Which MLB Players Will Bounce Back In 2025?
Image credit: Sandy Alcantara (Photo By Patrick Mcdermott Getty Images)
In a series of MLB predictions and preview posts, BA’s editorial staff goes on record with their bold—and not so bold—thoughts about what’s to come in the 2025 season.
We begin with the question: Who will bounce back in 2025?
Our prognosticators this year are Ben Badler, Jesús Cano, Mark Chiarelli, Carlos Collazo, J.J. Cooper, Matt Eddy, Josh Norris, Geoff Pontes and Dylan White.
Evan Carter, OF, Rangers
Ben Badler: Playing through a back injury destroyed Rangers outfielder Evan Carter last year when he hit .188/.272/.361. He’s 22 and one of the game’s most talented young hitters when he’s healthy, so if he’s back to full strength and able to play without pain in 2025, I’m banking on a 4-plus WAR season.
Sandy Alcántara, RHP, Marlins
Jesús Cano: Remember when Sandy Alcántara won the NL Cy Young Award? That was three years ago. His 2023 season showed major regression, but when you take into consideration he needed to have Tommy John surgery in October of that year, one has to wonder how long underlying issues in his ulnar collateral ligament could have affected him. Even coming close to matching his 2022 output will be huge for him, and can become one of the more appealing arms at the trade deadline.
Geoff Pontes: With no limitations on his innings and the opening day assignment, Alcantara is poised to bounce back in 2025. He’s showing a return to form this spring, as his fastball velocity and quality of his command has returned. While Alcantara isn’t a strikeout machine like many of the top modern pitchers he knows how to work efficiently and get deep into starts.
Jesús Luzardo, LHP, Phillies
Mark Chiarelli: The Phillies need to get Jesús Luzardo right after giving up a Top 100 Prospect (Starlyn Caba) to land him this winter. No, he isn’t a beacon of consistency. And yes, elbow and back injuries wrecked his 2024 season and likely contributed to a 1.5 mph drop in four-seam fastball velocity. But the 27-year-old has some of the best swing-and-miss stuff of any lefthanded starter in baseball when healthy, and he now joins an organization that has unearthed above-average production from both Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. Luzardo misses even more bats than those two, which could make him even more of an asset come October as Philadelphia’s otherwise aging roster tries to break through in the postseason.
Matt McLain, SS, Reds
Carlos Collazo: A left shoulder surgery deleted Matt McLain’s entire 2024 season, but he should be back and ready to go in 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve with a 4-win or better season this year in his age-25 season thanks to his pure hitting ability, speed and defensive chops in the middle infield.
Adolis Garcia, OF, Rangers
Matt Eddy: While there are many prime players poised for bigger things than they showed in 2024, including Michael Harris II, Julio Rodriguez, Austin Riley and Adley Rutschman, I will go with a veteran player I believe has at least one more big season in him. Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia never seemed right in 2024, and that took a bite out of Texas’ postseason aspirations. Garcia played through a patella tendon injury in his left knee that might have affected him at the plate. He swung more, and at more bad pitches, and lost about 150 points of OPS. Getting back to his 2023 form as a 32-year-old this season is a big ask, but it’s going to be crucial for Texas to get back into October.
Jacob deGrom, RHP, Rangers
Dylan White: I’ll go with Jacob deGrom. Arguably the best pitcher on Earth on a per-inning basis, the issue has been the inability to accrue those innings, with 2019 being the last time he topped the century mark. Will he reach 100 innings in 2025? I think so–and he will be a 3+ WAR pitcher by doing so.
Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles
J.J. Cooper: I really struggle to believe that the Adley Rutschman we saw in the second half of the 2024 season is what we’ll see in 2025. Rutschman has been one of the best catchers in baseball for the vast majority of his young MLB career. He’ll be back to that kind of production this season.
