The 2024 Major League Baseball season is here! I am beyond excited for the start of my favorite sport. There’s something about listening to a mid-July game while mowing the grass on a hot, sunny day that makes everything right in my world. Here are five reasons why I’m excited to watch baseball this year.
Another Year Of Stolen Bases
One of the topics I touched on going into last year’s season was the new rule changes. Bringing this forward to this year, I’m focused on highlighting the stolen bases. Last year, we saw Ronald Acuña steal 73 bases, even with missing games due to injury. He was the first player ever with 40 homers and 70 stolen bases. Runner up to Acuña was Esteury Ruiz with 67. I’m looking forward to more players stealing even more bases this year. Looking back at trends, in 2021, there were a total of 2,214 stolen bases. In 2022, the number jumped up to 2,487 stolen bases. Last year, there was a roughly 50% increase to 3,500 total stolen bases between the American and National League. Stolen bases are such a fun part of the game, and they add a different dimension to the world of “home run or not” that we’ve gotten stuck in. Last year, the bases were widened, a pitch clock was implemented, and the number of times a pitcher could step off to throw over was capped at two. In 2024, that 20-second pitch clock is now 18 seconds, giving pitchers less time to think about the runner on. I’m throwing out a hot take here, but I bet we see a player get to 100 stolen bases this year. Acuña and Ruiz missed time last year due to injury, so if we can have one of these speedsters (maybe Corbin Carroll, too?) stay healthy all year, we may be getting close to Rickey Henderson-level stolen bases.
MLB International
Now that I have a child, I want baseball to be around for him to enjoy as much as I do. MLB has started to explore expanding its viewers globally by playing games in different countries. This year, our league will travel to three countries to try and grow the sport internationally. The first game of the year will be played in Seoul, South Korea, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. It’s the first time Major League Baseball has played a game in South Korea. If you weren’t aware, South Korea has a baseball league called the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). Some notable former and current MLB players to play in that league are Eric Thames, Chris Flexen, and Josh Lindblom. Next up in MLB’s World Tour will be a two-game stop in Mexico City. The Houston Astros will meet the Colorado Rockies in a high-elevation battle at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu stadium, which sits 7,382 feet above sea level, a total of 2,182 feet higher than the Rockies stadium. The Phillies and Mets will meet at the third stop in the World Tour in London, England, in late June. Following the success of the Cardinals and Cubs game last year, the MLB sent over another divisional rivalry game for our fellow Englishmen to watch.
Milestone Watch
While he’s not currently signed, Zack Greinke is only 21 strikeouts away from 3,000. Most pundits believe Greinke pitched his last innings after last year’s stint with the Royals (2-15 with a 5.06 ERA). Greinke has gone on record after the season last year, saying that he still wants to pitch, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets picked up by a team that needs to start pitching depth. Why am I excited about this milestone, though? Only 18 other pitchers in the game’s history have amassed 3,000 strikeouts, all of whom are in the Hall Of Fame. Furthermore, according to Baseball References JAWS metrics, Greinke is the 25th-best pitcher of all time, ahead of greats Tom Glavine, Nolan Ryan, Roy Halladay, and John Smoltz. Greinke was one of the most outspoken players in the league about mental health, even dating back to the early parts of his career in the early 2000s. He mentioned that he hated all the attention from the Cy Young he won and would much prefer to live a slow life. Greinke retiring, being so close to 3,000 strikeouts, would be on brand for Greinke, but I’m hoping he gets signed by a team so we can witness history.
Star In The Making
The one prospect that I’m most excited about is Paul Skenes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The number one pick last year is regarded as the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. His electric fastball, which can top out at 103 miles per hour, is most exciting. Most scouts also rank this fastball as an 80/80. Skenes also mixes in a sinker that can top out at 101 mph. He also has a wipeout slider that hovers in the low 90s and gathers a 70/80 rating. He faced off against the positional number one prospect in Jackson Holiday of the Baltimore Orioles last week and overwhelmed him. Skenes’ pitching motion is easy and repeatable, and it doesn’t look like he’s over-torquing his body to achieve the incredible speeds he throws. Unfortunately, the Pirates have opted to start him in the minors to “check off tasks” before he can make his major league debut. Between you and I, he’ll come up sooner than we think. Between his impressive pitching talent and the marketability of his relationship with TikTok star Livvy Dunne, there is no way that Pirates owner Bob Nutting will keep Skenes in the minor leagues for long.
Old Friends and New Friends
In Seattle Mariners-related news, I’m excited to see Jorge Polanco and Mitch Haniger this year. Mitch Haniger, the fan-favorite Mariner from the late 2010s, was re-acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, sending the hefty contract of Robbie Ray away. Haniger was the franchise’s cornerstone then, earning MVP votes during the 2018 season. Since then, Haniger has dealt with injuries that have hampered his production. Coming into this year, Haniger is fully healthy, and he even hit a homer in his first spring training at bat. In another trade, the Mariners acquired Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins. Polanco provides stability at second base, where that position has cycled through many players over the past couple of years. Polanco’s best season was back in 2021, when he hit 33 homers with a solid .826 OPS. In recent years, Polanco has dealt with his fair share of injuries but is fully ready to go this year. Last year, Polanco showed signs of that power from 2021, with a Barrel % in the 88th percentile and a sweet-spot % in the 94th percentile.
I look forward to both of these players impacting the Mariners this year.
