The best baseball players born on Jan. 24

Here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for Jan. 24.

1) Whit Merrifield (1989)
While Merrifield might solely have debuted in 2016, the two-time All-Star has rapidly made an impression. Merrifield twice led the American League in hits — in addition to singles (2019), doubles (’21) and triples (’19), particularly — and he led the AL in stolen bases thrice. He performed in each Royals regular-season sport from 2019-21 — and at six positions all through the infield and outfield — breaking the membership’s consecutive video games report on Aug. 14, 2021, along with his 422nd straight look. Merrifield additionally set the franchise report with a 31-game hitting streak from Sept. 10, 2018, to April 10, 2019, breaking Hall of Famer George Brett’s mark from 1980. He was traded to the Blue Jays in August 2022 and is signed by means of ’23.

2) Scott Kazmir (1984)
Kazmir was one of many AL’s premier pitchers through the begin of his profession with the Rays, compiling a 55-44 report and a 3.92 ERA in six seasons. He was a two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay (’06, ’08) and was the AL’s strikeout chief with 239 in his lone 200-inning season in ’07. Kazmir most just lately threw for the Giants at age 37 in 2021, in what was his first style of massive league motion since ’16. It was additionally the second comeback marketing campaign of his profession, after he rebounded from a 2011 launch to pitch a career-high 15-win season with the A’s in ‘14.

3) José Quintana (1989)
The eleventh Major Leaguer (and fourth hurler) from Colombia, Quintana has posted an 89-87 general report and a 3.75 ERA in 11 MLB seasons by means of 2022. He managed 4 consecutive 200-inning campaigns from 2013-16 with the White Sox, capping that stretch along with his sole All-Star choice and a Top 10 AL Cy Young end. One of probably the most constant pitchers within the Majors throughout his profession, Quintana additionally tallied a 200-strikeout season with 207 in ‘17.

4) Rob Dibble (1964)
Part of the Reds’ “Nasty Boys” bullpen trio in 1990 and ’91 — together with Randy Myers and Norm Charlton — Dibble threw a fastball that generally reached 100 mph and a slider that averaged round 90 mph. The two-time All-Star (‘90, ‘91) helped information the Reds to their 1990 World Series title, sharing NLCS MVP honors with Myers after tossing 5 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in 4 appearances (one save).

5) Dave Brain (1879)
In simply seven MLB seasons, Brain left his mark as one of many prime energy hitters of the dead-ball period. The Hereford, England native led the Majors with 10 residence runs for the Boston Doves in 1907. But he stood out most for his distinctive identify; he usually represents third base on baseball’s “All-Body Part Team.”

Others of observe:
Wally Judnich (1916)
Judnich completed within the Top 20 in AL MVP Award voting twice in his first three MLB seasons, however enlisting within the Air Force for the subsequent three years throughout World War II slowed his momentum. He did earn a World Series ring in 1948, although, as a backup outfielder and first baseman for Cleveland.

Cliff Heathcote (1898)
In a 15-year MLB profession — primarily with the Cubs (9 seasons) and Cardinals (5) — Heathcote was most notably traded between video games of the rivals’ doubleheader on Memorial Day in 1922; he suited up for St. Louis within the first contest, then switched to a Chicago uniform within the second.