When examining the multi-player trade that sent Tommy Pham to the Tampa Bay Rays in December 2019, the baseball community initially zeroed in on the immediate outfield swap. However, as the seasons passed under the Southern California sun, a minor prospect unexpectedly changed the story of the deal. Jake Cronenworth was originally drafted by the Rays as a two-way player, but after moving west, he gave up pitching to focus solely on his left-handed batting. He made his MLB debut during the shortened 2020 season, delivering a remarkable debut by hitting .285 and narrowly finishing as the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year.
His 2021 follow-up performance demonstrated that his rookie burst was no fleeting moment. As a sophomore, Cronenworth established a consistent elite level, recording 151 hits, 33 doubles, 7 triples, and 21 home runs, along with 71 RBIs, which earned him his first All-Star spot.
He maintained his high-volume authority into the 2022 season, hitting 17 more home runs, setting a career high with 70 walks, and driving in 88 runs. His performance in the middle of the lineup earned him a second straight All-Star selection. Cronenworth's ability to perform under pressure became legendary that autumn when his clutch, game-winning single in Game 4 of the NLDS beat the division-rival Dodgers, igniting an unforgettable celebration at Petco Park.
The physical and strategic grind over the next two summers led to a natural dip in performance. Facing positional shuffling and a lower slot in a star-studded batting order, Cronenworth labored through a frustrating, injury-hampered 2023 run where his baseline slipped to 105 hits and just 10 long balls. While the 2024 schedule yielded a respectable bounce-back effort—as he elevated his output to 139 hits, 29 doubles, and 17 home runs—the front office challenges him to rediscover the elite, frontline efficiency that originally defined his peak.
He is coming off a solid 2025, but as he is still a Padre, there is room for him to eventually break the top 15 of this list.
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