The 2024 MLB regular was nothing short of amazing as it delivered electrifying games, impressive milestones, and many new faces that will soon take over the league. USA Baseball alumni filled up rosters and made their presences felt across the board on both the mound and at the plate, as a total of 266 made at least one appearance in the big leagues this past season.
With the introduction of new stars, rising teams, and record-breaking feats, it was a season that lived up to the hype and then some. Let’s take a look at some of the best season-long performances from each division throughout the duration of the 2024 regular season.
EYE-POPPING ALUMNI NUMBERS:
- 5,561 total runs
- Over 1,500 home runs
- 1,016 stolen bases
- 10,515 hits (nearly 27% of league total)
- 490 wins across 8,051.8 frames from pitchers
- 1.45 WHIP
- 8.16 strikeouts per nine innings pitched
STANDOUTS:
- Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop to have two 30 HR-30 SB seasons
- Skenes threw exactly 100 pitches that went over 100 mph
- Jack Flaherty (amongst USA Baseball alums) owns most strikeouts in a single game in 2024 with 14.
AL EAST
A member of both the 2009 18U National Team and 2011 Collegiate National Team, Toronto’s Kevin Gausman represented the AL East in a strong manner on the mound. Gausman led all USA Baseball alumni in innings pitched with 181 frames. The 2024 season marked a first in Gausman’s 10-year career as he notched his first complete-game shutout in a 7-0 win over the A’s.
Like the Blue Jays, the New York Yankees got a stellar season out of two-time Collegiate National Team participant Carlos Rodon. The left-handed pitcher collected 16 wins throughout the season, which is the best amongst all USA Baseball pitchers and good for third in the MLB. Also in the Yankees’ dugout, two-time USA Baseball alum Giancarlo Stanton had a strong showing at the plate. Stanton blasted 27 homers to go along with his 72 RBIs, helping propel the Yankees into postseason play and eventually the World Series.
AL CENTRAL
Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. was on a tear all season long, helping the Royals to the ALDS after finishing the year with an 86-76 overall record and a 45-36 mark at home. Witt represented the AL Central division well, as he was this season’s batting champion after boasting a .332 batting average and a league-best 211 hits. The two-time USA Baseball alum (2018 18U, 2023 Pro) also became the first shortstop to belt 30 homers and steal 30 bases as he also accomplished the feat in 2023.
AL WEST
2019 Professional National Team member Brent Rooker put forth a dominant showing for the Athletics at the plate in 2024. Rooker led all USA Baseball alumni with 39 homers and 112 RBIs. Those numbers were good for a top-five finish in the entire MLB as well. His strong 2024 season allowed him to lead the A’s in every major category including hits (160) and runs (82). At the end of the season, Rooker earned his first Silver Slugger award to mark the first time an A’s player has walked away with the honor since 2002.
NL EAST
2024 was a magical season for not only the Mets as a whole, but specifically two-time USA Baseball participant Francisco Lindor. The veteran was named an MVP finalist after cranking 33 homers and gathering 91 RBIs. Perhaps the most significant moment of his Mets’ tenure came in the final moments of the 2024 regular season. With a playoff bid on the line, Lindor launched a two-run homer against the Braves to punch his squad’s ticket to the postseason, which led to a spectacle of unforgettable moments for the squad. Alongside Lindor was 2014 15U National Team alum Mark Vientos, who smacked 27 home runs of his own to help push his team into the postseason. Like Lindor, another Met and 2023 World Baseball Classic member Pete Alonso finished with 30+ homers (34). Playing all 162 games, Alonso nabbed 88 RBIs and boasted a .240 batting average throughout the season.
Similar to the Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies were driven by the likes of many prominent names in the USA Baseball realm. The fivesome of Alec Bohm (2019 Pro), Nick Castellanos (2009 18U), Bryce Harper (2008 16U, 2009 18U), Kyle Schwarber (2013 CNT, 2023 WBC), and Trea Turner (2012 & 2013 CNT, 2023 WBC) took on the bulk of the work at the plate for their team. Schwarber finished second in the USA Baseball ranks with 38 homers while Harper added 30 of his own. The five-man force amassed 757 hits, allowing the Phillies to sit atop of the NL East with a 95-67 record at the end of the regular season.
NL CENTRAL
The Pirates got a promising season out of rookie pitcher Paul Skenes after taking him with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Recently, Skenes was named the National League Rookie of the Year after a dominant career-opening campaign. The three-time Team USA participant went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings of action. His 170 strikeouts made history as it was the most a Pirate has collected in a rookie season since 1935 (142).
2023 Professional National Team member Devin Williams made the most of the 2024 slate on the mound for the Brewers, as he turned in the lowest ERA (1.25) amongst all former Team USA pitchers who tossed at least 20 innings during the season. Outside of dominant pitching in the division, Milwaukee’s Brice Turang had an effective season on the base paths. The three-time USA Baseball alum stole 50 bags, a team-leading and third-place mark amongst the MLB. The speedster made the most of his stolen bases, turning them into 72 runs scored for the Brewers.
NL WEST
The Diamondbacks finished their season with a 89-73 record thanks in large part to fellow USA Baseball members Corbin Carroll (2018 18U) and Randal Grichuk (2007 16U), which is an improvement from previous years. The high-powered offense that led the MLB in runs scored with 5.47 per game was a positive note for a team that fell just one game shy of the postseason. Carroll raked in a league-best 14 triples, while Grichuk and Jake McCarthy (2017 CNT) turned in .291 and .285 batting averages, respectively.
Rounding out the NL West is the Dodgers’ duo of Freddie Freeman (2005 16U & 2006 18U) and Mookie Betts (2023 WBC). Freeman and Betts played key parts in the franchise’s World Series title, posting a combined .286 batting average in regular season action. The duo blasted 41 homers, propelling their squad to a top-three finish in the major league home run rankings. The duo’s stellar play carried into the postseason, leading to Freeman being named World Series MVP and Betts an All-MLB First Teamer.
