Following the announcement of the All-MLB Team presented by MGM Rewards during the inaugural All-MLB Weekend in Las Vegas, attention now turns to 2024 and the potential sleeper picks who could earn their first All-MLB honors next year. From young rising stars with promising futures to a dominant rookie who could make an immediate impact, here are 10 candidates to watch:

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals:

The anticipation surrounding Witt’s MLB debut in 2022 was immense, and he lived up to the hype, finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. However, it was in 2023 that he truly showcased his abilities.

At just 23 years old, Witt made history as the first player in Royals’ franchise history to achieve a 30-30 season, hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases. He also became only the second player in AL/NL history, alongside Mike Trout in 2012, to achieve 30 homers and 49 steals at age 23 or younger. His outstanding performance earned him a seventh-place finish in the AL MVP Award voting.

Although Witt had a slow start at the plate last season, hitting .257/.300/.442 before the All-Star break, he turned things around in the second half. With a remarkable .301/.343/.563 slash line and 16 additional homers, he proved his ability to excel at the highest level.

As Witt continues to ascend among the game’s elite, it’s highly conceivable that he will earn a spot on the All-MLB squad in 2024.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s 30-30 season

Despite encountering injury setbacks, Royce Lewis of the Minnesota Twins has displayed immense talent whenever he has taken to the Major League stage.

Selected as the first overall pick in the 2017 Draft, Lewis made his MLB debut in May 2022. Unfortunately, his rookie season was cut short after just 12 games when he suffered a second torn right ACL in two years, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year. However, Lewis made his triumphant return in May 2023, despite being hampered by oblique and hamstring injuries, and he left an indelible mark on the baseball world.

In his limited 58-game campaign in 2023, Lewis exhibited sensational performance, boasting a remarkable .921 OPS along with 15 home runs. Notably, four of those homers were grand slams, setting a new single-season record for the Twins. Additionally, Lewis achieved an unprecedented feat by hitting four grand slams within an 18-game span, establishing an AL/NL record. His postseason debut was equally electrifying, as he launched two home runs in his first two at-bats and concluded the playoffs with a total of four home runs.

With Lewis captivating the baseball world during the exhilarating months of September and October, there is a strong possibility that he will secure a spot on the All-MLB Team if he can stay healthy and complete a full season in 2024.

Lewis’ four-homer postseason

Jung Hoo Lee, the center fielder for the San Francisco Giants, presents an intriguing prospect as he enters the MLB stage. Although his performance in the major leagues is yet to be seen, there are certain aspects of his plate approach that may raise some concerns, despite the Giants signing him to a six-year, $113 million contract.

One area of potential worry is his high ground ball rate, which stands at nearly 60 percent. Additionally, Lee experienced a decrease in power during the injury-shortened 2023 season with the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization, with his slugging percentage dropping by 120 points compared to the previous year.

However, there are several positive attributes to appreciate in Lee’s hitting profile. He boasts an impressive contact rate and possesses great speed, characteristics that bode well for his performance. Furthermore, he has gained recognition for his defensive prowess in center field and carries the nickname “Grandson of the Wind” due to his baseball pedigree. Lee’s ability to spray the ball to all fields can be advantageous, particularly in the vast outfield of Oracle Park. At just 25 years old, he has tremendous potential.

While it remains challenging to predict the exact level of production Lee will provide for San Francisco, it is not difficult to envision him living up to the expectations he set during his introductory press conference, where he confidently stated that fans would be impressed with his skill set from Opening Day onward.

Jung Hoo Lee’s introduction

Spencer Steer of the Cincinnati Reds stands as a pivotal figure within a young and dynamic group of prospects who flourished in 2023. Alongside Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Will Benson, Steer contributed to an exciting core for the Reds.

Known for his versatility, Steer adeptly plays multiple positions, including first base, second base, third base, and the corner outfield spots. In his inaugural full season in the MLB in 2023, he made a notable impact at the plate. Steer showcased his skills by registering an impressive .820 OPS, accompanied by 23 home runs and 86 RBIs for Cincinnati. His above-average speed was also evident, as he successfully stole 15 bases.

As Steer enters his age-26 season, he possesses the potential for an even more remarkable performance in 2024. Should he continue to progress, he could very well earn a spot on the All-MLB roster when next year rolls around.

Evan Carter, OF, RangersIf his performance during the 2023 postseason is any indication, we could be seeing a lot of accolades headed Carter’s way in the years to come. Those could certainly include some All-MLB Team selections.

The 21-year-old outfielder made his MLB debut on Sept. 8, and it couldn’t have gone much better — he hit .306 with four doubles and five home runs in 23 games. But that was only a prelude for bigger things to come. In October, he hit .300 (18-for-60) with a single-postseason-record nine doubles to help the Rangers win a World Series title.

Carter is the No. 8 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. And he showed why in such a short period of time last fall. What’s next? Perhaps an All-MLB debut after his first full season in the big leagues.

Carter’s record-breaking double

Nolan Jones, OF, RockiesJones was a revelation for Colorado after the Rockies acquired him in a trade with the Guardians prior to the 2023 season. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound outfielder showcased power at the plate, speed on the bases and a cannon for an arm.

Had he made his Rockies debut prior to May 26, Jones may have finished higher than fourth in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting. He launched 20 home runs and stole 20 bases while posting a .931 OPS (138 OPS+).

A couple of Jones’ homers traveled nearly 500 feet, and the missiles he unleashed from left field had Statcast arm strength readings over 100 mph. In fact, Jones led MLB with an average arm strength of 98.9 mph in 2023.

Before you know it, it could be hard to keep up with Jones. His all-around abilities could even land him a surprise All-MLB selection in 2024.

Nolan Jones named NL POTW

Yainer Diaz, C, AstrosDiaz is an exciting young backstop with intriguing potential. After hitting at every level he played in the Minor Leagues, he made a big impression with the Astros in 104 games last season.

The 25-year-old belted 23 home runs with an .846 OPS in his first full season in the Majors. That performance makes him the presumptive starting catcher for Houston next season, and with the extra plate appearances, who knows what kind of numbers he’ll put up in 2024?

It will be a significant moment for the Astros, moving on from veteran Martín Maldonado, who was fantastic with Houston’s pitching staff and played a key role in the club’s success over the past several years, which includes two World Series championships. But Diaz represents a major offensive upgrade.

If he can produce like he did last season over a wider sample in 2024, it could lead to Diaz being a sleeper All-MLB candidate.

Yainer Diaz’s two-run homer (23)

Paul Skenes, right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, emerges as an intriguing candidate to secure a spot on the All-MLB team next year. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Draft and currently ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the game by MLB Pipeline, Skenes possesses immense potential.

Regarded as the top pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2009, Skenes wields an impressive arsenal. His fastball consistently sits around 98 mph and can reach as high as 102 mph. Complementing his fastball, he showcases a sharp slider and a formidable power changeup.

Skenes’ delivery features a relatively low release point and a flat angle, enabling his triple-digit fastball to deceive opponents even more effectively than its impressive velocity alone would suggest. The consensus among experts is that Skenes will swiftly ascend to the major leagues, potentially making his debut as early as May or June of the upcoming season. The former Air Force/LSU standout is poised to make a significant impact and capture attention with his performance against MLB hitters in his initial foray into the big leagues.

Paul Skenes puts away six

Paul Skenes, right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, emerges as an intriguing candidate to secure a spot on the All-MLB team next year. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Draft and currently ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the game by MLB Pipeline, Skenes possesses immense potential.

Regarded as the top pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2009, Skenes wields an impressive arsenal. His fastball consistently sits around 98 mph and can reach as high as 102 mph. Complementing his fastball, he showcases a sharp slider and a formidable power changeup.

Skenes’ delivery features a relatively low release point and a flat angle, enabling his triple-digit fastball to deceive opponents even more effectively than its impressive velocity alone would suggest. The consensus among experts is that Skenes will swiftly ascend to the major leagues, potentially making his debut as early as May or June of the upcoming season. The former Air Force/LSU standout is poised to make a significant impact and capture attention with his performance against MLB hitters in his initial foray into the big leagues.

George Kirby’s stellar outing

Shōta Imanaga, LHP, free agentLike Lee, Imanaga is kind of a wild card since we’ve never seen what he can do against Major League competition. But the 30-year-old Japanese left-hander has plenty of upside that suggests he could be very good in 2024.

Imanaga features a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, splitter and curveball. He has seen some Major League hitters before — during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he started the gold medal game against Team USA and impressed his opponents.

Some of the batters Imanaga faced said he kind of reminded them of Max Fried in the way he could dominate right-handed hitters. He notably struck out Paul Goldschmidt with a nasty splitter.

If Imanaga demonstrates more of the same on a larger scale next season, he could prove to be a great investment for whichever team signs him this offseason after he posted a 3.18 ERA over eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Could he be All-MLB in 2024? Don’t count him out