You never know who is going to come through in the biggest October moments. Sometimes it’s the biggest stars. But not always. And there is a long history of rookies stepping up and making enormous impacts during their first postseason. Corbin Carroll in 2023. Jeremy Peña in 2022. Randy Arozarena, Michael Wacha, Evan Longoria.
Madison Bumgarner. Adam Wainwright. Miguel Cabrera.
Here is a ranking of 12 rookies expected to have the biggest impacts on this year’s Major League postseason:
1. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays
What a season this has been for Yesavage, the 20th overall pick from the 2024 Draft. The 22-year-old didn’t make his pro debut until this season, beginning the year pitching against teenagers in Single-A Dunedin. He finished it in Toronto, delivering five scoreless innings in one of the most important home debut starts in Blue Jays history in Game 161, setting up the club to clinch its first AL East title in a decade. Three starts into his big league career, Yesavage is already one of the three most important starting pitchers on Toronto’s roster — behind Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber — and a legitimate X-factor come the AL Division Series and possibly beyond.
2. Isaac Collins, OF, Brewers
Injuries in Milwaukee’s outfield opened opportunities for Collins, who emerged as a mainstay amid the Crew’s white-hot run early in the summer. He enters October as a legitimate National League Rookie of the Year candidate, having paired a .779 OPS, nine homers and 16 steals with excellent defensive play. No left fielder in MLB compiled more Outs Above Average, per Statcast, than Collins, who also slashed an impressive .295/.383/.464 through July and August. The ability to consistently provide professional at-bats and play air-tight defense are two huge assets in the postseason, when little things often decide close games.
3. Carlos Narváez, C, Red Sox
The 26-year-old was a revelation behind the plate for Boston, posting a .786 OPS in the first half. Though he cooled significantly down the stretch, Narváez has a chance to impact the postseason picture more than most rookies as Boston’s everyday backstop.
4. Cam Schlittler, RHP, Yankees
The hard-throwing right-hander seemed to lock up a postseason rotation slot with his latest outing, when he fired seven scoreless innings against the Orioles on Sept. 27, and appears likely to start Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series if it gets there. The 24-year-old has been little short of sensational since debuting in early July, pitching to a 2.96 ERA across his first 14 career starts, with 84 strikeouts in 73 innings.
5. Connelly Early/Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox
Neither rookie left-hander was in Boston as recently as late August, when Tolle and then Early debuted within a span of 11 days. Now either — or both — could factor in as important pieces in the Red Sox pitching plans this October. The 23-year-old Early, Boston’s No. 6 prospect, seems the most likely after finishing the regular season with another strong outing. He memorably racked up 11 strikeouts in his Sept. 9 debut and owns a 2.33 ERA through four career starts. Early could factor in as a reliever or replace the injured Lucas Giolito in Boston’s rotation for the Wild Card round.
6. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers
This is where this exercise gets speculative, with Misiorowski beginning a stretch of two young hurlers with all the talent in the world but undetermined roles. The Brewers have already opted not to use Misiorowski in the rotation; he pitched in relief for the first time in the Majors on Sunday in anticipation for a relief role come October. That outing didn’t exactly go perfectly, and Misiorowski still technically hasn’t made Milwaukee’s postseason roster. But he’s still a huge X-factor given how electric the stuff is. The thought of it playing up in smaller stints, in an Andrew Miller-type fireman role maybe, is tantalizing and terrifying all at once.
7. Roki Sasaki, RHP, Dodgers
Sasaki is in a similar boat — that is, if he’s active. Whether or not Sasaki makes the Dodgers NLDS roster remains an open question, but if he does, it’ll be in a relief role. It’s not hard to imagine him emerging as an impact leverage arm and helping Los Angeles once again play deep into October.
8. Caleb Durbin, 3B, Brewers
The 25-year-old Durbin settled in as the Brewers starting third baseman and made solid contributions throughout the season, pairing 11 homers and 18 steals with a .721 OPS. He’s an above-average defender per Outs Above Average and can do a little bit of everything on the offensive side, broadening his potential to make an impact come playoff time.
9. Jasson Domínguez, OF, Yankees
Domínguez got off to a slow start this season and experienced defensive struggles, eventually shifting into a depth role that should limit his exposure come October. But matchups are important in the postseason, and the switch-hitting Domínguez is likely to get some big at-bats with the platoon advantage, providing chances for him to make an impact at the plate.
10. C.J. Kayfus, 1B/OF, Guardians
Kayfus’ walk-off hit-by-pitch clinched the Guardians’ third playoff berth in four years. He’s been a regular contributor since debuting on Aug. 2 and profiles as Cleveland’s starting first baseman on the eve of their American League Wild Card matchup with Detroit.
11. Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs
The Cubs’ top prospect at the start of the year, Shaw made the Opening Day roster but struggled out of the gate, going on to show bursts of potential during an otherwise uneven rookie year. But he still did enough to hit 13 homers and steal 17 bases and offers solid defense at the hot corner for the North Siders as they enter their Wild Card tilt with San Diego.
12. Sal Stewart, 3B, Reds
The 21-year-old arrived in the Majors on Sept. 1 on the heels of a standout season at Triple-A and immediately made an impact with his bat, popping five homers in his first 18 big league games. He’s gotten reps at first and third base so far, and though he profiles as a depth option for Cincinnati, it’s easy to see Stewart getting at-bats with the Reds potentially facing two Cubs left-handers in the Wild Card round.
