Kerry Carpenter

A 19th-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2019, Carpenter bucked the odds by even reaching the majors. He continued to surprise in 2023 with 20 home runs, six steals and a 121 wRC+ in 459 plate appearances. The last of those 20 homers came Aug. 23 -- Carpenter went 34 games without a long ball to finish the season, slashing just .256/.313/.308 in that stretch. In addition to that disturbing trend, Carpenter managed just a .657 OPS against left-handed pitching for the season, leaving open the possibility for a strict platoon role. His overall body of work was impressive enough for Carpenter to project as a regular in Detroit between the corner outfield and DH, but it's understandable to still be skeptical, especially with the way last season ended for him. HIs home park does him no favors. Read Past Outlooks