Ranking Bobby Witt Jr. and MLB's Top 10 Candidates for Most Improved Player of 2024

It's always been puzzling why Major League Baseball does not have a Most Improved Player Award similar to the one handed out at the end of each NBA season.

More than perhaps any other sport, baseball is a game of incremental progression, with players who burst onto the scene as instant superstars few and far between and most taking a few years to find their footing and unlock their full potential.

So, who would win 2024 Most Improved Player honors if that award was introduced?

Ahead, we've ranked the top 10 candidates, based on their overall progression from 2023 to 2024. In other words, the best player on this list will not necessarily be in the No. 1 spot, since the focus here is on the scale of improvement and not just the end result.

In order to be considered for inclusion, players had to have recorded at least 150 plate appearances or 50 innings pitched at the MLB level prior to the 2024 season, which means there are no rookies on this list or players who exceeded rookie-eligibility limits based solely on time on the active roster.

Trimming the list to 10 players was extremely difficult, so let's start with some honorable mentions who just missed the cut.

Honorable Mentions (Hitters)

SS CJ Abrams, WAS
C Joey Bart, PIT
OF JJ Bleday, OAK
OF Alec Burleson, STL
UT Willi Castro, MIN
SS Oneil Cruz, PIT
OF Jarren Duran, BOS
UT David Fry, CLE
2B Luis García Jr., WAS
OF Riley Greene, DET
OF Steven Kwan, CLE
OF Jake McCarthy, ARI
SS Zach Neto, LAA
OF Jurickson Profar, SD
1B Michael Toglia, COL
2B Brice Turang, MIL
IF Jordan Westburg, BAL

Honorable Mentions (Pitchers)

SP Taj Bradley, TB
SP Hunter Brown, HOU
RP Jeremiah Estrada, SD
SP Erick Fedde, CWS/STL
RP Griffin Jax, MIN
SP Michael King, SD
SP Reynaldo López, ATL
SP Seth Lugo, KC
RP Trevor Megill, MIL
SP Brandon Pfaadt, ARI
SP Colin Rea, MIL
SP Cristopher Sánchez, PHI
SP Albert Suárez, BAL
RP Robert Suarez, SD
RP Ryan Walker, SF

2023 Stats: 65 G, 69 OPS+, .211/.253/.367, 15 XBH (9 HR), -1.1 WAR
2024 Stats: 79 G, 151 OPS+, .280/.338/.556, 39 XBH (20 HR), 2.8 WAR

Beneath the surface of his generally unimpressive rookie numbers, Mark Vientos posted an elite 51.0 percent hard-hit rate and 114.9 mph max exit velocity, hinting at the power potential still lurking in his bat.

The 24-year-old was sent to Triple-A to start the season and optioned back to the minors after a quick three-game stint in the big leagues at the end of April, but he was recalled for good on May 15 and has settled in as the team's starting third baseman.

With 20 home runs in just 314 plate appearances, he has quickly become a serious threat. Beyond those gaudy power numbers, incremental improvements to his strikeout rate (30.5 to 26.4 percent) and walk rate (4.3 to 7.6 percent) have given him a more well-rounded offensive profile.

The only reason Vientos doesn't rank higher is because he has only played in 79 games.

2023 Stats: 90 G, 76 OPS+, .185/.304/.328, 15 XBH (6 HR), 0.1 WAR
2024 Stats: 119 G, 120 OPS+, .266/.355/.416, 36 XBH (12 HR), 3.1 WAR

Josh Smith got a World Series ring as a member of the 2023 Texas Rangers, but he was a complete non-factor in the postseason, appearing in just three games and never registering a plate appearance.

The 27-year-old was expected to fill a similar utility role at the end of the bench, but an early injury to third baseman Josh Jung opened the door for him to see regular playing time and he quickly emerged as one of the team's most productive hitters.

With a .237 expected batting average and middling batted-ball numbers, he has no doubt been the beneficiary of some good luck, but that does nothing to diminish his breakthrough performance while filling a major gap on the Texas roster.

His breakout has further tipped the scales in the Rangers' favor on the deal that sent Joey Gallo to the New York Yankees at the 2021 deadline and also brought back Ezequiel Durán.

2023 Stats: 17 G, 7 GS, 4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 28 BB, 52 K, 52.0 IP, 0.2 WAR
2024 Stats: 24 G, 24 GS, 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 55 BB, 136 K, 137.2 IP, 3.0 WAR

Ronel Blanco only broke camp with a spot in the Houston Astros rotation because Justin Verlander landed on the injured list just before Opening Day, but he has made the most of his chance.

In his first start of the 2024 season and just his eighth career start in the big leagues, he tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, and he followed that up with six innings of one-hit ball against the Texas Rangers in his second start.

The 30-year-old has had his ups and downs since that blistering start, but he has successfully claimed his spot in the starting rotation for a Houston team that has dealt with a long list of injuries to the pitching staff.

Blanco has 12 quality starts in 24 appearances on the year.

2023 Stats: 145 G, 106 OPS+, .274/.327/.437, 51 XBH (20 HR), 0.4 WAR
2024 Stats: 124 G, 129 OPS+, .295/.349/.474, 58 XBH (13 HR), 3.3 WAR

Alec Bohm has not made the same substantial leap in production as some of the guys ahead of him in these rankings, but there is little doubt he has taken his game to another level this year.

The 28-year-old has still not developed into the 30-homer threat most expected him to be when the 6'5", 218-pound slugger was chosen No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft, but that hasn't stopped him from making a major impact at the plate.

He leads the majors with 43 doubles this season, and he has come through with clutch hits time and again, batting .317/.393/.567 over 145 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

Bohm has also made significant strides defensively, posting roughly league-average defensive metrics (0 DRS, 2.7 UZR/150) after dragging down his overall value with an ugly minus-40 DRS over the previous three seasons.

2023 Stats: 21 GS, 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 41 BB, 99 K, 106.0 IP, 1.3 WAR
2024 Stats: 25 GS, 3.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 40 BB, 135 K, 152.2 IP, 3.4 WAR

Tanner Houck showed flashes during the 2021 and 2022 seasons while filling a variety of roles on the Boston Red Sox staff, posting a 3.35 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 129 innings while tallying six wins and nine saves over 17 starts and 33 relief appearances.

He was expected to be a full-time member of the starting rotation during the 2023 season, but he missed more than two months after suffering facial fractures when he was hit with a line drive back through the box. And even when healthy, he failed to match his previous success.

The 28-year-old has finally put it all together this season, though, earning an All-Star selection while fronting a Boston rotation that has been significantly better than expected.

Refining his splitter as a reliable third offering and throwing the pitch at more than double the frequency he did a year ago has been one of the biggest keys to Houck's newfound success.

2023 Stats: 150 G, 125 OPS+, .255/.325/.489, 66 XBH (28 HR), 6.2 WAR
2024 Stats: 126 G, 165 OPS+, .287/.374/.555, 62 XBH (33 HR), 7.6 WAR

Gunnar Henderson was already a 6.2-WAR player on his way to 2023 AL Rookie of the Year honors, so it's fair to argue that the bar was set so high to begin with that his improvements this year are simply more of the same.

However, a few notable areas of improvement stand out.

The spike in his on-base percentage from .325 to .374 is due in part to an improved walk rate, from 9.0 to 11.4 percent, and that more patient approach has done nothing to rob him of his impact in the batter's box.

The 23-year-old has also improved on his already fantastic batted-ball metrics, ranking among the MLB leaders in average exit velocity (94th percentile), hard-hit rate (98th percentile), expected batting average (92nd percentile) and expected slugging (93rd percentile).

In essence, Henderson has gone from a really good young player on the rise to a bona fide superstar and MVP candidate.

2023 Stats: 22 GS, 4.82 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 48 BB, 152 K, 112.0 IP, 0.9 WAR
2024 Stats: 24 GS, 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 53 BB, 162 K, 143.1 IP, 5.4 WAR

Hunter Greene entered pro ball as a potential generational talent on the mound when he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 draft, and even with some injury issues early in his pro career, he still made his MLB debut at the age of 22 in 2022.

Over his first two seasons in the majors, the 25-year-old piled up 316 strikeouts in 237.2 innings, but he also posted a lackluster 4.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, often proving more hittable than his pure stuff might suggest.

A major uptick in the effectiveness of his fastball this season has helped him unlock his full potential.

• 2023 FB: 1,357 total, 54.4% usage, 98.3 mph, .265 BAA, .518 SLG, 12 HR
• 2024 FB: 1,135 total, 55.3% usage, 97.6 mph, .186 BAA, .268 SLG, 4 HR

The six-year, $53 million extension Greene signed last April is now shaping up to be an absolute steal.

2023 Stats: 126 G, 53 OPS+, .203/.250/.343, 31 XBH (10 HR), 0.9 WAR
2024 Stats: 122 G, 115 OPS+, .271/.331/.471, 45 XBH (20 HR), 3.7 WAR

How far has Brenton Doyle come in a year?

The 26-year-old was the worst offensive player in baseball among regulars, ranking 212th out of 212 players who recorded at least 400 plate appearances with a 53 OPS+ in 126 games as a rookie.

However, his elite defense in center field (19 DRS, 24.0 UZR/150) allowed him to hold onto a starting role and ended up winning him a Gold Glove, earning him another opportunity to prove himself at the plate this year.

Improved batted-ball metrics across the board, including a spike in his hard-hit rate from 35.0 to 42.2 percent, have paved the way for a breakout season at the plate. Doyle has also slashed his strikeout rate from 35.0 to 26.2 percent while showcasing a terrific mix of power and speed with 20 home runs and 24 steals.

2023 Stats: 13 G, 3.55 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 13 BB, 12 K, 12.2 IP, 0.2 WAR
2024 Stats: 26 GS, 3.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 31 BB, 180 K, 128.2 IP, 3.7 WAR

When Garrett Crochet stepped onto the mound on Opening Day for the Chicago White Sox, it was his first career start at the MLB level.

The 6'6", 245-pound left-hander was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 draft, and the White Sox rushed him straight to the majors that season where he pitched out of the bullpen during their playoff push.

He was used exclusively in relief again the following season before missing all of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he returned with 13 appearances out of the bullpen in 2023.

The White Sox rolled the dice on converting the 25-year-old to starting this year, which is the role he filled at the University of Tennessee, and he has responded with the biggest breakout season of any pitcher in 2024.

Crochet has not pitched beyond four innings since the start of July as the White Sox try to limit what is already a career-high workload, but his rise from hard-throwing reliever to frontline-caliber starter earns him the No. 2 spot in these rankings.

2023 Stats: 158 G, 117 OPS+, .276/.319/.495, 69 XBH (30 HR), 4.4 WAR
2024 Stats: 127 G, 178 OPS+, .352/.402/.619, 74 XBH (25 HR), 8.6 WAR

Bobby Witt Jr. would have been a strong candidate for 2023 Most Improved Player honors, as he raised his OPS by 89 points and went from 0.9 WAR as a rookie to 4.4 WAR in his sophomore campaign.

He has doubled down on those vast improvements in his third season.

The 24-year-old leads the AL in batting average (.352), hits (178) and runs scored (110), and his OPS has jumped more than 200 points this time around as he is set to give Aaron Judge a serious run for his money in the AL MVP race.

With a 7.3 percent walk rate and 15.0 percent strikeout rate, he has added more than 100 points to his on-base percentage relative to his rookie season, and he has also made major strides defensively.

After posting minus-18 DRS as a rookie and minus-6 DRS in 2023, he has moved to the positive side of the ledger with 7 DRS in 1,101.2 innings at shortstop.

The Royals have finally found their face of the franchise, and Witt will now try to lead them to their first postseason appearance since they won the World Series in 2015.