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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans. Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Breakouts of 2023: AL Central edition

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 9/11/23

In a division where the Minnesota Twins are currently the only team with a winning record in 2023, the American League Central checks all the boxes as the worst division in the MLB. But with a young crop of players starting to flourish for their teams, there have been plenty of breakouts to choose from despite the poor records.

Here are three players that have made the biggest improvement during the 2023 season.

Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals, pitcher: Acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers in June, pitcher Cole Ragans has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since his debut with the Royals.

In nine starts since his arrival, Ragans is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA including 69 strikeouts over 53.1 innings pitched. He has also cut down on his home runs allowed, giving up only one as a member of the Royals.

Making his MLB debut last year with the Rangers, he struggled in his two stints with the club going 2-6 with a 5.32 ERA allowing 10 home runs and striking out 51 across 64.1 innings pitched.

Cole Ragans since the start of August:

7 starts with just 7 earned runs allowed, 1.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 60 strikeouts

Unbelievably good. pic.twitter.com/ucbLw0kTT9
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 4, 2023

With an improved fastball he looks like one of the biggest steals of the trade deadline, and a starting pitcher to build around that the Royals have been searching for the past decade.

Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins, third base: The first pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Twins third baseman Royce Lewis has produced at every level he's played at since being drafted.

Making his MLB debut in 2022, Lewis was off to a hot start at the plate before he tore his ACL in his right knee for the second time causing him to miss the rest of the season.

Looking fully recovered from that injury, Lewis has been a game-changer at the plate for the first-place Twins.

In only 49 games this season, he is slashing .314/.365/.530 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI including three Grand Slams in one week.

Expected to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come, Lewis is finally having the breakout that fans have been waiting for.

Royce Lewis launches his 3rd Grand Slam… IN THE LAST WEEK!

(via @BallySportsNOR)pic.twitter.com/e6iSP9NHIy
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 4, 2023

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers, outfielder: A late-round gem drafted in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter has turned into an All-Star caliber player after breezing his way through the minor leagues.

After a solid debut in 2022, he has burst onto the scene this season.

With a .293/.354/.516 slash line, Carpenter has 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 100 games for the Tigers in 2023. While also adding 13 doubles, two triples and going a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts.

Players with 5HR and 5SB over the last 30 days:

Player/HR/SB
- CJ Abrams: 5/13
- Ronald Acuna Jr: 9/11
- Julio Rodriguez: 10/9
- Bobby Witt Jr.: 7/7
- Kerry Carpenter: 7/5 - all 5 of his SBs came in the L30 days and he is 5/5 on attempts pic.twitter.com/HBlblz0EM9
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) September 11, 2023

He joins outfielder Riley Greene and first baseman Spencer Torkelson to form a trio of young hitters that will be the key to the Tigers' success in 2024 and beyond.

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