10 Most Exciting Players in Baseball

by Nathan Kanuch & Julian Spivey

10. Josh Harrison (Detroit Tigers)
We may be coming to the end of the former long-time Pittsburgh Pirate and current Detroit Tigers infielder Josh Harrison’s career. And if we’re being honest, Harrison’s career has been on a downward trajectory for a couple seasons now. But while he’s still in the league, I had to include him on the list. He became a permanent fixture on the Pirates’ roster just when they began to embark on their winning run from 2013-2015. Harrison’s ability to escape rundowns when all hope looked lost, make incredible plays in the field, and general electric attitude on the diamond makes him a sentimental yet worthy player on the list.

9. Yasiel Puig (Cincinnati Reds)
Rarely in sports, especially in baseball, can you become one of the most exciting players in your game while also being quite the disappointment, but that’s where we find ourselves with new Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig, who spent the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Puig is disappointing because it seemed like he was going to be one of the sport’s next big things like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper but has only managed to average 18 homers and 55 RBI a season. His .277 career batting average isn’t that bad, in fact it’s comparable to Harper’s, but he doesn’t reach base as much and has never sniffed an MVP, whereas Harper has won one. But, despite these disappointments Puig has consistently remained one of the most exciting players in the game to watch and sometimes it’s because he’s disappointing like when he’s getting thrown out at second base because he thought he hit a homer and didn’t bust it out of the box. He’s also exciting because he’s simply unpredictable like a little over a week ago when he attempted to fight the entire Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team seemingly on his own. That’s freakin’ crazy. It’s also exciting as hell. JS

8. Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies)
Nolan Arenado is one of those guys that quietly snuck up on me. We knew he was good when he first came up to The Show. But by consistently performing at such a high level, Arenado has become one of the best players in baseball. And one of the most electric. The plays he makes at third base are Brooks Robinson-esque, and indeed the Orioles great counts himself as one of Arenado’s admirers. But Arenado can rake as well. He hits jacks and drives in buckets of runs. Arenado works his butt off and never takes a day off; that’s what he sees as fun. NK

7. Ronald Acuna Jr. & Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves)
One surefire way to become one of the most exciting players in baseball is to be a five-tool player and proficient at all five tools. When a franchise can lock two of these five-tool players up at a young age for the bulk of the next decade than it’s total rejuvenation for that franchise. That’s exactly what the Atlanta Braves have done with 21-year old outfield phenom Ronald Acuna Jr., last year’s National League Rookie of the Year, and 22-year old second baseman Ozzie Albies. Not only are the two a pleasure to watch on the diamond but have become best friends on-and-off the field and truly have the feeling of a brotherhood Braves fans look forward to watching flourish for years to come. JS

6. Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)
Shohei Ohtani will basically only be half of himself this season when he returns from injury, hopefully in early May as designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. He’ll be unable to pitch this season as he’s still recovering from a right elbow UCL injury, but the Angels hope he’ll be a productive hitter – meaning hitting tape shots in the same lineup with a few other guys who can hit ‘em a mile: Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Justin Bour. But, as long as Ohtani is only half himself his excitement factor is tampered a bit. When he’s a dual player – the first in baseball since Babe Ruth in the 1910s before he transitioned to an everyday position player – he’s unlike anything else in professional sports. As American League Rookie of the Year last season he was dominant both on the mound and in the batter’s box winning four games with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts in only 10 starts and cranking 22 homers in just 367 plate appearances while hitting a very solid .285. I sincerely hope that Ohtani is able to regain his status as a dual player because it’s the most intriguing thing in baseball if he’s an all-star caliber at both. JS

5. Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds)
Sometimes “fun” in baseball can be the simplest of things. Joey Votto is a modern example of it. The way he hits, man, it’s like an artist at work. As a fan of the Reds’ divisional rival Pittsburgh Pirates, I’ve been fortunate to watch Votto several times a year. The man just hits for fun and gets on base like his life depends on it. Players like Votto will have their stats examined decades from now. NK

4. Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels)
Mike Trout is the best player currently in baseball and I’m not sure there’s anybody crazy enough to argue against that. Just look at the guy’s slash line and you can tell he’s almost always getting on base. He’s been a 20/20 guy in the past and is honestly capable of being a 40/40 player if he wanted to, but his stolen base numbers have fallen since he led the American League with 49 in his first full season, probably at the behest of his team not wanting him to risk his health. Trout is also a gold glove center fielder who can rob homers with the best of them and hit moonshots with the best in baseball too. Many, especially those in love with sabermetrics, believe he could end up as the greatest baseball player that ever lived. JS

3. Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)
Bryce Harper is an obvious choice for this list. Some people love him. Some people hate him. And some people love to hate him. Count me as the latter. Harper has rubbed me the wrong way a couple of times, but I’ll never doubt his commitment to the game or his ability to electrify an entire stadium with one swing of the bat. What also needs mentioning is Harper’s place in the game as a figure who can broaden baseball’s audience to a younger crowd. You tune into a Bryce Harper at-bat, and you could see anything. NK

2. Jose Altuve (Houston Astros)
Jose Altuve has been doubted his entire career, with his height being the number one talking point. All he’s done in the meantime is win three batting titles, five Silver Sluggers, a World Series and an MVP. Altuve is the definition of fun. He can hit with power and steal bases. He can make the spectacular play in the field along with the routine grounders. And most importantly to me, Altuve is the perfect blend of the old school and new school mentalities in baseball. The ideal balance of youthful enthusiasm and a stoic, veteran demeanor determined to succeed at all costs. NK

1. Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs)
Javier Baez is proof that you don’t have to be the best player within a sport to be the most exciting. On MLB Network’s list of the top 100 players right now Baez topped out at no. 29, which is honestly too high, but there’s little doubt in my mind he’s the most exciting in Major League Baseball to watch on any given night. What makes Baez this most exciting player in MLB for me is his sheer hustle and this comes out in the remarkable defensive plays he makes at multiple different position. Baez is proficient at second base, shortstop and third base and can wow at any of them. He’s also a stud at the plate and on the base paths where he’s already proven he can be a 20/20 guy and I think 30/30 is a possibility. JS

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You can read more from Nathan Kanuch at Shore2Shore Country.