Fansided

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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Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Noah Syndergaard

SP, New York Mets

  • Birthday: August 29, 1992 (Age: 24)
  • Career Statistics: 23-16, 2.89 ERA, 333.7 IP, 384 K, 1.103 WHIP, 8.5 WAR
  • 2016 Statistics: 14-9, 2.60 ERA, 183.7 IP, 218 K, 1.149 WHIP, 6.0 WAR
  • 2016 NL All-Star

Even after making the postseason in each of the past two seasons thanks to two pitchers already listed here, the Toronto Blue Jays are still probably been kicking themselves.

In December 2012, the Jays had a chance to acquire reigning NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets. Never mind that Dickey was heading into his age 38 season, Tornoto put together a package that included catcher John Buck and minor leaguers Wuilmer Becerra and Noah Syndergaard for Dickey, Mike Nickeas and Josh Thole.

Dickey proved to be a dependable starter in Toronto, but never regained his award winning form. Syndergaard didn’t make his big league debut until 2015, but he quickly became one of the top pitchers in the National League. In 2017, he was the Opening Day starter for one of baseball’s top pitching staffs, and promptly shut out the Braves in six innings.

Syndergaard’s talent is obvious. First of all, he throws hard. According to Statcast, Syndergaard led all major league starters in four-seam fastball velocity, two-seam fastball velocity and slider velocity last season.

But major league hitters could hit 110 miles per hour heat if it was straight. Syndergaard doesn’t just blow his fastball by hitters, his swing-and-miss hammer (which along with his Nordic good looks and flowing locks earned him the nickname Thor) helped the 24-year old to strike out 29.3 percent of hitters last season. That ranked No. 7 among pitchers that tallied at least 100 innings.

In 2016, Syndergaard led the big leagues with a 2.29 FIP and 0.5 home runs per nine innings in 2016, and has a 2.89 career ERA in 333.2 innings through his first two big league seasons.

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