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Top 25 MLB players under 25

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the 2017 season begins, we take a look at the top 25 MLB players under the age of 25.

We are in a golden age of young baseball talent. Mike Trout exploded onto the national scene and nearly won (should have won) the American League MVP Award as a 20-year old in 2012. Trout finally took home the hardware in 2014, won again in 2016, and has never finished lower that second in the vote in his first six big league seasons.

Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant also joined the MVP club in 2016, and also helped the franchise win its first World Series title in 108 years, cementing his legendary status. Nevertheless, there is a legitimate debate that Nolan Arenado is actually the best third baseman in the National League.

Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez has become one of the most electric starters in baseball, and in 2017 pushed Adam Wainwright out of the way to become the Opening Day starter in St. Louis.

Christian Yelich, Odubel Herrera, Gregory Polanco, Jonathan Villar and Robby Ray all proved fun to watch in 2016, and all are capable of becoming household names.

What do all these players have in common? They are 25 years old. And yet, there are still dozens of exciting, talented players 24 and younger throughout Major League Baseball.

Though Trout, Bryant, Martinez and the others are now too old for our list, we used past performance and future potential to rank the top 25 MLB players under the age of 25.

Honorable Mention: Tim Anderson, Javier Baez, Greg Bird, Willson Contreras, Zach Davies, Carlos Rodon, Miguel Sano, Trevor Story

Note: All MLB career statistics go through the end of the 2016 season. WAR references calculations from Baseball-Reference.

25. Julio Urias

SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • Birthday: August 12, 1996 (Age: 20)
  • Career Statistics: 5-2, 3.39 ERA, 77.0 IP, 84 K, 1.455 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
  • 2016 Statistics: 5-2, 3.39 ERA, 77.0 IP, 84 K, 1.455 WHIP, 0.9 WAR

@theteenager7 is no longer a teenager. Pitching phenom Julio Urias saw his first full-season action as a pro way back in 2013 when he was 16. 16! Urias was barely old enough to drive, and the age of a typical high school sophomore while competing in the Midwest League against grown men. He fared pretty well, too, posting a 2.48 ERA in 18 starts.

Though the Dodgers didn’t rush him through the system, Urias proved mature and talented enough to make his major league debut last season as a 19-year old. He had a 2.66 ERA across four minor league seasons, and struck out 313 hitters in 267.1 innings along the way. Incredible.

Last season in Los Angeles, Urias tossed 77 innings. He was 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA with 84 strikeouts and just 31 walks. Together with his minor league stats, Urias tallied a career high 127.2 innings.

Because of his age and, the Dodgers will once again ease Urias into the season. Urias wasn’t on the Opening Day roster this year, but he’s sure to make an impact for the Dodgers given their history of injuries in the starting rotation. Even if one of LA’s veterans doesn’t get hurt, the 20-year old lefty is too good to stash in Triple-A.

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