Signed as an Amateur Free Agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 following his defection from Cuba, Yordan Alvarez was traded only 45 days later to Houston in a move that Dodgers management would come to regret.

“Air Yordan” did not need a long time to make it to the Majors, breaking the roster in June, 2019, and despite missing playing less than other rookies, he was the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year, belting 27 Home Runs in only 369 Plate Appearances with a Slash Line of .313/.412/.655.  Alvarez was outstanding in that year’s World Series, batting .412 in their loss to Washington.

Alvarez only played in two Games in 2020 due to injury, but there were no side effects for Alvarez moving forward.  Playing more at DH than in Outfield, Alvarez’s hitting skills were proven to remain upper-tier.  Smacking 33 Home Runs with 104 RBIs, Alvarez had a .877 Slugging Percentage, and matched his Second Team All-MLB honor from his rookie year.  The Astros went to the World Series, though lost to Atlanta, but Alvarez batted over .500 in the NLCS, winning the NLCS MVP.  

In 2022, Alvarez continued his ascension, with 37 Home Runs, a .306 Batting Average and an OPS of 1.019.  He won MLB 1 honors, went to his first All-Star Game, won the Silver Slugger and was third in MVP voting.  Alvarez would this time be on the winning side of a World Series.  Alvarez had another good 2023, adding his second All-Star, a third All-MLB 2, and his third straight 30 HR year.  Last year, Alvarez continued his strong offensive game with 35 Home Runs, and begins 2025 on a streak of three All-Stars and four 30-plus Home Run years

While Alvarez's defense and speed are not strong, his bat is the most potent on a great club going into 2025.

Martin Perez began his career with the Rangers, first signing as an Amateur Free Agent from Venezuela in 2007.  The Pitcher first cracked the Majors in 2012, and for the next seven years, it always felt like Perez was struggling to fight or keep a spot on the backend of the Rangers rotation.  In that time frame, Perez managed three 10-Win years, but only had one year where he had an ERA under four and/or a WHIP under 1.4 (2013).  After an abysmal 2018 (2-7, 6.22 ERA), Perez left as a Free Agent for Minnesota, and after three years, he returned to Texas in 2022, but this time it was different.

Perez’ 2022 saw the Venezuelan go 12-8, with a 2.89 ERA and 1.258 WHIP, the latter two by far the best of his career.  He was one of the few bright spots on a poor Rangers team, and for the first time in his career, Perez was an All-Star.  In 2023, Perez was again a lower-end starter, but he was now a World Series Champion, with Texas winning it all.

Perez signed with Pittsburgh in 2024, leaving the Rangers with a 65 and 61 record.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is important to us that the Seattle Mariners have announced that the Los Angeles Dodgers will retire Fernando Valenzuela’s #34 this August.

The Dodgers accidentally discovered Valenzuela as they were scouting a Shortstop in Mexico.  They were dazzled by the rotund hurler and signed him, buying out his Mexican League contract in 1979.  A year later, he was a September callup, and in 17.2 Innings, he never allowed a run.  It didn't take a clairvoyant to see what might happen in 1981.

"El Toro" helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.  That season, he won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, making him the first player to accomplish that in the same year.  Valenzuela was the opening day starter, and everyone in Los Angeles took the Mexican star to heart.

The mania surrounding Valenzuela cooled, but he was still an elite pitcher for many years.  He was an All-Star each year from 1981 to 1986, and he had three more top-five finishes in Cy Young voting.  Valenzuela would have three 200 Strikeout years, and he was also a decent batter, winning two Silver Sluggers, as well as aiding L.A to a World Series win in 1988.

Valenzuela will join Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges. Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale who have their number retired by the Dodgers.

Pitchers had better careers, but many of those never captured the imagination of baseball fans like Fernando Valenzuela.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Fernando Valenzuela for this impending honor.

The 2022 season was certainly an exciting one. However, as the Super Bowl, which serves as the pinnacle of season activities, is fast approaching, many are already setting their sights on the upcoming season. While the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs might have made it to the Super Bowl game this time around, there is no telling what could play out in the next season. For all we know, we might have a new set ofSuper Bowl teams.

Many teams underwent massive improvements in the 2022 NFL season, which could see them rise to dominance in the next season. Similarly, several teams are set to bolster their rosters with some of the best prospects at the NFL draft. This could also have them ideally positioned to contend for the title in 2023/2024.

Thus, in this article, we will explore some of the teams to pay attention to in anticipation of the 2023 season. Let's dive right in:

Chicago Bears

It might be a little strange that the Bears made this list, considering they are yet to consistently secure wins. However, a deeper look into this team confirms that it is indeed in an ideal position going into the 2023-24 season. One of the chief reasons is certainly the emergence of Justin Fields as a franchise quarterback. Fields has improved massively under the guidance of head coach Matt Eberflus as is evident in his most recent numbers. The second-year signal-caller managed a passer rating of 86.2 and seven touchdowns heading into Week 13. Undoubtedly, with a better team, Fields has the potential to become one of the most prolific QBs in the league.

With a projected cap space of $115 million, the Bears certainly have all it takes to build a better supporting cast around Fields. In addition, the team could use its first-round picks in the NFL Draft to secure an excellent receiver.

Detroit Lions

The Lions didn't have the most successful campaigns over the past season. However, those paying attention would likely have noticed the sparks indicating that this team is not far off from becoming elite. Much of this can be credited to head coach Dan Campbell who has shown an unshaken dedication to building a resilient team with a winning mentality.

This disposition is certainly yielding results, as the Lions managed a three-game winning streak until a loss against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12. Central to the Lions' moderate success has been a host of young players such as Aidan Hutchinson and Amon-Ra St. Brown. The team may also have an opportunity to secure a more long-term QB option in the 2023 NFL Draft, which could establish them as a top contender next season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars were in a building phase through the 2022 season and likely still are. However, from all indications, things are going well, and this team might only require a few more pieces to realize their full potential in the 2023-24 season. The Jaguars already have a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who is living up to his draft status. He proved himself instrumental to the Jaguars' recent comeback win over Baltimore. Similarly, many other young talents have been pulling their weight, such as Trevon Walker, Josh Allen, Christian Kirk, and Devin Lloyd.

The Jaguars might be able to further improve their team through the draft in 2023, which will certainly see them pose a problem to other teams.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are another team slowly but steadily acquiring all that is required to become a quality top challenger in the NFL. A primary reason for this is, of course, Mike Tomlin, who has transformed the Steelers into a team that rarely has a losing season.

A major determinant of how far this team will go in the upcoming season will be Kenny Pickett. While the rookie quarterback didn't have the best of starts to the season, he has shown flashes of a franchise QB in recent weeks. Pickett's emergence, if sustained, will surely be instrumental to securing the position of the Steelers as a top team. Furthermore, if the team can manage to improve their defense, theirNFL odds are bound to improve dramatically in the 2023-24 season.

Final Thoughts

If there is anything we know about the NFL, it is that quality teams are rarely built overnight. Thus, while the teams mentioned in this article are by no means the best in the league currently, they might be making a gradual but sure march toward this status.