In the first installation of this series, I discussed James Wood, Nathaniel Lowe, and CJ Abrams being the most likely to have a breakout season, be a clubhouse leader, and land an MLB The Show cover, respectively. In this article we will be tackling three additional superlatives. Starting with:
Most likely to win a Gold Glove
Winning a gold glove is as prestigious as it gets in terms of defense. WIth that being said, my pick for most likely to win a gold glove goes to Luis Garcia Jr. He had a breakthrough season last year leading the team in batting average while also being a premier base stealer. However, this year he seems to have set his sights on a new goal to improve.
In a recent MLB.com article, Garcia is quoted saying “I want to be perfect for my pitcher; I want to win a Gold Glove, too.” It is clear that his focus this year is to improve on the defensive side of the ball something that he struggled with early on in this career. However last year he was a plus defender recording a .977 fielding percentage. Even though he was prone to errors, the improvement was there and the consistency in fielding his position will be what makes him a 2025 Gold Glove second baseman.
Most Likely to win over 20 games
Mackenzie Gore is the answer for this superlative. As the heart and leader of the Nats rotation, he is in a perfect position to build on last years 10 win season. With the improvements to the lineup Gore should also receive a solid amount of run support this season as well. His 3.90 ERA should improve this season as he continues to become more comfortable on the mound. While a 20 win season may be a bit overzealous, in the words of the great Justin Bieber "Never Say Never."
Class Clown
I want to be clear that this superlative is in no way calling this person a clown. This is strictly reserved for the funniest person in the clubhouse, and to me that is Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Davey is someone that always has a smile on his face and tries to lighten the mood whenever he can. I have had multiple opportunities to interview him and he always has me in tears... the good kind. All in all, I'm sure the players love his presence and feel safe around him. Who knows, he may also be most likely to win Manager of the Year in 2025.
Hope you enjoyed this series. Let me know what picks you agreed or disagreed with here!