London Series: Players to watch as Mets and Phillies bring baseball back to UK (2024)

Major League Baseball is back in the UK this weekend as the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies bring their fierce rivalry to London.

The 2024 MLB London Series will see some of baseball’s top stars make the trip across the pond to the Big Smoke, together with a mouthwatering menu of supersized American food and tasty treats.

So, you’ve got your tickets for the show, you’ve got a cap and shirt to show your colours, but who are the players to look out for at a transformed London Stadium ballpark?

talkSPORT, with the help of Phillies icon Chase Utley, have got you covered.

Philadelphia Phillies

Bryce Harper, first baseman

One of the biggest names in baseball right now, Harper is a homerun machine and has been central to the Phillies’ recent success. A phenom from his high-school days, the Las Vegas-born big-hitter began his career as a first overall draft pick with the Washington Nationals before signing a gigantic $330million 13-year contract with the Phillies in 2019.

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Aaron Nola, starting pitcher

Another of the Phillies’ star pitchers, Nola is also the longest serving player on the team’s current roster, having made his debut season in 2015. He became a free agent at the end of last season after nine years with the Phillies, but was then re-signed by the team, penning a seven-year deal worth $172m. He must be doing something right.

J.T. Realmuto, catcher

Spending your career squatting behind batters must mean you learn a thing or two, because Realmuto is one of the great catcher/hitters of his generation. First-class defensive skills combined with solid hitting is a real combo, with Realmuto becoming only the second catcher in AL/NL history to post 20-plus home runs and 20-plus steals* in season in 2022.

OUT OF ACTION - Trea Turner, shortstop

One of the MLB’s quickest players on the field, a former batting champion and on a $300m contract, Turner is box office. But, sadly, fans in London are unlikely to see him play after recently suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Things can change quickly in baseball, though, so he may well be on the plane. We’ll have to wait and see.

Utley's key man - Phillies

“You can flip a coin between Harper and Schwarber. Both players have tremendous power, they’re exciting to watch and they both have the ability to essentially put the team on their back at any point in time and carry them through a stretch of games.”

Utley's Phillies verdict

Philadelphia legend and World Series Champion Chase Utley spoke to talkSPORT about how the Phillies are shaping up ahead of their London trip...

“There are a handful of players I can identify, but Bryce Harper comes to mind as No.1.

“A two-time MVP, he’s an extremely talented player from a very young age. He was a No.1 draft pick and has had success pretty much every year in the major leagues. He’s turned himself into one of the best players in his generation.

“You can then look to shortstop at Trea Turner, who is a super athlete. He plays a great shortstop, he gets the power, he can really do it all on a baseball field. He’s one of the fastest guys in the league so he creates a lot of excitement on the baseball field.

“And then you have some pitchers, Zack Wheeler, extremely hard fastball, he’s been pretty dominant over the last few post-seasons, so he’s exciting to watch.

“But I gravitate towards hitters a little bit more because I was one, and Alec Bohm is a third baseman, young, up-and-coming player who has established himself now as the star of the youth levels, so he’s fun to watch.

“And of course there’s Kyle Schwarber, a big powerful bat.”

New York Mets

Pete Alonso, first baseman

The Mets’ star slugger, Alonso has been one of baseball’s most prolific home run hitters since his Major League breakthrough. He set a record for the most homers hit in his rookie season with 53, and his tally of 192 between 2019 and 2023 was more than any other player in baseball. He’s also a two-time Home Derby* winner. And a Chelsea fan, for some reason.

Francisco Lindor, shortstop

One of the game’s top personalities, the Puerto Rican is an effective switch-hitter and a dependable defenceman at shortstop*. Lindor began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 2015 and joined the Mets as part of a trade deal in 2021. He signed a huge ten-year contract worth $341m and proved his all-round ability in 2023 with his first 30-30 season, posting 31 home runs and 31 steals.

JD Martinez, designated hitter

A veteran hitter with a reputation for home runs, Martinez only signed for the Mets in the summer. Making his MLB debut in 2011 for Houston Astros, Martinez's career has taken him to Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers before his move to the Big Apple. A World Series winner with the Red Sox in 2018 and a cabinet full of hitting awards, landing Martinez was a big coup for the Mets and he’s starting to find good hitting form again after a back injury delayed his start to the season.

Brandon Nimmo, left fielder

A fan-favourite player for his down-to-earth personality, Nimmo does all the right stuff on the field as well as off it. A dependable on-base hitter, he’s also improved his power in recent years and recorded a career-high 24 home runs last season.

Harrison Bader, centre fielder

The New York native has exceeded expectations since joining the Mets on a one-year deal in the offseason. Brought in to strengthen their outfield defence, the former St Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds player has been a success with the bat as well as glove, having managed 41 hits, scoring 17 runs with 16 RBIs and two home runs, at the time of writing. But it’s his outfield catches and speed across the field that really make him an eye-catching player to watch.

Edwin Díaz, closer

Known for being the highest-paid closing pitcher in the game, it’s not been the best of years for Diaz so far. Having missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury suffered at the World Baseball Classic - during a team celebration, no less - there were big expectations upon his return in 2024, but it’s not exactly gone to plan. As a closer, it’s his job to pitch in the last few innings to see out a game and get the Mets the win - but that hasn’t been happening recently. Form is temporary, though, so don’t count him out yet. Diaz can throw missiles with his right arm and will be hoping to get back to his dominant best soon. Perhaps a trip to London will help…

Christian Scott, starting pitcher

One of the Mets’ top prospects, Scott was brought into the line-up midway through the season to aid the team's ailing bullpen. The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to his Major League career so far and, as far as he is concerned, he’s done his job. In four starts the rookie has averaged five innings per game, and has recorded 21 strikeouts at the time of writing, allowing 20 hits and ten runs. His teammates’ struggles have meant those performances have not translated into wins, but it’s clear the Mets have a big talent on their hands and he could take the chance to shine in London.

OUT OF ACTION - Francisco Alvarez, catcher

One of the top prospects across baseball right now, Alvarez has everything in his game as a catcher at the age of just 22. In his rookie season last year he hit 25 home runs - the second-most of any catcher in the big leagues. Unfortunately for the Mets, though, he’s currently recovering from a freak thumb injury he suffered early in the campaign and won’t be ready for London.

OUT OF ACTION - Kodai Senga, starting pitcher

Hopes of fans seeing the Japanese star’s ‘Ghost Fork’ pitch in London are slim - Senga has yet to make an appearance in 2024 due to a troublesome shoulder injury. After a protracted return date kept on being pushed back, the Mets have now put no timeframe on the ace. It’s a big shame after an impressive rookie season in 2023 following his arrival from the Nippon league, where he threw 202 strikeouts over 166 ⅓ innings.

Utley's key man - Mets

“Pete Alonso is the Mets’ biggest offensive threat. He has the ability to hit a home run anywhere in the stadium, he can probably hit it out of the stadium to be honest with you. He has a lot of power.”

*Glossary of baseball terms:

NL/AL = National League and American League - the two leagues MLB is split into. Each of those leagues are then split into three Geographical divisions, East, Central and West. The Mets and Phillies both play in the NL East. Hence the rivalry.

MVP = Most Valuable Player

RBI = Run batted in - a stat a player earns when their hit sees a teammate score a run, even if they haven't.

Double = When a player hits the ball and advances to second base.

Steal = when a runner steals a base while a teammate is batting.

Home Run Derby = An annual competition between MLB's top batters. Most home run hits wins the prize.