37. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

In 2016, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. defected from Cuba along with his brother, and he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays months later.  Gurriel Jr. worked his way up the system and became a starter for the Blue Jays in 2021, but he was traded to Arizona in the 2023 offseason, and since that time, he has elevated his game to become a vital part of the Diamondbacks.

In Gurriel’s first year in the desert (2023), he made his first All-Star team, and had 144 Hits with 24 Home Runs, both career-highs.  Arizona won the National League pennant with his help, and though the Diamondbacks failed to win the World Series, Gurriel Jr. had arrived as a valuable baseball commodity.

Gurriel has not been able to match that year, and he enters 2026 returning from a torn ACL.  At 32, he may be past his prime, but he should still be able to produce for Arizona.