The list of the top ten best-selling jerseys in Major league baseball have been announced, and while Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts had the top-selling jersey for the second consecutive year, more and more younger talent is sneaking into the list.
The 10 highest-selling baseball jerseys this season, in order …
Mookie Betts
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Javier Baez
Clayton Kershaw
Cody Bellinger
Aaron Judge
Corey Seager
Shohei Ohtani
Nolan Arenado— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) October 4, 2021
But with the emergence of a number of young stars around baseball like Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., could it be possible that a young star from the Tampa bay Rays could crack the top 10 in 2022? Let’s examine the three most likely candidates.
Wander Franco’s #5
He was the top prospect in baseball the previous two seasons, and now he’s reached the big time. All he did in his rookie season is tie the all-time record for consecutive games reaching base safely by a player age 20 or younger, play stellar defense, and solidify himself as one of the mainstays on this team. If there is someone untouchable to other teams, it’s him.
Likelihood of breaking the top 10: 30%
Randy Arozarena’s #56
After what he did in the 2020 postseason, Arozarena’s name became well-known in baseball circles, but if he can repeat that this October/November, the sky could be the limit for the 26-year-old, who has shown he has the flash to sell jerseys.
Likelihood of breaking the top 10: 20%
Shane Baz’s #11
He’s the mysterious third piece that the Rays got in the trade for Chris Archer back in 2018, and has looked like a world-beater in his first three starts in the majors. He’ll get a chance to display his skills to a national audience here this October, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a bunch of new Baz fans before the Rays run through the playoffs comes to an end.
Likelihood of breaking the top 10: 11% (because of course)
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.