Arguably the best division in baseball, the NL East will be deep this season once again.
After the Mets traded for star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the offseason, the Nationals and Marlins also made improvements, while the Phillies stayed the same for the most part. Don’t forget about the two-time defending division champion Braves however, who reloaded after falling one game short of a trip to the World Series.
Let’s take a look at one breakout candidate for each NL East team in 2021.
Atlanta Braves – OF Cristian Pache
The #12 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, Cristian Pache made his MLB debut during the 2020 NLCS when Braves OF Adam Duvall suffered an injury. Pache only had 22 at-bats in the postseason, but he did have 4 hits which included 1 HR and 4 RBIs. Atlanta’s top prospect is considered elite defensively, and should take over as the everyday starter in center field for the Braves.
Miami Marlins – SS/2B Jazz Chisholm
The Marlins have many young talented prospects ready to contribute now with Chisholm, the #66 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, ready to emerge as a full-time starter. Chisholm appeared in 21 games during the 2020 season where he only collected 9 hits in limited action. Jazz Chisholm has shown flashes in the minor leagues, and should be ready to contribute in Miami full time this season.
New York Mets – 1B/OF Dominic Smith
Smith had a breakout season in 2020 where he batted .316 with 10 HRs and 42 RBIs in 50 games, and now enters his fifth season in the big leagues. Still only 25 years old, Dominic Smith could emerge this season as arguably one of the best pure hitters in a lineup that now includes Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and more.
Philadelphia Phillies – 3B Alec Bohm
Bohm finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting a year ago where he showed just how good of a hitter he truly is. Bohm made his MLB debut in 2020 where he batted .338 with 4 HRs and 23 RBIs, and should be fully cemented as the Phillies starting third baseman in 2021.
Washington Nationals – 2B/SS Luis Garcia
The young 20 year old impressed during the 2020 season where he batted .276 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs in his first MLB action. While Garcia is still younger, the Nationals showed in 2020 that they are high on the young second baseman, and that alone makes Garcia a breakout candidate on a young but talented Nationals team.
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