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Five MLB players who took a leap this year (and five who didn't)

By Justin Mears | Last updated 9/23/19

The 2019 MLB season has been one of the most entertaining in recent memory. Several big name rookies have burst onto the scene to become immediate stars, and the best players in the game — namely Mike Trout, Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger — have taken their own games to even greater heights. But while the majority of players have performed in the range they were expected to back in February, some have deviated considerably, both positively and negatively. Let's look at five players who took the next step this season, and conversely, five who went the other way.

Five players who took a leap in 2019:

1. Josh Bell, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh's switch-hitting first baseman is the most obvious choice for this list, as following a tremendously disappointing season in 2018, he's swung the bat like an MVP-caliber hitter these past five months. Beginning play on Thursday, Bell has slashed .278/.365/.573 with his SLG percentage currently an astounding 162 points higher than it was a year ago. He's already crushed 35 home runs, and his 111 RBI currently trail only Anthony Rendon and Freddie Freeman. The 27-year-old drove in 90 runs as a much-hyped rookie in '17, and after a disastrous sophomore slump, the Bucs have to be thrilled to see him regain cornerstone-player status. This organization has struggled to produce a new face of the franchise since Andrew McCutchen departed, and it would appear now that Bell will indeed become that guy.

2. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox's baby-faced third baseman has probably been the most surprising hitter in the American League in 2019, as following a pair of solid big league showings, he's emerged into the most dangerous offensive threat in a lineup loaded with household names. Playing in nearly every Boston game, Devers has hit .318 while reaching base at a .367 clip. He's launched 29 homers and leads the American League with 107 RBI. His 48 doubles currently have him deadlocked with teammate Xander Bogaerts for the major league lead. The Red Sox have largely been a disappointment in 2019, as after winning the World Series a year ago they're in all likelihood going to miss the postseason entirely. But that is clearly no fault of the 22-year-old manning the hot corner at Fenway.

3. Jorge Soler, OF/DH, Kansas City Royals

The fact that the team he plays for was mathematically eliminated from postseason contention prior to the calendar hitting Labor Day has a lot to do with Soler's 2019 season flying under the radar, but the Cuba native's numbers are simply getting impossible to ignore. Entering play on Thursday Soler has played in every Royals game, blasting 40 home runs and driving in 101 runs. His .255 batting average doesn't jump off the page, but the slugger has reached base at a .347 clip and doubled 27 times all while hitting in the middle of a lineup without a whole lot of talent around him. At 27 years old, Soler has finally blossomed into the hitter the Cubs hoped he could be early in his career, and it looks like the Royals will be rewarded for their patience.

4. Ketel Marte, IF/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Entering this season Marte had been a valuable utility player for the Diamondbacks but far from a star. That has changed quickly. Splitting time between second base and center field, the switch-hitter has blossomed into one of the most dangerous offensive players in the National League. He's currently hitting .328 with a .387 OBP and has already produced 70 extra base hits and has driven in 85 runs. Marte's 312 total bases trail only Bellinger and Yelich in the National League, and in a lot of ways he's the primary reason Arizona still has an outside chance of stealing a wild-card spot.

5. Sonny Gray, SP, Cincinnati Reds

Talk about a guy getting his career back on track. Gray was once one of the most consistent hurlers in the American League while with the Athletics, but a midsummer trade to the Yankees in 2017 completely derailed him. After a nightmarish season-and-a-half in the Bronx, the righty was ecstatic following last winter's trade that sent him to Cincinnati and gave him a fresh start. That deal has come up aces for the Reds. In 27 starts Gray has looked just like the pitcher he was in Oakland, working to a 2.80 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP in 151.1 innings. He's held opponents to just a .201 batting average and struck out a career high 10.35 hitters/nine innings all while becoming the latest in a long list of players who just weren't cut out for New York City.

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Five players who failed to take a leap in 2019:

1. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

It's a little tough to speak negatively about a guy who is closing in on 30 homers, but following a huge offseason that saw them land premier hitters like Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia obviously had high hopes for run production. In a lot of ways the Phillies failed in that respect, and at least in the City of Brotherly Love, much of the blame has landed on Hoskins. With better talent in the lineup the Phillies were counting on the right-handed slugger to deliver a monster campaign in theory hitting clean-up behind Harper, but that just has not materialized. Through Wednesday the Sacramento State product has hit a disappointing .238, and while he has homered 27 times, his .481 SLG percentage would be the lowest of his three-year career.

2. Kyle Freeland, SP, Colorado Rockies

Based on preseason expectations, there may not be a more disappointing starting pitcher in baseball this season than the Colorado southpaw. After winning 17 games with a 2.85 ERA in 202.1 innings last season, the Rockies understandably felt good about Freeland productively leading their staff again in 2019. The rug was quickly pulled out from under them on that, however. In 20 starts the 26-year-old has worked to a putrid 6.98 ERA to go along with a 1.59 WHIP. Opponents have hit just under .300 against him while launching 25 homers in less than 100 frames. Freeland is currently on the disabled list with a groin strain, and you'd have to believe the Rockies would like to see him make one or two half-decent starts late this month to try to take just a little positive momentum into the fall.

3. Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets

The biggest move of first-year Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen's regime came early in his tenure when the former agent sent highly touted prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn to Seattle in exchange for a past-hi- prime Robinson Cano and an electric young closer who had just led the majors in saves. The latter was Diaz, whom the Mets envisioned becoming the type of shutdown ninth-inning presence they haven't had since Billy Wagner more than a decade ago. Things unfortunately haven't quite gone to plan. In 58 appearances the right-hander has worked to a rough 5.65 ERA and surrendered a staggering 13 homers in only 51 innings. He's already blown more saves than he did in Seattle in 2018, and while his strikeout rate is on par with where it was last year, his BB/9 has ballooned from 2.09 to 3.53. Diaz's latest outing capped an unfathomable Mets' ninth-inning meltdown in D.C. that effectively dashed their slim playoff hopes. At this point it is fair to wonder if like with Gray mentioned above, Diaz just isn't cut out to pitch in New York.

4. Freddy Peralta, P, Milwaukee Brewers

Peralta burst onto the scene with a dynamic 13-strikeout big league debut last May, but to date that is still the highlight of his young career. Entering this season Milwaukee had visions of the 23-year-old becoming a strong upper echelon starter for them, but those hopes were dashed early in 2019. A poor beginning to his season had the righty demoted from the rotation to the bullpen, where his fortunes have not improved much. In 32 total games (eight of which were starts), Peralta has worked to an ugly 5.68 ERA in 76 innings while allowing opponents to hit .266 against him and allowing more than a runner-and-a-half per frame. The Brewers had lofty expectations entering the season but will in all likelihood miss the playoffs, and Peralta is one of many pitchers they will have to figure out what to do with moving forward.

5. Luis Urias, 2B, San Diego Padres

Urias is only 22 years old, and his story is far from written, but nevertheless he still must be disappointed with how he's performed at the sport's highest level to date. On a San Diego team that has seen fellow rookies Fernando Tatis Jr., and Chris Paddack draw national attention, Urias' struggles have been magnified. After dominating at several levels of the minor leagues, the young infielder has hit just .181 in 138 big league at-bats this season while accumulating only seven extra-base hits. The Padres hope he can team with Tatis to form a strong young middle infield combination for years to come, and while that still may come to fruition, 2019 was clearly not a strong step in that direction.

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