As spring training gets underway, each team will have multiple storylines to follow into the regular season. Here, we examine one player from every National League club who’s worth keeping an eye on throughout training camp.
Check out our list of AL players here.
National League East
Braves: Jarred Kelenic, OF
Kelenic is projected to start the season in left field after the Braves traded Vaughn Grissom to the Red Sox for Chris Sale. The 24-year-old former top prospect could be another major coup for president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. Kelenic slashed .253/.327/.419 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases over 105 games for the Mariners last season. He went deep seven times with a .911 OPS over his first 35 contests. Atlanta’s deep lineup can allow Kelenic to thrive without much pressure, but a good spring will be key to his development.
Marlins: Eury Pérez, SP
The Marlins were incredibly careful with Pérez during his rookie season, even shutting him down for a month in the summer to protect his arm. Now that he has a rotation spot secured, it’ll be interesting to watch how the Marlins handle their prized youngster in camp. When he was on the mound, the 6-foot-8 Pérez repeatedly flashed his ace potential. His continued development will be one of the most important storylines of Marlins camp this year.
Mets: Edwin Díaz, RP
Díaz missed the entire 2023 campaign, recovering from a knee injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic. Prior to the ailment, the two-time All-Star was arguably the best closer in the majors, authoring a 1.31 ERA with a jaw-dropping 17.1 K/9 two years ago. His performance resulted in a five-year, $102-million contract. The Mets’ bullpen accrued the second-lowest fWAR last season without the right-hander. New York needs Díaz to return to form, and it starts with a good showing in spring training to prove he’s healthy.
Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF
It’s unlikely that last year’s second overall pick will make the Nationals out of spring training, but Crews is certainly going to do his best to leave an impression. The soon-to-be 22-year-old jumped to Double-A in his first taste of pro ball last summer and is clearly Washington’s center fielder of the future. A good showing from Crews this spring will provide plenty of long-term optimism.
Phillies: Taijuan Walker, SP
Walker made 31 starts for the Phillies in 2023 after signing a four-year, $72-million deal last winter. None of those starts came during the playoffs, as he didn’t pitch in the postseason despite being on the roster. Barring injury, Walker has his 2024 rotation spot sewn up, and he’s clearly an important part of their staff. Still, there’s got to be some hurt feelings lingering here. How the Phillies use Walker and whether he lets last year’s decision affect him this season will be a storyline to watch as camp – and the regular season – moves along.
National League Central
Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF
All eyes will be on the Brewers’ top prospect as he prepares for his first Opening Day as a major leaguer. Chourio, who turns 20 on March 11, signed an $82-million contract in December, the richest deal ever given to a prospect with no big-league experience. Now, the center-field job in Milwaukee is his, but the spotlight is brighter than ever. So much of the Brewers’ success this year will depend on Chourio living up to expectations.
Cubs: Shota Imanaga, SP
Among Japanese stars who made the move to the majors from NPB this offseason, Yoshinobu Yamamoto got most of the press. But Imanaga’s a pretty good pitcher himself, and now he gets the chance to show off his stuff. The 5-foot-10 left-hander is nicknamed “The Pitching Philosopher” in part because of his craftiness. Imanaga won’t light up the radar gun, but he’ll beat hitters by controlling the strike zone with a dizzying array of pitches in the low-to-mid 90s, making him something of a rare breed in 2024. It’ll be fascinating to watch him adjust to life in the majors this spring.
Pirates: Paul Skenes, SP
The No. 1 pick from the 2023 draft and the top pitching prospect in baseball will get plenty of attention at Pirates camp. Skenes is armed with a fastball that tops out at 102 mph and a slider that produces great swing-and-miss rates. The 21-year-old right-hander threw a combined 6 2/3 innings between Single-A and Double-A last season after joining the organization. So, a leap to the majors out of spring is very unlikely. However, he’s a future ace and has the stuff to make an immediate impact.
Reds: Elly De La Cruz, SS
De La Cruz dazzled during his first few months in the majors with his exciting style of play. But he also crashed back to earth in the second half, leaving more questions than answers heading into 2024. De La Cruz clearly has the tools to be a star in the majors, but how will he handle adversity as a sophomore? Given how important he is to the Reds’ success, De La Cruz can’t afford anything less than a solid spring training to allay any fears in Cincinnati.
Cardinals: Masyn Winn, SS
St. Louis’ top prospect will be given every opportunity this spring to begin the season as the club’s starting shortstop. The 21-year-old struggled after getting a taste of the majors last season, amassing a .172/.230/.238 slash line with two homers over 37 games. However, he recorded 18 round-trippers with 17 steals and an .834 OPS across 105 games in Triple-A in 2023. Winn’s defense could also keep him afloat if his bat isn’t MLB-ready, as he ranked in the 94th percentile in arm strength.
National League West
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, DH
Los Angeles has a slew of players to watch in camp. Flamethrower Tyler Glasnow and slugger Teoscar Hernández are intriguing, as is the $325-million man Yamamoto, who hasn’t thrown a pitch in the majors. Yet, no star shines brighter in Hollywood than Ohtani after joining the Dodgers on a historic 10-year, $700-million pact. He’s the reigning AL MVP and the best player in baseball. The 29-year-old transcends the sport with his global reach and brand. Ohtani is also coming off elbow surgery. So, every swing and at-bat will be monitored as he works his way back to pitching in 2025.
D-Backs: Jordan Lawlar, SS
Lawlar could be the next top prospect to join Arizona’s impressive core of young talent. He had a cup of coffee with the team in 2023, collecting four hits with a stolen base over 34 plate appearances after tallying 20 homers with 36 steals and an .874 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A. Geraldo Perdomo is projected to be the starting shortstop come Opening Day. However, the 21-year-old Lawlar appears MLB-ready and could turn some heads in camp.
Giants: Jordan Hicks, SP
A lot of eyes will be on Korean star Jung Hoo Lee, but Hicks may be the Giants’ most intriguing player in camp. In need of help in the rotation, San Francisco signed Hicks – one of the most electric relievers in baseball – to a four-year deal with plans to make him a full-time, conventional starter. The Cardinals tried him as a starter in 2022 but quickly put him back in the bullpen after he allowed 16 earned runs in 26.1 innings as a starter. Before that, Hicks’ last experience in the rotation was at Class A in 2017.
Padres: Michael King, SP
King made a smooth transition to the rotation with the Yankees last year. Now, he’s in San Diego, where he’s trying to turn the blockbuster Juan Soto trade into a win for the Padres. King’s assessment of that deal certainly raised some eyebrows, and it also put him more squarely in the spotlight. The 28-year-old now has a chance to back up his words and break out as a dependable full-time starter in brown and gold, starting with his performance in the Cactus League.
Rockies: Nolan Jones, OF
Jones emerged as a potential star amid a 103-loss season by the Rockies. He recorded a 20-20 campaign along with a .931 OPS across just 106 games en route to finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The 25-year-old heads into the spring looking to build on his success on a club that desperately needs a new face of the franchise, with the Kris Bryant signing struggling to hold its value.
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