The 2024 baseball season began with a buzz around three young prospects named Jackson. Jackson Chourio, 20, opened the season for the Milwaukee Brewers as the No. 2 prospect in the game, while Jackson Holliday, also 20, was called up by the Baltimore Orioles. The third Jackson, 22-year-old Jackson Merrill, made the San Diego Padres’ lineup by changing positions to centerfield. Merrill has been performing well, batting .295 with a homer and 12 runs and RBI each.
Chourio has had a mixed start to the season, hitting .207 with 33 strikeouts and only 6 walks in 33 games. However, he has managed to hit 4 homers, 13 RBI, and has a perfect steal record. On the other hand, Holliday struggled with the Orioles, hitting only .059 with 18 strikeouts and was eventually sent back to Triple-A Norfolk. Despite his initial struggles, Holliday’s talent is undeniable, and he is expected to make a strong comeback.
Twenty players in baseball history have hit 20 or more homers before turning 21, with half of them enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Current players like Juan Soto, Bryce Harper, and Ronald Acuna Jr. have achieved this feat and are on track for Hall of Fame status. The all-time leader in this category is Mel Ott, who hit an incredible 61 home runs before turning 21 for the New York Giants.
Several Hall of Fame players have also excelled at a young age. Ty Cobb won his first of nine batting titles at age 20, while Alex Rodriguez won the AL batting crown at 20 with a .358 average. Other Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and Ken Griffey Jr. hit more than 20 homers before turning 21. These achievements showcase the exceptional talent and potential of young players in the league.
Great young pitchers have also made an impact in baseball history. Bob Feller struck out 15 in his first big-league start at age 17 and had an impressive record by age 21, earning him a spot in the Hall of Fame. Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela were also standout pitchers before turning 21, with Gooden winning the NL Rookie of the Year award at 19 and Valenzuela winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards at age 20.
Pitchers like Joe Bush and Jim Palmer have won World Series games before turning 21, showcasing their talent and composure on the big stage. While there are no pitchers younger than 22 in the majors in 2024, the history of young pitching phenoms like Feller, Gooden, and Valenzuela highlights the impact that young players can have on the game and their potential to become stars in the future.
