Generally speaking, offense is down in 2024 compared to the 2023 MLB season.
The league-wide OBP is .311, down from .320 last season.
Likewise, teams are slugging .388, well down from .414 in 2023.
That’s why players who pose a threat to hit 40 home runs or more are more valuable than ever.
Home runs are still the kings of the game, and when it comes to home runs, there has been no hitter like Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker in 2024.
He currently leads the league with 18 homers and is on pace to hit 54 when everything is said and done.
“Players on pace for 40+ homers, entering 5/28: 54 – Kyle Tucker, 53 – Gunnar Henderson, 50 – Aaron Judge, 48 – Marcell Ozuna, 45 – José Ramírez, 41 – Juan Soto,” MLB Network tweeted.
Players on pace for 40+ homers, entering 5/28:
54 – Kyle Tucker53 – Gunnar Henderson50 – Aaron Judge48 – Marcell Ozuna45 – José Ramírez41 – Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/AUNwh2f2ej
That’s a very exclusive group of sluggers right there and Tucker, as of Tuesday at least, leads them all in round-trippers.
He is showing more power than ever before.
His current 54-HR projection would beat his career-high of 30 by a comfortable margin.
The thing with projections, of course, is that they only count current pace.
They don’t account for potential injuries or slumps along the way.
It’s very hard to maintain a 54-homer pace, but it is looking more and more likely that Tucker will at least approach or surpass 40 long balls.
Considering his seasonal OPS is 1.021 and he has pitched in 38 runs, 39 RBI, and nine stolen bases, it’s safe to say he is having the year of his life as a major leaguer.
He is actually one of the frontrunners for the MVP award in the American League, but make no mistake: there will be a lot of competition.