Moving into the second half of the MLB season, there are certain players on each team that can make a big difference for their clubs if they have a solid second half. Whether it’s for success this season or success down the road, a good second half from each of these players mentioned, would be crucial for their franchise.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Corbin Carroll OF
This is another one of those easy selections for players who need to have a good second half. Carroll has been severely underwhelming following his 2023 rookie season, which saw him take home the Rookie of the Year award. The Diamondbacks are still very much in the wildcard mix, and Carroll’s success is crucial to whether or not they can make another run in October.
Current stats: .209/.299/.336 | 81 OPS+ | 6 HR | 35 RBI | 19 SB
Colorado Rockies – Ezequiel Tovar SS
The Rockies aren’t exactly in the postseason mix and there’s a chance they part ways with Ryan McMahon at the trade deadline. The franchise just simply needs to see something from the young guys. If anything, Tovar putting together a solid second half can instill confidence in the rest of the farm to come up and start a new future at Coors Field.
Current stats: .280/.307/.476 | 111 OPS+ | 16 HR | 47 RBI
Houston Astros – Hunter Brown RHP
Hunter Brown started off the year poorly but has recently been putting it together. His fastball velocity has been good all year, and the contact he pitches to is weaker than a majority of pitchers in the league. While his numbers are still slightly below league average, he has great value with his offspeed stuff, and a better second half can make the Astros rotation hard to overcome in October.
Current stats: 8-6 | 4.14 ERA | 104.1 IP | 110 SO | 41 BB | 96 ERA+
Los Angeles Angels – Nolan Schanuel 1B
The second half of this season could be where Nolan Schanuel gets very well accustomed to major league baseball. While he’s been on the roster since Opening Day, Schanuel made a big jump from the minor leagues to the majors right out of the draft in a matter of months. Schanuel makes great contact, but just has a lack of power at the plate. If he can develop a little more pop in the second half, that would be a great sign to the Angels front office.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Andy Pages OF
The outfield has been one big question mark for the Dodgers the last couple of years. With players like James Outman, Chris Taylor, and Jason Heyward filling the gaps, it hasn’t exactly been elite or even comparable to the rest of the offense. A big second half from their rookie Andy Pages would be great to solve one of those missing pieces in this lineup. If he can lower his strikeouts and try to raise the on base percentage, he can post much better numbers in this second half.
Current stats: .252/.303/.394 | 98 OPS+ | 8 HR | 28 RBI
Oakland Athletics – Lawrence Butler OF
Butler is starting to turn heads here in 2024, and needs to capitalize on the attention with a great second half. He’s undoubtedly a huge part of this Athletics future, and with other prospects like Jacob Wilson coming up, it can start a new generation of Athletics in the bigs sooner rather than later. Butler has been hitting the ball hard so far in his short big league career, and plays a solid outfield as well.
Current stats: .242/.313/.442 | 117 OPS+ | 9 HR | 30 RBI
San Diego Padres – Jackson Merrill OF
A great second half from Merrill can make him the only NL rookie to rival Paul Skenes for the NL Rookie of the Year award. Besides that, him playing at the top of his game like he has been keeps him in that center field spot, where he’s began to flourish as a big leaguer.
Current stats: .274/.307/.429 | 107 OPS+ | 12 HR | 46 RBI
San Francisco Giants – Jorge Soler DH
To put it simply, the Giants need more production out of their DH. Soler is an incredible bat to have, especially in the postseason if he’s consistently hitting the ball hard. If he can channel maybe his second half of 2021, the Giants can improve vastly in the remainder of the season.
Current stats: .223/.302/.396 | 101 OPS+ | 11 HR | 34 RBI
Seattle Mariners – Julio Rodriguez CF
Julio is starting to emerge as one of the league’s more underwhelming superstars. He’s had a rough first half, and after not making the all star team this season, needs to have a good second half. With the Astros fighting for first place day in and day out, Julio needs to step up for the Mariners.
Current stats: .263/.315/.372 | 100 OPS+ | 11 HR | 37 RBI | 18 SB
Texas Rangers – Wyatt Langford OF/INF
Wyatt Langford started out the year a little slower than many would’ve thought following Spring Training, but has since begun to put it together. He hit for a cycle earlier this season, and continues to hit the ball hard and it looks like his bat is developing nicely. If he can showcase more power in the second half, the Rangers should be very excited for their future with the former Florida Gator.
Current stats: .254/.316/.384 | 99 OPS+ | 5 HR | 42 RBI