10 MLB players off to surprise starts
April baseball is always full of surprises, and this year is no different, as several players around the league are off to unexpected starts.
Here are 10 of the most surprising performers so far:
Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics: Many tabbed Lawrence Butler as a popular breakout pick heading into 2025, but Soderstrom is the Athletic making headlines early on. The former first-round pick is tied for the MLB lead with nine home runs, and his underlying metrics suggest his power is legitimate. Soderstrom ranks 95th percentile in expected slugging percentage thanks to an elite 18.8% barrel rate and 93-mph average exit velocity. The young slugger has the look of a star in the making.
Kris Bubic, Royals: The Bubic we're seeing right now is not the same pitcher who went 3-13 with a 5.58 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 2022. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, the Royals deployed him out of the bullpen last year, and he returned with reworked off-speed pitches. The lefty has ditched his old curveball in favor of a sweeper-slider combo to devastating results. He owns a 1.45 ERA and 26.2% K rate since rejoining the rotation this year. The Royals may have another ace on their hands.
Jonathan Aranda, Rays: Few players are hitting the ball with as much authority as Aranda this year. After posting a .738 OPS in 143 plate appearances in 2024, he's slashing .344/.442/.656 with four home runs to begin the season. The Rays have deployed him in a platoon role against right-handed pitching to great effect, as his expected slugging, average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate all rank 94th percentile or better. Tampa Bay may have found its version of Kerry Carpenter.
Jung Hoo Lee, Giants: A dislocated shoulder and torn labrum limited Lee to just 37 games as a rookie in 2024. The second season of his six-year, $113-million contract is off to a much better start. Lee has been dynamic at the plate, hitting an MLB-leading 10 doubles to go along with three homers and three stolen bases. The home run power likely isn't sustainable - all of his home runs were hit at Yankee Stadium - but a 40-double season seems attainable with his speed and bat-to-ball skills.
Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays: Nobody should be surprised that Bassitt is pitching well considering he's been a good pitcher for a long time. What is surprising, however, is that he's seemingly peaking in his age-36 season. His 1.49 FIP is the best in baseball and his 10.7 K/9 is a massive increase from the 8.8 K/9 he recorded in 2024. The strikeouts are likely to taper off, but Bassitt's command seems genuinely better, as he's lowered his walk rate from 9.2% last year to a much improved 5.4%.
Brendan Donovan, Cardinals: Donovan has been a base-hit machine to start the year and is tied for the NL lead with 32 hits. His 100th-percentile expected batting average suggests he's hitting line drives where fielders aren't. While he still isn't driving the ball for much power, his average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit percentage are all higher than they were last season. He's primed for a big year if he can maintain slightly above-average percentiles in those categories.
Tyler Mahle, Rangers: After two straight seasons lost to injury, Mahle looks all the way back. He's pitched to a 0.68 ERA (571 ERA+) and 0.83 WHIP in his first five starts in 2025, harkening back to his breakout years with the Cincinnati Reds. His arsenal isn't overpowering on paper, but he's nonetheless posted a respectable 24.8% K rate. He's also held opponents to just 3.4 hits per nine innings, the lowest mark in the league. Mahle is exactly what the Rangers need to solidify their rotation.
Tommy Edman, Dodgers: Just like everyone expected, the Dodgers' home-run leader is Edman, who already boasts eight and is already over halfway to his career high of 13. Los Angeles seems to have unlocked something in Edman. He's hitting the ball exponentially harder than ever, and while he likely won't out-homer Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman the rest of the way, he'll still be an important bat in this loaded lineup.
Tylor Megill, Mets: New York entered the season with several starters sidelined, but Megill has filled in admirably. He's posting a 1.09 ERA and 2.17 FIP through arguably the finest five-start stretch of his career. A huge part of his early-season success has been keeping the ball in the park. The righty hasn't allowed a single home run in 24 2/3 innings and he ranks 28th percentile in hard-hit rate. While his 1.26 WHIP likely indicates some good luck, Megill nonetheless appears to have taken a step forward.
Spencer Torkelson, Tigers: Many were ready to declare Torkelson a bust after he was demoted to the minor leagues in 2024, but something seems to have finally clicked for the former first overall pick. He's slashing .273/.377/.591 with seven home runs this year while hitting the ball extremely hard. He's still striking out a ton, but he's offset those punchouts by walking at an above-average clip. The 25-year-old might finally be turning into the guy Detroit thought it drafted.