MLB Spring Training: Can the AL Central repeat a great 2024 showing?

• As spring training games begin in Major League Baseball, the AL Central has high hopes. Three teams won playoff series in 2024.
• The Cleveland Guardians made it to the ALCS and have won the division five of the last nine years.
• The Chicago White Sox were the exception; they had a historically bad season with 121 losses.

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As spring training games begin across Major League Baseball, the AL Central division is focused on another great showing. It’s been a decade since a team from this division has won a World Series. However, three teams won a playoff series in 2024.

Can the Guardians repeat as division champs?

The Cleveland Guardians made it to the American League Championship before losing to the Yankees in five games. Jose Ramirez and his mates have won the AL Central five times in the last nine years. They didn’t change much in the offseason. 1st baseman Josh Naylor is now in Arizona, and the team signed Carlos Santana for a third go-around to replace him. Starter Shane Bieber is another former Guardian back in the fold. Steven Kwan says the boys need to stay hungry.

“It feels really similar to that 2023 year. 2022, we had that great playoff run, got really deep, and I feel like that year after, everyone was really satisfied, really content about being there,” Kwan said. “And I don’t think we can have that same energy. We need to have that desperation, that want to get better.”

Will the Royal survive without Singer?

The Kansas City Royals were the last AL Central team to win a World Series in 2015. Last year was their best season since that championship, as they swept the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card round. They will lean on pitching even with Brady Singer traded to Cincinnati. Offensively, Bobby Witt Jr. finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player voting with a fantastic 2024. Salvador Perez and the newly acquired Jonathan India will most likely help Witt Jr. this year.

Can the Tigers find some offense?

The Detroit Tigers had an even better year, considering expectations. They bounced the Houston Astros out in the Wild Card round and given their long years of struggle, they’re hoping it’s a stepping-off point for a long run of success. They have the pitching with Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal, but the offense struggled much of 2024. Gleyber Torres joins Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson as the veteran players hoping to teach a lot of young talent. Manager A.J. Hinch knows it will be a tough fight.

“Give some respect to the AL Central, which I know oftentimes doesn’t get seen as strong as we probably should be. We have bonafide stars in our division, and we have teams that are continually trying to get better,” Hinch said. “We’re all chasing Cleveland because they’ve been the team at the head of the division for a while.”

Will lack of spending doom the Twins?

The Minnesota Twins are in the same boat, trying to get better, mostly because of what they had last season. Only four other teams spent less money than Minnesota in free agency. Outfielders Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton need to stay healthy, or they will not have much of a shot. The Twins are also in the middle of a potential ownership change, so being frugal was probably in the cards no matter what.

Can the White Sox possibly be worse than 2024?

The White Sox are an entirely different story. In 2024, they lost 100 games faster than any team since 1916. Their total of 121 losses is the most in the modern era of the game. Luis Robert Jr. is still on the roster, as is Andrew Benintendi, but most of the rest of the players are minor league prospects. General Manager Chris Getz believes he is seeing signs of growth.

“You look at our record last year, we wanna win more games this year. What exactly is that amount? Time will tell. All I know is that from an infrastructure standpoint, from a talent standpoint, we’re in a much better place,” Getz said.