Ranking 4 Most Likely MLB Superstars To Join Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 Club
Grant White
Host · Writer
1. Ronald Acuna Jr. - Atlanta Braves
Already with two 40-home run seasons under his belt, Ronald Acuna Jr. is the most probable batter to join Shohei Ohtani in the elusive 50/50 club. But that's assuming the Atlanta Braves slugger can stay healthy enough to enjoy the prime years of his career.
At this point, Acuna Jr. has as many ACL repairs as he does 40-home run campaigns. Still, his analytics profile and speedy baserunning put him in rare company. Prior to his season-ending knee injury in May, the reigning NL MVP had a 48.2% hard-hit rate and an average exit velocity of 92.2 mph. That's in addition to his .562 slugging percentage from the 2023 season, which resulted in 41 homers.
Health is the biggest barrier preventing Acuna Jr. from joining Ohtani in the 50/50 club. But if he comes back with as much resolve as he did following his first ACL reconstruction, Acuna Jr. could join the list sooner rather than later.
4. Julio Rodriguez - Seattle Mariners
It's been a tumultuous year for Julio Rodriguez, but that doesn't diminish his outlook as one of the MLB's future superstars. We saw the centerfielder crack the 30/30 list last year, but he hasn't come close to matching that effort in 2024. The glass half-full perspective is what makes J-Rod a progression candidate for next season, and he could join the MLB's most exclusive club.
Rodriguez sits in the upper tier of most analytics categories. The Seattle Mariners franchise cornerstone ranks in the 80th percentile or better in expected slugging percentage, average exit velocity, bat speed, and sprint speed. Still, he hasn't used his tool-set to his full potential this season.
J-Rod is operating 60 points below his expected slugging percentage and 100 points off his previous career best. Natural progression is inevitable, but if the Mariners loosen the reigns, Rodriguez could flourish and become the newest member of Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 club.
3. Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. has been lost in all of this year's hoopla. With Shohei Ohtani doing his thing in the National League, and Aaron Judge stealing headlines in the AL, Witt has been asserting himself as one of the best players in all of baseball.
The Kansas City Royals shortstop has reached some triumphant milestones in only his third season in the majors. Witt Jr. set a new career-best with 32 homers while establishing himself as one of the premier analytics bats in all of baseball. The former second-overall pick sits in the 98th percentile in expected slugging percentage, thanks to his 14.8% barrel, 27.7% squared-up, and 48.7% hard-hit rates.
Witt Jr. has fallen off last year's base-stealing pace, but he's still a top-tier threat on the bags. It's all coming together for Witt Jr. and he could be the next to join Ohtani in the 50/50 club.
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2. Elly De La Cruz - Cincinnati Reds
No hitter in the MLB has more raw power than Elly De La Cruz. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop has the hardest-hit ball in franchise history and is just discovering the true extent of his power as a 22-year-old. More impressively, De La Cruz has already totaled 100 stolen bases in less than two full seasons in the MLB, ensuring that he sits atop the stolen base leaderboard for years to come.
While De La Cruz has yet to fully tap into his home run potential, the underlying metrics are there. He sits in the 90th percentile in average exit velocity, 89th percentile in bat speed, and 86th percentile in barrel rate. Once De La Cruz optimizes his sweet spot contact and squared-up rate, there will be no stopping him from reaching the 50/50 plateau.
If your sportsbook is hanging props on the next player to join Shohei Ohtani in the 50/50 club, De La Cruz is your guy.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr. - Atlanta Braves
Already with two 40-home run seasons under his belt, Ronald Acuna Jr. is the most probable batter to join Shohei Ohtani in the elusive 50/50 club. But that's assuming the Atlanta Braves slugger can stay healthy enough to enjoy the prime years of his career.
At this point, Acuna Jr. has as many ACL repairs as he does 40-home run campaigns. Still, his analytics profile and speedy baserunning put him in rare company. Prior to his season-ending knee injury in May, the reigning NL MVP had a 48.2% hard-hit rate and an average exit velocity of 92.2 mph. That's in addition to his .562 slugging percentage from the 2023 season, which resulted in 41 homers.
Health is the biggest barrier preventing Acuna Jr. from joining Ohtani in the 50/50 club. But if he comes back with as much resolve as he did following his first ACL reconstruction, Acuna Jr. could join the list sooner rather than later.
4. Julio Rodriguez - Seattle Mariners
It's been a tumultuous year for Julio Rodriguez, but that doesn't diminish his outlook as one of the MLB's future superstars. We saw the centerfielder crack the 30/30 list last year, but he hasn't come close to matching that effort in 2024. The glass half-full perspective is what makes J-Rod a progression candidate for next season, and he could join the MLB's most exclusive club.
Rodriguez sits in the upper tier of most analytics categories. The Seattle Mariners franchise cornerstone ranks in the 80th percentile or better in expected slugging percentage, average exit velocity, bat speed, and sprint speed. Still, he hasn't used his tool-set to his full potential this season.
J-Rod is operating 60 points below his expected slugging percentage and 100 points off his previous career best. Natural progression is inevitable, but if the Mariners loosen the reigns, Rodriguez could flourish and become the newest member of Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 club.
