Could Alex Bregman be the face of baseball?

According to Pedro Martinez, Alex Bregman could be the face of baseball, but can he realistically?

Being the face of America’s Pastime is a big deal. For the last few years, youngsters like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper stole the spotlight as America’s baseball angels — no pun intended. But as big names like Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts have begun to surface, the spotlight seems to be shining brighter on baseball’s biggest stars. This begs the question that Pedro Martinez brought to the table, could the Astros’ Alex Bregman be the face of baseball?

The easy answer is no. He’s already 24 years old compared to Harper, who is 25, and Trout, 27. Further, he’s not even the youngest star on his team — that title belongs to Carlos Correa. When you dig deeper and really think about it though, Bregman could very well be one of the faces of baseball in the future. Not only does he check all of the boxes, he has a likable story as well.

From turning an unassisted triple-play at age four to winning a World Series during his second season in the majors, he’s always had a love for the game. If it wasn’t for a nasty knuckle injury in high school, the 24-year-old would’ve burst onto the scene much earlier.

After batting .678 his junior year of high school, an injury saw him fall 28 rounds in the MLB draft from where he was originally projected. Therefore, Bregman decided to attend LSU, where he thrived, before reaching the majors. Now, why does all of this matter now? Bregman’s faced his fair share of hardships throughout his young career. He didn’t come into the league a household name, like Trout and Harper. He’s made a name for himself despite adversity early in his career.

After beginning his major league career with 17 hitless at-bats, Bregman managed to finish out his rookie year hitting .264/.313/.478. During his sophomore campaign, he hit .284/.352/.475 and won a World Series. Now, Bregman’s a vital part of an Astros lineup looking to win a second-straight AL West pennant and defend their title. He’s currently hitting .282/.384/.517 with a career high 24 home runs. The numbers speak for themselves, Bregman is steadily improving. In addition, he’s added a Home Run Derby appearance to his résumé.

So, he’s a World Series winner, an All-Star, a great hitter and fielder. What’s left? Personality. Bregman genuinely cares about the city he plays in. Before talking about his individual traits, one of the most notable things about the third baseman’s personality is his love for the city of Houston. He enjoys giving back to the community and that’s arguably the most important off-the-field trait an athlete can possess.

Further, Bregman has a signature ‘move’. His most recent trend has caught the league’s attention. Bregman has begun staring at the camera in the dugout after home runs. So much so, his teammates have picked up on it and social media hasn’t let it go unnoticed. He’s also got the swagger and heart of a top talent. Bregman isn’t afraid to speak his mind and go above and beyond to prove a point — whether it be to fans, doubters or himself. This never-say-die attitude is what has lifted him up in some clutch situations, like Game 5 of the World Series.

If there is a box Bregman doesn’t check, you’d be hard-pressed to find it. Therefore, assuming Bregman cannot be an ambassador of the game due to the likes of other stars like Trout and Harper is rather absurd.

Move over baseball, Alex Bregman is coming and he’s not going to stop until he reaches the top.