With Spring Training in full swing, most MLB teams know who may fill out their roster. Furthermore, every team has at least one guy they know for a fact who will be leading their team in 2025. While looking around at the best players in the division, it was interesting to see how each team led at certain positions. Seeing the Royals hold a significant grip on the infield was equally as fun. I don’t expect the AL Central to send three teams to the playoffs again. It will still be a very competitive division as four teams have some significant numbers on this list. Here are the team totals before we begin:
Royals – 6
Guardians – 6
Tigers – 6
Twins – 3
White Sox – 0
Before breaking these down, there is a glaring number here that needs to be addressed. This is not Chicago White Sox hate. There is going to be someone who shows up and makes this list after the season is over. After scouring their pen, the only likely place to find a candidate, I couldn’t justify a name.
Another interesting note is the tie for first between the Royals, Guardians, and Tigers. These three teams were Central’s representatives in the 2024 playoffs. These three teams top a lot of lists that rank the central. These three teams have the highest ceilings in this division. The Royals own the infield, the Guardians are pitching heavy, and the Tigers have a healthy mix of outfield and pitching. The interesting thing is that they all consistently hold honorable mentions within categories they lack.
Without further ado, your 2025 pre-season all-AL Central squad…
Starting Rotation
Tarik Skubal (DET)
Cole Ragans (KC)
Tanner Bibee (CLE)
Jack Flaherty (DET)
Shane Bieber (CLE)
It was obvious to everyone that Skubal and Ragans would headline this group. Both finished top five in CY Young voting in 2024, with Skubal grabbing the award. Both are in the top three favorites for the award in 2025, with Skubal leading the pack. There’s something in the air surrounding Cole Ragans in 2025… Some poor early starts limited his numbers in the early season last year. On top of that, he only scraped how dominant he was in the second half of 2023. A third year in the Royals rotation may see him fully iron out his approach on the mound. I see his floor is similar to that of his 2024 season, and his ceiling is far above that.
Jack Flaherty and Guardians third-year pitcher Tanner Bibee are joining those two. Flaherty is rejoining the Tigers after a half-season hiatus with the Dodgers. Headed back to the team he started with in 2024, Flaherty hopes to recreate a full season of his 2.95 ERA, 11.9 K/9, and 0.95 WHIP in Detroit. Bibee has legit command and an arsenal that is decent but doesn’t overpower you. There’s so much to love about this kid, and his first two seasons in the league were wildly underreported. He’s the ace of that staff and looks to potentially fight to be the best starter in the Central in 2025. He won’t strike out the world, but he’ll generate plenty of outs.
You didn’t think I would come back around to Bieber, right? Yes, he is injured to start the season. Yes, his timeline is unknown.. If he makes around 20 starts, he will again be one of the best starters in the Central. I am willing to bank on that happening to give him his flowers. Now, in the practice of being as correct as possible, Seth Lugo would fill this rotation out nicely if Bieber is slower to return. Lugo finished second in AL Cy Young voting last season and has an arsenal so large you have an 11% chance of guessing what he’ll throw. I’ve always been a massive fan of Bieber’s approach on the mound, though. His 133 career ERA+ over 7 seasons is enough evidence of his ability. I expect him to make the Guardians a threat down the stretch.
A quick note about the Twins. Their starters didn’t impress me enough to make the top 5. They did, however, nab three spots in the honorable mentions for good reason. Their staff is going to be legit this season but is waiting on one of their guys to break out in a big way or return to former glory. Both are very doable for that rotation.
HM: Seth Lugo (KC), Bailey Ober (MIN), Joe Ryan (MIN), Pablo Lopez (MIN), Reece Olsen (DET)
Bullpen
Tyler Holten – DET
Griffin Jax – MIN
Hunter Gaddis – CLE
Carlos Estévez – KC
Tommy Kahnle – DET
Danny Coulombe – CLE
Jorge Alcala – MIN
It should surprise no one that a team that relied heavily on its pen to make a magic run to the playoffs has a few guys here. The Tigers’ Tyler Holton was the ultimate glue guy for the pitching staff in 2024. He pitched 94.1 innings and made nine starts for the team. His 2.19 ERA and 0.78 WHIP were the best on the team by anyone with 30 or more innings pitched. With news that he will continue to pitch out of the pen, he is easily one of the premier bullpen pieces in the division. Kahnle joins him from the Tigers’ roster, a veteran glue guy who can help cement a bullpen. He isn’t blowing anyone away, but his numbers are extremely consistent. If the hitters’ paradise Yankee Stadium can’t get to him, he’ll be just fine pitching in the AL Central.
Jorge Alcala and Griffin Jax pair up in the Twins’ pen as a pair of legit righties. Jax is the top guy out there and could be a closer if it weren’t for a demon who can throw over 100 mph. Jax was the most impressive member of that staff for Minnesota last season. A 2.03 ERA and 1.94 FIP highlight a 2024 that saw him find another gear. His career-high ERA+ was 116 in 2022. Last year he finished with a 205 ERA+… I’ve always hated watching the Royals hit against Griffin Jax, and now the whole world gets to see why. I mean, here are is numbers against the Royals the past 3 seasons:
Alcala, on the other hand, feels like a bomb waiting to go off. His numbers aren’t mind-boggling but his WHIP of 1.02 makes all of those numbers feel a lot more intriguing. He doesn’t give up a bunch of hits, and limiting walks could make him another monster. A dangerous fastball and a lack of hard contact could be disastrous for opposing hitters in 2025.
Look here and look good. This list will ALWAYS contain Cleveland pitchers. They are one of the best development teams in the majors. Danny Coulumbe may not be a high-leverage guy, but he’s been a dude since the 2020 season. His best two seasons of baseball are immediately in the rearview mirror with Baltimore, and now he looks to find a low-bulk reliever spot with the Guardians. Hunter Gaddis isn’t going to strike guys out, but look no further than his 1.57 ERA over 74.2 innings in 2024. He’s still early into his major league career, and I don’t doubt that he can continue to develop and grow. I mean, his Baseball Savant sliders look like basically every notable Guardian from the past 5 years…
Carlos Estévez feels like the odd man out. He has had a long road to the status he currently holds. He won’t strike out the side very often, but he also isn’t going to allow a plethora of extra base runners. Last year at 31 was his best season to date by a decent margin. It feels as though leaving Colorado has done wonders for his projectability, and Kauffman Stadium is a pitcher’s park. The benchmark in the Central is going to pitch out of the Royals’ bullpen this season. The Royals’ pitching development has made significant strides since Picollo took over as General Manager. Let’s call this honor a vote of confidence in that system.
HM: Sam Long (KC), Sean Guenther (DET, NQ), Jakob Junis (CLE), Cole Sands (MIN), Will Vest (DET)
Closer: Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
2024 Stats: 0.61 ERA, 74.1 IP, 47 S, 66 K, 10 BB, 0.65 WHIP, 674 ERA+
I could just leave his stat line there and skip writing this whole section if I wanted. He was the best closer in baseball in 2024 which automatically gives him the title of best in the AL Central. Since his suspension for PEDs, he has unlocked another atmosphere as a pitcher. Clase has led the American League in saves for 3 straight seasons now, and all of MLB in games finished in each of those seasons. He is, therefore, the most trusted bullpen guy in the world. His team has tapped him to throw the final pitch of more games than anyone else since 2022.
If there’s a single number I can give you to epitomize his 2024, it would be how many earned runs he gave up. Five. Emmanuel Clase pitched 74.1 innings all of last season and gave up just five runs. Jake Burger and Andrew McCutchens’ solo home runs were to blame for two of them. Good news for Royals fans, Jonathan India was one of those RBI. Regardless, Clase is a closer in his own realm. Two other closers managed to sneak onto the honorable mentions list, and neither is remotely in the same league. Sure, he collapsed in the 2024 postseason. I pity the batters that face him in his hell-on-Earth redemption tour in 2025.
HM: Jhoan Duran (MIN), Lucas Erceg (KC)
Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 158 G, .271/.330/.456, 27 HR, 28 2B, 104 RBI, 44 BB, 129 K, 119 OPS+
Every year, someone tries to tell me that Salvador Perez isn’t a good catcher. Every year, I tell them they are too focused on pitch framing and walks to see what’s in front of them. Every year, I look good while Salvador Perez refuses to change his approach and succeeds while doing so. Does he walk a lot? No. Is he a good defensive catcher? Not as much anymore. Is he the best offensive catcher of the last decade? Yes. Even when Yasmani Grandal was “contending” for this title, Salvador Perez was the best catcher in the Central. Even when Yadier Molina was the “best catcher in the state”, Salvador Perez was hitting better. Last year, when Adley Rutschman was the All-Star Game starter, Salvador Perez ended up having a better season. Salvador Perez was not listed as a top 10 catcher in the MLB this offseason…
Now I am not blind to his faults, but he has been consistent for a team with little consistency for the past decade. Last season saw Salvy switch up his approach to baseball for perhaps the first time in his career. He almost doubled his career high in walks, jumping from 28 to 44 in 2024. He also peaked at 100 RBI for the first time in his career and tied his career high in doubles. His .330 on-base was the best full-season mark of his career, and this new approach to on-base and contact helped the team develop a new weapon in Bobby Witt Jr. With more talent around him than possibly ever in his career, Perez looks to be a new man with a new mission as an aging veteran. With league-average framing numbers (an improvement) and decent first-base defensive metrics, Perez may be looking at extending his career by a few years. Look for 2025 to be more of the same from the Hall of Fame hopeful.
HM: Frankly it doesn’t really even matter in this division.
First Base: Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 131 G, .262/.315/.446, 19 HR, 30 2B, 97 RBI, 40 BB, 71 K, 111 OPS+
Vinnie has consistently been expected to break out after each of his first few seasons in the MLB. He has yet to fully reach the status that has been granted to him by the media, mostly due to injury. He missed over half the year in 2023 with a shoulder injury and missed the 100 RBI mark due to a broken thumb in 2024. Last season felt like a big year for him as he established the third spot in the lineup for the majority of the season. Even without his rookie season average, the 30 doubles are extremely exciting.
Hitting in the third spot meant batting behind one of the most dynamic hitters in baseball. Bobby Witt Jr. consistently put himself into situations where Vinnie needed to “do a job”. His 13 sacrifice flies last season led the majors, which doesn’t hurt his numbers. What does hurt is that the times he hit the ball in the air to move a runner to third. Furthermore, how often was there a struggle to shift approaches at different times in the game? Now these are all speculative and perhaps unfair to assess, but worth noting in my book.
Vinnie Pasquantino was an above-average, good first baseman last season. Entering 2025, there is a valid reason to assume that progression is on the horizon. Perhaps he will round out his approach from the third spot in the lineup. If fully healthy, a full season could put him amongst the league leaders in RBI and over the 20-home-run mark. A 25-home run and 25-double season out of the first baseman is incredibly possible given his skills. I’d just love to see that on-base percentage jump back up to where it was a few seasons ago.
HM: Carlos Santana
Second Base: Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 100 G, .259/.294/.449, 14 HR, 17 2B, 45 RBI, 15 BB, 56 K, 105 OPS+
I have long been a big believer in Michael Massey. It looked like he may never pan out until he hit for significantly more power in 2024. He paired that with a career-high batting average and WAR. The addition of Jonathan India to his team may have some raising their eyebrows at this pick. What stands out to me is Michael Massey’s ability to swing for power and hit the gaps. India is capable, but Massey could be a 25/25 guy if he stays healthy and fleshes out his swing. His 2024 playoff performance leaves a fresh image in the heads of Royals fans that may help my case.
The .300 batting average we saw in the minors may be a bit out of his reach at this point. Regardless, a 2025 season that sees Massey hit for .275 may also be a season where we see an All-Star Game selection out of him. Defensively he may be the best second baseman in the division now that Gimenez was traded away. Offensively, he has the best pop out of any of his peers in the Central, with the closest guy being his teammate. His ability to get on base hurts his overall value, and this is where India may catch up with him. Massey’s tools have a better chance of jumping. I like his swing much better if he can speed it up a bit to generate exit velo. The power and contact have a higher ceiling.
HM: Jonathan India, Gleyber Torres
Short Stop: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 161 G, .332/.389/.588, 32 HR, 45 2B, 11 3B, 109 RBI, 57 BB, 106 K, 171 OPS+
Bobby Witt Jr. spent 2024 making a name for himself. He became the first shortstop to win the Gold Glove, Batting Title, and Silver Slugger in the same season. He finished second in MVP voting after finishing seventh in 2023 and made his first All-Star Game appearance. His numbers alone would put him here without the accolades. He led the MLB in hits and batting average and led the American League in games. He was available, consistent, and productive all season, proving to be the main reason the Royals pushed for the playoffs in 2024.
Amongst all shortstops in the AL Central, there isn’t one in the same universe as him. He’s a five-tool player who has already proved himself at 24 years old. There’s also an expectation that last season’s campaign wasn’t the ceiling of his game either. Sure, it could be, and that would be a mighty OK ceiling, but more home runs and better base stealing may be on the horizon. Bobby is fast and has stolen more than 30 bases every year of his career. That being said, he led the league in caught stealing with 15 in 2023 and got picked 12 times last year on 17 fewer stolen bases. Speed helps, but it certainly isn’t the only factor in stealing bases.
Add some baserunning finesse and BWJ looks even scarier in 2025. If he drops off a bit, he is still by far the best at his position in the Central. If he drops off by a lot, he wins a tight race. The man has the potential to be the best to put on a Royals uniform. We’ll see if he can catch Mr. Brett.
HM: Carlos Correa
Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
2024 Stats: 158 G, .279/.335/.537, 39 HR, 39 2B, 118 RBI, 54 BB, 82 K, 143 OPS+
Perhaps the best active player to never have won an MVP. Jose Ramirez is so good that I often forget he is younger than Salvador Perez. Now entering his age-32 season, J-Ram has already accrued 51 WAR, 255 career home runs, and 1,500 hits. He has also finished top 10 in MVP voting seven times in his 12-year career. There may not be a better third baseman in all of Major League Baseball. He is certainly the best in the AL Central. The combination of power, speed, and contact makes him an elite hitter. Be sure to take note of which side of the plate these home runs all come from by the way… (hint: it’s both)
We can all expect more of the same from Ramirez. Great contact ability, fewer than 100 strikeouts, and an enormous amount of extra-base hits. On an extremely team-friendly deal, he has continued to be the poster boy for the Guardians’ franchise. In 2025, the Guardians will go where he does. When the AL Central struggled, he was the entire offense for a Cleveland team that made it to the playoffs year in and year out. With Bobby Witt Jr. and Aaron Judge having career years in 2024, this could be the season we finally see an MVP out of Ramirez.
Sure it relies on the rest of the talent in the American League, but Ramirez has contended for the title consistently in his career. My gut tells me that we’re going to see a slight bump in average and a continuation of the power we have come to know. With some other emerging talent on that Cleveland roster, it’ll be fun to see what he looks like with protection. The 2017 roster springs to mind when I think of his ability to elevate with surrounding talent. Ramirez led an offense with two other MVP vote-getters and five players with an OPS+ over 115. This lineup is far better than their current iteration, but some talent can certainly give him a boost.
HM: Royce Lewis
Left Field: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers
2024 Stats: 137 G, .262/.348/.479, 24 HR, 27 2B, 74 RBI, 64 BB, 156 K, 133 OPS+
If there’s one thing I can tell you about Riley Greene, it’s that I had no clue he had an OPS+ north of 130 in 2024. The numbers don’t explicitly jump off the page at you, but there’s some clear value in the bat. The biggest thing holding him back is his injury history. He missed some time in 2024 with a hamstring injury after missing half of the 2023 season to get Tommy John surgery. 2025 looks to be the year he tries to stay healthy and put it all together. Just a home run shy of 25, Greene may come out of the gates firing in an attempt to improve upon some already impressive numbers.
According to Savant, Greene had a similar profile to some of the better hitters in 2024. Similar to players like Rafael Devers and Gunnar Henderson. He finished in the 90th percentile in barrels and sweet-spot percentage. Essentially, Greene can hit the ball hard and often his launch angle is within the ideal range to garner hits. He was also 84th percentile in average exit velocity and 85th in chase percentage. This is all to say that he hits the ball hard and swings mostly at strikes.
Oddly enough, he still struggled to maximize potential pop and missed at balls in the zone far too frequently. 37th percentile squared-up rate, 27th percentile whiff-rate limited his final numbers. So yes, Riley Greene hits the ball hard and does a great job of creating backspin. Will he jump in 2025 by limiting his swings and misses, thus creating a more economical swing?
HM: Steven Kwan
Center Field: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
2024 Stats: 102 G, .275/.339/.524, 18 HR, 27 2B, 56 RBI, 20 BB, 99 K, 137 OPS+
Byron Buxton in 2024 played over 100 games for just the second time in his 10-year career. His 102 games were second only to his 2017 season, where he played 140 games. It’s worth noting that many of his starts came at designated hitter. His ability to shift back into an everyday centerfield role is the key to whether he deserves this honor. Had it not been for Luis Robert and his inability to consistently produce or stay healthy, I’m not sure he’d be here. Ironic that Buxton managed to be healthier than someone.
His numbers last season were legit. He slugged far more than you’d expect from his frame, with a little help from his speed. His bat speed and launch angles combine for the perfect gap-to-gap approach for a player with his speed. If playing a full season, Buxton would have hit for over 40 doubles and threatened 30-plus home runs. It’s a shame that a major part of the game plan to keep him healthy includes limiting stolen bases.
He will swing and miss a lot, and he works against himself often by overswinging, but he has major upside. A gold glove caliber outfielder with silver slugger ability, Buxton may wind up being the best center fielder in the American League if he can play there enough. Whether that is possible while he stays healthy is yet to be seen. Luis Robert Jr. is still a viable option and may be leaving the division if he plays to his value in 2025.
HM: Luis Robert Jr.
Right Field: Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers
2024 Stats: 87 G, .284/.345/.587, 18 HR, 16 2B, 5 3B, 57 RBI, 22 BB, 75 K, 159 OPS+
This is a cop-out, and I apologize for doing it last. There aren’t any right fielders in the AL Central to get excited about and at least Carpenter will play there. Realistically he’s a DH but with some innings in right, he’ll be the best player there in 2025. He couldn’t stay healthy in 2024, which is a shame, because he may have been in an MVP race if he put up full-season numbers. On pace for 30-plus home runs, 30-plus doubles, and 10 triples, his numbers would have looked vaguely similar to Bobby Witt Jr. Now his fielding leaves a lot to be desired, and his baserunning isn’t quite the same, but similar.
His savant sliders look a lot like Buxton’s, with a lot of swinging and a lot of damage when he connects. It feels like theres going to be some maturation from Carpenter as he enters his fourth season. With a hit-first role for the outfielder, what changes are made to advance his value? Attacking pitches in the zone may help, reducing his want or need to swing later in counts at bad pitches. Perhaps there has been some development in camp on seeing pitches away. Regardless, he can be one of the best hitters in the division if he stays healthy. Something that could be said for him in every offseason since his debut.
Kerry Carpenter is the type of player that’s hard to hate. Charismatic, well-rounded, and the spitting image of a 1970s ballplayer. He’s young enough that we could consider a full season of at-bats a breakout, which helps him stand out amongst all the other right fielders in this division. Even a minor advancement in his chase rate would result in huge strides. Call this a fake award if you want. It’s a better choice than the alternatives.
HM: Matt Wallner (or one of the others… they’re all the same dude.)
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