MLB Star Player Position Switches in 2024A
third of the way into the 2024 season, it’s time to check in on one of the more interesting subplots of last winter: How are all those big stars who took to new positions working out? Most notably, that was Bryce Harper becoming Philadelphia’s full-time first baseman, or Mookie Betts making the mostly unprecedented move to shortstop, but it wasn’t just them, either. There were more than a few similar moves.
Here is how some of the big stars who changed positions are doing:
Bryce Harper, Phillies 1: Fantastic. Harper’s +4 Outs Above Average rank as second-best among first basemen, behind perennial fielding standout Christian Walker. In fact, between his regularly strong hitting, his defensive value, and some down years from other stars, it’s not a reach to say: Harper is now the best all-around first baseman in the game.
Mookie Betts, Dodgers SS: Good enough. The bar for success was not “being an elite Gold Glove defender,” because as great as Betts is, that was never really a realistic expectation. As we detailed in depth when the move was made, it would be a huge win here if Betts could merely handle the position capably. Being an average shortstop, in other words, would be a tremendous success.
Aaron Judge, Yankees CF: Quite well. Judge had played 120 career games in center entering 2024, so maybe this isn’t _new_-new. But look at the percentage of his innings in center year-by-year. He has competently handled center, posting a good-enough +1 OAA thus far.
Tyler Freeman, Guardians CF: The metrics and eye test disagree. Freeman has become a regular highlight reel for the Guardians. Even just over the last two weeks, you can find highlights titled “Tyler Freeman’s incredible sliding catch,” “Tyler Freeman’s diving catch,” a different “Tyler Freeman’s diving catch,” and “Tyler Freeman’s amazing diving catch.” Are we just very good at video titles that make people want to watch cool baseball plays? Perhaps, but it also helps point to what the Freeman experience in center field is: never boring.
