Top 25 MLB players under 25

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Apr 4, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara (30) reacts after doubling during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Nomar Mazara

OF, Texas Rangers

Birthday: April 26, 1995 (Age: 21)
Career Statistics: .266/.320/.419, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 59 R, 0.4 WAR
2016 Statistics: .266/.320/.419, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 59 R, 0.4 WAR

Because of the implications it has on service time, which impacts future earnings for the player, and most importantly future payments for the team, it’s common for a hotshot prospect to begin the season in the minor leagues prior to making his major league debut. They usually stay more than six days before being called up though.

Nomar Mazara made his debut on April 10, 2016 – 16 days before his 21^st birthday and the seventh game of the season for the Rangers. He went on to play in 145 games, posting a solid .266/.320/.419 slash as a 21-year old, and hit 20 homers. The performance, which also included 13 doubles, three triples, 64 RBI and 59 runs scored, earned Mazara a fifth place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Mazara has great raw power, but he hit ground balls 48.9 percent of the time as a rookie. He showed promise limiting strikeouts (Mazara’s 19.7 percent strikeout rate was a touch better than the 21.7 percent rate he had across six years of minor league at bats), but his walk rate also fell (from 10.6 percent in the minors to 6.9 percent with the Rangers).

Simply put, Mazara is far from a finished product, but as he develops, he’ll hit more fly balls, and as a result, more home runs.

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