MLB

20 Biggest Reasons to Look Forward to the 2015 MLB Season

Looking forward to the MLB season

2015 MLB season
Kelley L. Cox -- USA TODAY Sports

With pitchers and catchers set to report in just under two weeks, a new baseball season is in the air. With it comes enthusiasm and an eagerness to think about those spring and summer months. Here are some reasons and players that will help you look forward to the upcoming year.

20. Spring is in the air

MLB spring training
David Manning -- USA TODAY Sports

20. Spring is in the air

MLB spring training
David Manning -- USA TODAY Sports

With spring training comes the feeling that winter is over and that warmer times are ahead for each team. The initial shots from Arizona and Florida entice fans in colder climates to prepare for the games ahead.

19. Players in new places

Jon Lester Athletics
Peter Aiken -- USA TODAY Sports

19. Players in new places

Jon Lester Athletics
Peter Aiken -- USA TODAY Sports

Teams that were active on the free agent market get to show off their newly acquired players. Jon Lester hasn't pitched yet for the Chicago Cubs and already the enthusiasm is through the roof. The anticipation of seeing new players makes the upcoming season exciting.

18. Can Ichiro hit 3,000?

Ichiro Suzuki Yankees
Adam Hunger -- USA TODAY Sports

18. Can Ichiro hit 3,000?

Ichiro Suzuki Yankees
Adam Hunger -- USA TODAY Sports

Ichiro Suzuki is now with the Miami Marlins, but the question remains. Can Suzuki crack the 3,000 hit mark? He is approximately 160 hits away so the likelihood isn't there, but if he plays parts of the next two seasons it could happen.

17. The return of A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez MLB
Robert Stanton -- USA TODAY Sports

17. The return of A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez MLB
Robert Stanton -- USA TODAY Sports

Will the return of Alex Rodriguez goose the New York Yankees in the standings or will the back pages of the tabloids be filled with more gossip and innuendo? It's safe to say there's no love lost between the Yankees and A-Rod, even though they are the ones that offered the contract.

16. Debut of Yoan Moncada

Oakland Athletics stadium
Kyle Terada -- USA TODAY Sports

16. Debut of Yoan Moncada

Oakland Athletics stadium
Kyle Terada -- USA TODAY Sports

The highly-prized Cuban shortstop should be the subject of intense scrutiny now that he has filed free agency. Moncada is the first Cuban to file free agency under new rules that greatly reduce limitations on Cuban players.

15. Debut of Yasmani Tomas

Opening Day MLB
Chris Humphreys -- USA TODAY Sports

15. Debut of Yasmani Tomas

Opening Day MLB
Chris Humphreys -- USA TODAY Sports

The early part of the offseason was dominated by Yasmani Tomas news, and the Arizona Diamondbacks signed the coveted slugger. The big question now: Can he live up to the hype?

14. Seeing the Washington Nationals rotation

Stephen Strasburg Nationals
H. Darr Beiser -- USA TODAY Sports

14. Seeing the Washington Nationals rotation

Stephen Strasburg Nationals
H. Darr Beiser -- USA TODAY Sports

With the signing of Max Scherzer, the Nationals' rotation now includes Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez. All five are legit No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers, making this rotation quite fearsome.

13. Are the Chicago Cubs for real?

Joe Maddon Cubs
Matt Barton -- USA TODAY Sports

13. Are the Chicago Cubs for real?

Joe Maddon Cubs
Matt Barton -- USA TODAY Sports

One new manager, a rebuilt/destroyed Wrigley Field (depending on your view) and several young faces may not equal a World Series just yet. However, this may be the year we start to see whether the Cubs are just a pipe dream or a legit contender.

12. A healthy Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder Rangers
Troy Taormina -- USA TODAY Sports

12. A healthy Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder Rangers
Troy Taormina -- USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers barely got any mileage out of Prince Fielder before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2014 season. He should be back and healthy, so this could be the year we see Fielder's power break out again.

11. Young Seattle Mariners pitching

Taijuan Walker Mariners
Peter Llewellyn -- USA TODAY Sports

11. Young Seattle Mariners pitching

Taijuan Walker Mariners
Peter Llewellyn -- USA TODAY Sports

There was a reason why the Mariners wouldn't part with pitchers like James Paxton and Taijuan Walker. The Mariners believe these pitchers, combined with Felix Hernandez, could lift the team to the top of the American League West standings.

10. Revitalized San Diego Padres

Bud Black Padres
Lance Iversen -- USA TODAY Sports

10. Revitalized San Diego Padres

Bud Black Padres
Lance Iversen -- USA TODAY Sports

The Padres are the team that did the most to rebuild themselves in the offseason, with acquisitions such as Justin Upton and Matt Kemp. Is this the year the Padres finally break loose in the National League West?

9. Dodgers will be good again

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jeff Curry -- USA TODAY Sports

9. LA Dodgers will be good again

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jeff Curry -- USA TODAY Sports

One of these years the Los Angeles Dodgers will reach the World Series, but for now they keep getting denied in the playoffs. A pretty high payroll has not guaranteed success so far.

8. Renewed enthusiasm in Baltimore

J.J. Hardy Orioles
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

8. Renewed enthusiasm in Baltimore

J.J. Hardy Orioles
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

With the Baltimore Orioles hitting their first American League Championship Series since 1983, the feeling is the Orioles are finally back. Baltimore is a baseball town at heart, and a good Orioles team makes fans more enthusiastic for the year ahead.

7. Watching The Cardinal Way

St. Louis Cardinals
Jasen Vinlove -- USA TODAY Sports

7. Watching The Cardinal Way

St. Louis Cardinals
Jasen Vinlove -- USA TODAY Sports

The closest thing to an all-business team on the field is this squad, which routinely makes the postseason with little trouble and gives fans across the Midwest reason to root deep into October. St. Louis is the epitome of a baseball town year-round.

6. Philadelphia Phillies' rebuilding

Citizens bank park
Eric Hartline -- USA TODAY Sports

6. Philadelphia Phillies' rebuilding

Citizens bank park
Eric Hartline -- USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies are limited in what they can do to rebuild the team for now, but this is the year we will finally see prospects like Freddy Galvis, Cody Asche and Maikel Franco come through and deliver a new era of Phillies baseball.

5. Continued Pittsburgh Pirates good performance

Pittsburgh Pirates
Charles LeClaire -- USA TODAY Sports

5. Continued Pittsburgh Pirates good performance

Pittsburgh Pirates
Charles LeClaire -- USA TODAY Sports

The Pirates dropped out in last year's wild-card round to the eventual champion San Francisco Giants, but it's fun to see the Pirates playing meaningful baseball in September. The Pirates fans no longer turn negative in July and look forward to the Steelers.

4. The renewed Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks
Joe Camporeale -- USA TODAY Sports

4. The renewed Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks
Joe Camporeale -- USA TODAY Sports

With a new manager and general manager on the Diamondbacks, the consensus is this is a team that bears watching in 2015. Yasmani Tomas is one reason why this team could be one to watch in future seasons.

3. Corey Kluber's domination

Corey Kluber Indians
Brad Rempel -- USA TODAY Sports

3. Corey Kluber's domination

Corey Kluber Indians
Brad Rempel -- USA TODAY Sports

Coming out of nowhere, Corey Kluber dominated the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff and won the American League Cy Young Award last season. Kluber did a fantastic job keeping the Indians in the pennant race until the final couple weeks.

2. Can the Kansas City Royals repeat the magic?

Kansas City Royals
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

2. Can the Kansas City Royals repeat the magic?

Kansas City Royals
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

Was last year an aberration or are the Royals going to be around for a while? There was no question last year's run was magical all the way down to the seventh and final game. It will be interesting to see whether the Royals can repeat the success.

1. Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner Giants
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

1. Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner Giants
Denny Medley -- USA TODAY Sports

Bumgarner turned out to be a fantastic pitcher during the World Series, and now we see whether the Giants will reward the hurler with a long-term contract. Whatever happens, Bumgarner certainly earned his MVP honors last year.

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