The key players to know in '24 London Series (2024)

Major League Baseball is set to return to the United Kingdom on June 8-9 for the London Series between the Mets and Phillies, two longtime rivals in the National League East.

Here’s a breakdown of nine notable players on each side of the 2024 London Series matchup.

METS

Francisco Lindor, shortstop
With his exuberant personality and well-rounded game, Lindor is a perfect fit for the bright lights of the Big Apple. The veteran, who signed a 10-year, $341 million contract extension with the Mets following a trade from Cleveland to New York in 2021, had his first 30-30 season in 2023 (31 homers, 31 steals) while continuing to supply all-world defense at shortstop.

Pete Alonso, first baseman
Alonso has been one of baseball’s top power threats since he broke into the Majors. The first baseman set an AL/NL rookie record with 53 homers in his first season and hit 15 more dingers (192) than anyone else from 2019-23. He is also a two-time Home Run Derby winner.

Brandon Nimmo, left fielder
Known for his disciplined approach at the plate, Nimmo posted a .380 on-base percentage and 13% walk rate over his first eight seasons. The outfielder also showed increased power in 2023, hitting a career-high 24 homers.

J.D. Martinez, designated hitter
Martinez had a resurgent season for the Dodgers in 2023, earning his sixth career All-Star selection and finishing with 33 homers, 103 RBIs and an .893 OPS over 113 games before signing a one-year, $12 million deal with the Mets as a free agent in late March. The 36-year-old has been one of the most productive hitters in baseball over the past decade, posting a .293 batting average with 291 homers, 876 RBIs and a .908 OPS from 2014-23.

Jeff McNeil, second baseman
McNeil’s contact-hitting bona fides are well established at this point. He entered 2024 with a career .298 batting average -- including an NL-leading .326 average in 2022 -- and a miniscule 11.4% strikeout rate. McNeil has also shown his defensive versatility, playing 100-plus games at three positions (second base, left field, right field) in his career.

Starling Marte, right fielder
Marte struggled during an injury-plagued 2023 season, but he has put together a superb career, entering 2024 with a career .287 average, 147 homers and 338 stolen bases. He’s a two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Harrison Bader, center fielder
The Mets signed Bader to a one-year deal this past offseason, bringing him in to shore up their outfield defense. The New York native won a Gold Glove Award as a member of the Cardinals in 2021.

Luis Severino, starting pitcher
After struggling to the tune of a 6.65 ERA over 19 games (18 starts) for the Yankees in 2023, Severino has enjoyed a bounceback campaign pitching across town for the Mets. The right-hander, who signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the club as a free agent in the offseason, notched a 3.52 ERA with 54 strikeouts over his first 11 starts in 2024.

Mark Vientos, third baseman
Vientos has an opportunity to establish himself as the Mets’ starting third baseman after fellow youngster Brett Baty was sent to the Minors on May 31. The 24-year-old Vientos posted a .326 batting average with three homers and a .989 OPS in his first 13 games after being recalled from Triple-A on May 15.

PHILLIES

Bryce Harper, first baseman
One of baseball’s biggest stars, Harper joined the Phillies on one of the largest free-agent contracts in MLB history ($330 million over 13 years) prior to the 2019 season after seven years with the Nationals. He won the NL MVP Award (the second of his career) in 2021 and helped the Phillies reach the World Series the following year. Over his first 12 seasons in MLB, Harper produced 306 homers, 889 RBIs and a .912 OPS.

Zack Wheeler, starting pitcher
Formerly a member of the Mets, Wheeler signed with the Phillies as a free agent prior to the 2020 campaign and recorded a 3.06 ERA with 675 strikeouts and 135 walks in 629 1/3 innings over his first four seasons with the club, cementing his place among baseball’s top pitchers. The ace right-hander is also an elite postseason performer, having notched a 2.42 ERA over 63 1/3 innings in the playoffs. Philadelphia will be keeping him around for the long haul after signing Wheeler to a three-year, $126 million contract extension (through 2027) on March 4.

Aaron Nola, starting pitcher
The longest-tenured player on the Phillies’ current roster, Nola debuted in 2015 and pitched to a 3.72 ERA over his first nine years with the team. The durable right-hander was one of two pitchers to make at least 32 starts five times from 2018-23. He became a free agent last offseason, but the Phillies re-signed him to a seven-year, $172 million contract.

J.T. Realmuto, catcher
Realmuto is one of the premier catchers of his generation, combining elite defensive tools with a capable bat and -- unlike most backstops -- solid speed. In 2022, Realmuto became the second catcher in AL/NL history to record 20-plus homers and 20-plus steals in a season, joining Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, who did it in 1999.

Kyle Schwarber, designated hitter
Known for his impressive power, Schwarber led the NL with 46 homers in 2022 and followed it up with 47 dingers last season. The left-handed slugger has also gone deep 20 times in the postseason, tied for the fourth most in history.

Nick Castellanos, right fielder
After struggling in his first season with the Phillies in 2022, Castellanos earned an All-Star selection last year and finished with a .272 batting average, 29 homers and 106 RBIs. He hit 210 home runs and 342 doubles over his first 11 seasons in the Majors while playing for the Tigers, Cubs, Reds and Phillies.

Bryson Stott, second baseman
Formerly a shortstop, Stott moved to second base full time last year after the Phillies signed Trea Turner and became one of the position’s best defenders. On top of that, he was one of six players to post a batting average of at least .280 with 15-plus homers and 30-plus stolen bases.

Alec Bohm, third baseman
The third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Bohm has posted a .276 batting average over his first four seasons and set career highs with 20 homers, 31 doubles and 97 RBIs in 2023. He has taken his game to another level in 2024, slashing .307/.364/.488 with five homers, 22 doubles and 47 RBIs through the end of May.

Ranger Suárez, starting pitcher
Suárez, a 28-year-old left-hander, has been one of the best pitchers in the Majors in 2024, becoming the first hurler to start 9-0 with a sub-1.50 ERA through 10 games since Hall of Famer Juan Marichal in 1966.