports Editor:
It’s no secret that Oneil Cruz is one of the most exciting players in baseball, but with his absence last season due to injury, it might have been easy to forget about the young Pirates shortstop. Fans have to remember that this is a guy who is a statcast machine, throwing missiles from the shortstop position and smacking baseballs out of PNC Park. On top of all of these factors, it’s no secret that Pittsburgh has truly struggled for the past several seasons, failing to make an appearance in the postseason since 2015 when Cruz had just signed as an international free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers just a few months earlier. All of those factors should light a fire for the Dominican native and push him to have a career year in the yellow and black.
Juan Soto wins the Triple Crown
Nicholas D’Alessio, Campus Correspondent:
This may be as bold of a prediction as one can make, but this year Juan Soto has the best chance in recent memory to take home a Triple Crown, something that has not been done since Miguel Cabrera in 2012, and only 17 times overall in MLB history. Why? Soto has led the Major Leagues in walks in each of the last three seasons, and still has managed to put up MVP-caliber numbers in all statistical categories. Moving him into a lineup with the likes of Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres will only give him more opportunities to swing away and add to those numbers. Combine this with his move to Yankee Stadium, an extremely friendly park to left-handed hitters, and Soto has a chance to put up an unreal season before he hits free agency in the winter.
The Boston Red Sox will set the MLB record for most wins by a last place team
Brayden Gorski, Campus Correspondent:
Coming off back-to-back 78-84 last-place finishes in the AL East, Red Sox fans were excited for former reliever Craig Breslow to replace Chaim Bloom as Chief Baseball Officer. After promising a “full throttle” offseason, the Red Sox missed out on massive free agents such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shōta Imanaga. On top of that, the franchise also let fan-favorite Justin Turner walk to their division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays, after a productive 2023 campaign. To fans’ dismay, Breslow brought in starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and outfielder Tyler O’Neill and traded pitcher Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves for second baseman Vaughn Grissom. This leaves Boston at pretty much the same place they ended the 2023 season in. However, with a full offseason for Trevor Story and the pitching staff, it is possible they can break the 81-81 last-place record for a division held by both the 2005 Washington Nationals and 1991 California Angels. Signing free agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery and re-signing outfielder Adam Duvall would play a huge part in Boston finishing 82-80 or better.
The Washington Nationals return to the postseason
Cole Stefan, Senior Columnist:
In 2023, the Washington Nationals went 71-91 and finished dead last in the National League East for the fourth straight season. With the talent that they have, the Nationals may be climbing out of the division basement in 2024. CJ Abrams is on the verge of blossoming into an All-Star-caliber shortstop and has become one of the game’s top leadoff hitters. Beyond the 2019 first-round pick, catcher Keibert Ruiz and right fielder Lane Thomas have cemented themselves as franchise cornerstones. All-Star Josiah Gray and southpaw MacKenzie Gore are undoubtedly Washington’s two aces, and with their skills, could both finish 2024 with almost 200 strikeouts. The Nationals hit 151 home runs last year, but picking up Joey Gallo in free agency during the offseason should help with the team’s power. For Washington to exceed their expectations in a competitive National League, they need everything to go in their favor. Should the Nationals’ top two arms make significant strides and the offense hit with consistency, meaningful October baseball for the first time since 2019 is a possibility.