Baseball has long showcased rising stars, with the youngest players in MLB history making waves before even turning 18 years old.
From teenage phenoms of the past to today’s breakout talents barely out of high school, the game continues to evolve.
The Youngest Players In The MLB: The Top 10 Youthful Stars In Baseball
- A look at the youngest players in MLB history
- How young was Bryce Harper when he debuted in the MLB?
- Who are the youngest players in the MLB today?
© Brad Mills-Imagn Images
At the time of his debut, Bryce Harper was a teenage sensation…
We’ll take a look at the top 10 youngest players in MLB history, as well as the top 10 youngest players that are lacing up their spikes in the league today.
Here are the youngest players in the MLB:
The Youngest players in MLB history
| Rank | Player | Age in first game | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joe Nuxhall |
15 years, 316 days | 1944-1966 |
| 2 |  Tommy Brown |
16 years, 241 days | 1944-1953 |
| 3 |  Carl Scheib |
16 years, 247 days | 1943-1954 |
| 4 | Alex George |
16 years, 256 days | 1955-1955 |
| 5 |  Jim Derrington |
16 years, 306 days | 1956-1957 |
| 6 |  Ed Sanicki |
17 years, 74 days | 1949-1951 |
| 7 |  Mel Ott |
17 years, 253 days | 1926-1947 |
| 8 |  Robin Yount |
18 years, 201 days | 1974-1993 |
| 9 | Bryce Harper |
19 years, 195 days | 2012-Present |
| 10 |  Juan Soto |
19 years, 207 days | 2018-Present |
1. Joe Nuxhall | 15 years, 316 days | 1944-1966
Joe Nuxhall is the youngest player in MLB history. He made his first appearance in an MLB game on June 10, 1944, at just 15 years old for the Cincinnati Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nuxhall ended up playing 16 seasons in the MLB and he became a broadcaster for decades after his career.
2. Tommy Brown | 16 years, 241 days | 1944-1953
Tommy Brown debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers, now the Los Angeles Dodgers, at age 16, which makes him one of the youngest players in MLB history.
A versatile infielder and outfielder, Brown played nine seasons, mostly with the Dodgers, before short stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
3. Carl Scheib | 16 years, 247 days | 1943-1954
Carl Scheib made his debut with the Philadelphia Athletics, now just the Athletics, becoming the youngest American League pitcher and one of the youngest players in MLB history.
Scheib played 11 seasons in his career and posted a 4.88 ERA. He hit a respectable .250 at the plate as a pitcher.
4. Alex George | 16 years, 256 days | 1955-1955
Alex George debuted for the Kansas City Athletics at just 16 years old, making him one of the youngest players in MLB history.
He appeared in five games that season, recording one hit in ten at-bats. George never returned to the majors but played in the minors until 1963.
5. Jim Derrington | 16 years, 306 days | 1956-1957
Jim Derrington debuted for the Chicago White Sox in September 1956 at 16 years old, becoming the youngest AL pitcher to start a game and one of the youngest players in MLB history.
Derrington appeared in 21 games from 1956-1957 before injuries ended his career prematurely.
6. Ed Sanicki | 17 years, 74 days | 1949-1951
Ed Sanicki made his MLB debut with the Phillies in September 1949 at 17 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in MLB history.
Remarkably, Sanicki hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat. He played parts of two seasons (1949 & 1951) before retiring in 1951.
7. Mel Ott | 17 years, 253 days | 1926-1947
Mel Ott played his entire career with the New York Giants, now the San Francisco Giants, and he is one of the youngest players in MLB history.
The 12-time All-Star, six-time National League home run leader and 1933 World Series champion was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951.
8. Robin Yount | 18 years, 201 days | 1974-1993
Debuting at age 18, Robin Yount is a Milwaukee Brewers legend and one of the youngest players in MLB history.
A two-time AL MVP and Gold Glover, he collected over 3,000 hits and 251 home runs in his career. Yount was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999.
9. Bryce Harper | 19 years, 195 days | 2012-Present
At the time of his debut, Bryce Harper was a teenage sensation and he was one of the youngest players in MLB history.
Harper debuted at age 19 with the Washington Nationals and he earned NL Rookie of the Year honors. Harper now plays for the Phillies on a record 13-year $330 million deal.
10. Juan Soto | 19 years, 207 days | 2018-Present
Juan Soto rounds out our list of youngest players in MLB history. He also made his debut for the Nationals.
Soto is a four-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger and a World Series champion. He has played for the Nationals, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees and now the New York Mets in his career.
The Youngest players in the MLB today
| Rank | Player | Age | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Konnor Griffin |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 2 |  Didier Fuentes |
20 years | 2025-Present |
| 3 |  Kevin McGonigle |
21 years | 2026-Present |
| 4 |  Samuel Basallo |
21 years | 2025-Present |
| 5 |  Roman Anthony |
21 years | 2025-Present |
| 6 | Jackson Chourio |
22 years | 2024-Present |
| 7 |  Walbert Urena |
22 years | 2026-Present |
| 8 |  Justin Crawford |
22 years | 2026-Present |
| 9 |  Sal Stewart |
22 years | 2025-Present |
| 10 |  Moises Ballesteros |
22 years | 2025-Present |
1. Konnor Griffin | 19 years | 2026-Present
Pirates prodigy Konnor Griffin, the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, made his big league debut early in the 2026 season, about one month shy of his 20th birthday. He is the youngest player in the MLB today.
Griffin has outstanding potential and the Pirates are hoping he reaches it – they signed him to a record nine-year, $140 million extension after only a handful of games in the majors. It’s the largest contract in Pirates history.
2. Didier Fuentes | 20 years | 2025-Present
Pitcher Didier Fuentes made his MLB debut for the Atlanta Braves three days after his 20th birthday on June 20, 2025, making him the youngest player in the MLB today.
Fuentes became the youngest Braves starting pitcher in over 50 years and he has showcased potential in his arsenal.
3. Kevin McGonigle | 21 years | 2026-Present
A favorite in the AL Rookie of the Year race, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle may be one of the youngest players in MLB today, but he sure doesn’t play like it.
McGonigle, a late first round pick in 2023, was hitting .322 through his first 100 plate appearances in the big leagues. He’s a career .308 hitter in the minors.
4. Samuel Basallo | 21 years | 2025-Present
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo made his big league debut in 2025, showing some pop and defensive capabilities while hitting for a low .165 average.
Still one of the youngest MLB players in 2026, Basallo isn’t off to a much better start, but is a highly touted player. He was ranked as the second-best catching prospect in baseball before the 2026 season.
5. Roman Anthony | 21 years | 2025-Present
Top prospect for the Boston Red Sox and a contender in AL Rookie of the Year odds, Roman Anthony is one of the youngest players in the MLB today.
Anthony made his MLB debut on June 9, 2025, at 21 years old. In his first series, he recorded his first RBI, extra base hit and home run in his MLB career.
6. Jackson Chourio | 22 years | 2024-Present
Jackson Chourio of the Brewers is one of the best young stars in baseball and he is one of the youngest players in the MLB today.
Chourio was on the Brewers Opening Day roster in 2024, becoming the youngest player on an Opening Day roster since 1937.
7. Walbert Urena | 22 years | 2026-Present
Dominican Republic pitcher Walbert Urena ranks seventh on the list of youngest MLB players today. The 22-year-old right-hander has split the early part of the 2026 season with the Angels and their Triple-A affiliate.
Urena was the youngest player in Angels franchise history to make his debut on Opening Day.
8. Justin Crawford | 22 years | 2026-Present
At just 22, Phillies slugger Justin Crawford isn’t just one of the youngest players in MLB today but also a more than capable big league hitter.
Crawford made his debut for Philadelphia in 2026. A few games into his big league career, he became the youngest player in franchise history to record a walk-off RBI since Scott Rolen in 1997.
9. Sal Stewart | 22 years | 2025-Present
An early favorite in the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year race, 22-year-old Reds infielder Sal Stewart has looked more than comfortable after debuting as one of the youngest MLB players in 2025.
Stewart had an NL-leading 24 RBI through just 25 games in 2026. In a 2-0 win over the Pirates on March 30, he became the youngest MLB player to reach base three or more times in each of his team’s first four games since 1900.
10. Moises Ballesteros | 22 years | 2025-Present
Moises Ballesteros debuted for the Cubs on May 13, 2025, at 21 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in the MLB today.
Ballesteros recorded his first career hit and RBI on May 16. He is currently regarded as one of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system.
The Youngest players in the MLB FAQs
Who is the youngest player in the MLB right now?
The youngest player in the MLB right now is Konnor Griffin, a position player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Griffin was just 19 years and 344 days old when he made his big league debut in April 2026.
What is the average age of MLB players?
The average age of MLB players typically ranges between 27 years old and 29 years old. This reflects a mix of younger players breaking into the majors and experienced veterans. The exact average can vary slightly each season due to roster changes and player development trends.
How has the average age of MLB players changed over the years?
The average age of MLB players has experienced notable fluctuations over recent decades. In the 1950s and 1960s, the average age of MLB players was approximately 28.5 years old. The average age continued to increase until its peak in 2005 at 29.3 years old. Now, the average age usually is in the 27 to 29 years old range (27.5 years old in 2025).
How young was Joe Nuxhall?
Joe Nuxhall is the youngest player in MLB history. He made an appearance in an MLB game on June 10, 1944, at just 15 years and 316 days old for the Cincinnati Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals. His appearance in the game was a result of the player shortages caused by World War II.
How old was Satchel Paige?
Satchel Paige played his final MLB game at 59 years and 80 days old, making him the oldest player in MLB history. He made his MLB debut in 1948 at age 42 with the Cleveland Indians after a legendary Negro Leagues career. He was the first African American pitcher in the American League and led the Indians to a World Series.
How old is Shohei Ohtani?
Los Angeles Dodgers global superstar Shohei Ohtani is 31 years old. He is arguably the best player in the MLB today and one of the best players in MLB history. In 2024, Ohtani became the only player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.
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