It's rarely the division that gets the most eyeballs, but the National League Central is in an interesting place right now.
Three teams from the Central made the postseason last year, and it was the Milwaukee Brewers who put up the best record in baseball before being ousted in the NLCS. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs had a huge offseason, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates made sneaky upgrades, and the St. Louis Cardinals are entering a rebuild.
As those storylines begin to shift throughout the long Major League Baseball calendar, it's the perfect time to identify some breakout candidates from each of these teams, as they'll all need someone to outshine expectations if they want to accomplish their differing organizational goals.
Chicago Cubs - 1B/OF Tyler Austin
Why would the Cubs, who have the most loaded lineup in this division by far, give a guaranteed contract to a 34-year-old journeyman who hasn't appeared in the majors since 2019? Because Austin has been tearing the cover off the ball in Japan for the last six years, and even if it's only in a short-sided platoon role, they have to believe he can give them a boost in some way or another.
Cincinnati Reds - 2B Matt McLain
Buy all the post-hype stock you can in Matt McLain. The former first-rounder was dreadful last season after returning from a shoulder injury that cost him all of 2024. He might even be on a short leash to keep his starting job. But his baserunning and fielding are elite, so if his offense bounces back to even 80% of what it was in 2023, he's instantly a very valuable contributor.
Milwaukee Brewers - SP Kyle Harrison
If the Brewers are trading for a starting pitcher, you have to be on alert that said pitcher is going to have a monster year. And Harrison, who was once a consensus top 50 prospect in the game, has elite fastball characteristics that could finally pay dividends if the adjustments the Boston Red Sox were making to his arsenal keep evolving with Milwaukee's excellent pitching development brain trust.
Pittsburgh Pirates - SP Bubba Chandler
These lists aren't meant to be full of obvious top prospect selections, but we're making an exception for Chandler, the 6-foot-3 fireballer who could very well win NL Rookie of the Year if he pitches to his full potential. Watching and learning from a Cy Young winner in Paul Skenes every day, even if the two are nearly the same age, can only help Chandler mature.
St. Louis Cardinals - DH/C Iván Herrera
Some would argue Herrera has already broken out, as the 25-year-old posted a 136 OPS+ in 107 games last year. But this is a bet on the righty slugger not only staying healthy, but elevating himself even another tier by blowing past 30 home runs and earning some down-ballot Most Valuable Player consideration by the end of the year.