15 Reasons to be Excited for the Upcoming Baseball Season!

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or looking to start watching Major League Baseball (MLB), the 2025 season has much to be excited about. With blockbuster deals and trades, young stars, and experienced veterans, the MLB’s 121st season is bound to be thrilling. 

1. Juan Soto, a Met

Finishing strong from an MVP finalist season with the New York Yankees, outfielder Juan Soto quickly became a fan favorite with the Pinstripes, sparking a free agency bidding war. Ultimately, the New York Mets prevailed over the crosstown Bronx Bombers, signing Soto for a record-breaking $765 million contract in the offseason. Therefore, the annual Subway Series between the New York teams will be more thrilling than ever; how will Yankee fans react to seeing Soto back at Yankee Stadium, but this time donning blue and orange? The weekend of May 16 is sure to bring chaos to New York City.

2. Roki Sasaki’s MLB debut

When flamethrowing Japanese right-handed starter Roki Sasaki announced his move to the MLB for the 2025 season, many ace-seeking teams considered him an offseason priority. However, just as they did with many other free agent stars, the Los Angeles Dodgers snatched him up, adding to their already powerful rotation. Sasaki brings a regular 100 mph fastball and a dominating splitter to the major leagues. As an international scout said on his report, “He has an ideal projectable, lean and athletic frame. He has excellent arm action and delivery, with three plus power pitches with control over command. He has No. 1 upside.” The Dodgers have definitely strengthened their rotation even further with Sasaki’s signing, bringing fear to other teams all around the league. 

3. The Dodgers post-World Series win

Speaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers: the team boasts some of the biggest stars in baseball, having signed pitchers Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and outfielder Michael Conforto, as well as re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and bullpen pitcher Blake Treinen. The team has spared no expense, as they strive to be the first repeat World Series champions since the 1998-2000 Yankees. Though, some question how well this team will hold up; last offseason, the Dodgers looked like a superteam, even with fewer stars, but ultimately had an unfulfilling season consisting of many, many injuries. We’ll just have to watch and see.

4. Shohei Ohtani pitching again

Two-way player Shohei Ohtani is coming off his greatest season yet, with a World Series win, a historic 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases season, and a National League MVP award. However, that’s only half of what Ohtani can do. Following an ulnar collateral ligament repair surgery on his throwing elbow, Ohtani has not stepped onto the mound since the 2023 season. Now, we can finally see how he holds up after the surgery this season. Will Ohtani strengthen the Dodgers’ rotation even further, or did the surgery ruin his arm? The question holds until his first pitching start in a full season. 

5. Paul Skenes’ sophomore season

Following a tremendously successful rookie season, earning the title of National League Rookie of the Year, Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes is projected to have an incredible sophomore season. According to a projection made by MLB, Skenes is looking to have a 5.8 Wins Above Replacement, an Earned Runs Average of 2.80, and 242 strikeouts. If Skenes holds up to this level, a CY Young award is destined for him. However, all rookies risk the sophomore slump, as shown by previous Rookie of the Year finalists Corbin Carroll and James Outman. Many players find it difficult to match the success of their first season, though Skenes has the potential to surpass his formidable rookie season.

6. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return

Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. only played 49 games in the 2024 season before succumbing to an ACL tear which ended his season. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP, Acuña was looking to have a great 2024 campaign until running the bases resulted in an injury. In his MVP-winning 2023 season, Acuña hit 40 home runs and stole 70 bases, creating the first ever 40-70 season in major league history. In a recent interview with MLB, Acuña said, “We’re really going to focus on my hitting and fielding and anything I can do to help the team win. In regards to running and stealing those bases, I don’t know if I’ll be able to steal the 40 or 50 bags as easily.” It seems that Acuña may not return as powerful running-wise as he was prior to his second ACL tear. What this season holds for Acuña is unknown for now, ready to be unveiled.

7. Spencer Strider’s return

Yet another Braves star, strikeout-leading starting pitcher Spencer Strider is bound to make his return in this new season as well. After dominating the league in strikeouts in 2023 with a whopping 281, his 2024 season was also cut short by an elbow surgery. Strider has an unhittable high-90s fastball and a slider with 3.5 inches of break. The Braves get their ace back and viewers get an exciting pitcher to watch this season: a win-win for everyone but the Braves’ opponents.

8. Matt Olson coming off a sloppy season

First baseman Matt Olson adds to the list of Braves players to watch out for. The league-leading home run slugger, who has greatly contributed to the Braves’ offense, surprisingly had a below-average season in 2024. Compared to his incredible 54-homer 2023, Olson ended 2024 with only 29 home runs, despite playing the same number of games. With his eye-catching swing that was missed last season, Olson is guaranteed to have great pressure and attention on him as he looks to return to his normal skill.

9. Mike Trout looking for a full season

Perhaps one of the most talented players in all of baseball—but also one of the most injury-prone—Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has never played more than 150 games since 2016. Recently, his number of games has fallen even further, playing only 29 last season after suffering two meniscus tears. In an interview about his recovery process, Trout stated, “I’m jogging and I’ve done little stuff like play catch with no pain. I haven't hit yet. The biggest thing for me is just the running part.” Injuries have plagued Trout season after season while his talent fades away with age. Hopefully, Trout will have a rare full season, pleasing viewers and striving to add a third MVP to his collection.. 

10. Jacob deGrom

Similar to Trout, Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom is arguably the most skilled pitcher of this decade, yet the most injury-prone. The two-time CY Young winning righty has not been spared by the baseball gods: last season, deGrom only made three appearances after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023. His short starts did not show his full ability, but also did not show any decrease in skill. This coming season, deGrom is looking to shield his arm away from any possible injuries and return to his undefeatable self from the late 2010s. 

11. Top 100 Prospects’ debuts

MLB Pipeline recently revealed the top 100 prospects for the 2025 season, with Roki Sasaki coming in as the top prospect. In the top 10, only two players have made their MLB debuts, Dylan Crews and Jackson Jobe, and with the exception of Sasaki, five prospects are either in Double-A or Triple-A. The possibility of these stars being invited to Spring Training is high, meaning the coaching staff will have a viewing period to determine how many will be joining their team’s 40-man roster. The next generation of baseball stars is ready and eager to make their talented debut to the world, possibly this coming season.

12. Jackson Holliday possibly having a fulfilling season

Son of star outfielder Matt Holliday, young Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday was destined to be a great baseball player. Growing up next to the media and other major leaguers, his MLB debut was one many looked forward to, yet his rookie season failed to show his full potential; Holliday only slashed .189/.255/.311, despite flying through the minor leagues. Still, Holliday has a chance to prove his ability at the highest level this season. 

13. Athletics in Sacramento

The Oakland Athletics said their final goodbye to the Coliseum on September 26 after 57 historic years. As their new stadium in Las Vegas is being built, they will call Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, the usual stadium of the Sacramento River Cats, home. Though it will not feel as homelike without the towering centerfield seats and open dugouts and bullpens, a mere hour and a half drive away is no challenge to dedicated fans. Perhaps the new stadium will even have more favorable conditions for players.

14. Tampa Bay Rays at temporary stadium

On the note of stadium changes, the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium, Tropicana Field, was destroyed by Hurricane Milton, making it unable to host fans and games. Thus, the Rays will play at the Yankees’ usual Spring Training field, George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Rays’ low-A minor league team calls Steinbrenner Field their home during a typical season. The agreement, which so far only pertains to the regular season, states that the Rays are responsible for all ticket sales and revenue, and can improve dugouts and team spaces, but ultimately not replace Yankee features. 

15. 2025 Postseason

It’s never too early to start thinking about the postseason, as it is the ultimate goal teams strive for. Some teams realize their limits and focus on player development, some teams push for the clinch, some teams aim to finally succeed in the early rounds, and some teams know they’re a guaranteed playoff team. The unfortunate Chicago White Sox, the Seattle Mariners, the Baltimore Orioles, and the New York Yankees fit into those categories, respectively. The White Sox, coming off a 121-loss season, realize that the postseason is quite far from reach. The Mariners hope to finally find good hitting and pitching all at once to clinch a postseason bid. The Orioles aim to push forward past the Wild Card Series. The Yankees will try to make up their awful World Series loss by winning one this year. Overall, the buildup to the 2025 postseason, and the postseason itself, is one that will be thrilling and entertaining.

Combining debuts, recoveries, and new stadiums, all accumulating to the postseason, the next set of 162 games are sure to be shocking, fascinating, and everything in between. Be ready to turn your baseball minds on and not look away, or else you may miss a jaw-dropping moment!