As warm weather approaches, sports fans are eager for the onset of spring and summer sports across the country. Does anything scream summer more than an organ solo at a ballpark? Or, perhaps, the satisfying sound of a tennis ball ricocheting off a racket to keep the rally alive? From the MLB to the US Open, there are many athletic events to look forward to in the coming months. Here are seven sports players that fans should keep an eye on in these next couple months.
1. Shohei Otani, Los Angeles Dodgers
First up is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani and the Dodgers are coming off of a 2024 World Series victory, where he put together one of the greatest individual seasons in the league’s history. Ohtani is the current designated hitter for the Dodgers, but he is looking to perhaps make a return to the mound this season after elbow and shoulder injuries relegated him to his hitter-only role. It will be interesting to see how Ohtani’s 2025 season develops with him as a potential two-way player. At the plate, he has already picked up where he left off last year in stride. In a game against the Washington Nationals on April 9, Ohtani went three-for-four with both a home run and a triple. There is no doubt that the Dodgers are competing for back-to-back World Series titles, and Ohtani’s potential dominance at the center of the diamond may be pivotal to carry on this success.
2. Juan Soto, New York Mets
3,000 miles away, newly-acquired outfielder Juan Soto plays for the New York Mets after spending last season with the New York Yankees. The Mets won the bidding war for Soto in the offseason and the player packed his belongings and moved from the Bronx to Queens. Soto’s $765 million deal with the Mets is the largest free agent contract in MLB history surpassing even Ohtani’s gargantuan deal with the Dodgers. The Mets have started out the season with an impressive 9-5 record in the National League East (as of April 13). Will Soto boost the Mets’ lineup and maintain their divisional lead? Only time will tell.
3. Kyle Teel, Charlotte Knights
Kyle Teel is the third and final baseball player on this list. This Ridgewood, N.J., native played college ball at the University of Virginia and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2023. Now, he plays on the White Sox’s Minor League affiliate, the Charlotte Knights, and he is considered to be one of the top prospects in the MLB. He announced his presence in the 2025 season by driving in six runs on March 29. It will be exciting to see how Teel progresses this season, and it might not be a question of if he will reach the majors, but rather when he will.
4. Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula, next athlete on this list, stands out as a force to be reckoned with in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). The Buffalo, N.Y., native is ranked third in the world in singles (as of April 13), and recently defeated American Sofia Kenin in the Credit One Charleston Open. This season so far, Pegula has won 75.5% of service games and 67% of first serve points (as of April 13). It will be a riveting summer to watch Pegula progress.
5. Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff is the second tennis player on this list. Similar to Pegula, Gauff has impressive stats, including 74.2% of service games and 73.2% of first serve points won (as of April 13). Ranked fourth in singles in the world, it will be exciting to see Gauff advance in the WTA. In January, Gauff competed in the Australian Open and, after losing in the quarterfinals, she shared her optimistic view of her future in professional tennis. Gauff is definitely a player to keep an eye on this summer as she continues to improve.
6. Dawson Mercer, New Jersey Devils
Switching from the court to the ice, Dawson Mercer is the next player to keep an eye on this spring. The center for the New Jersey Devils has had a rollercoaster season up to this point. With Devils captain Nico Hischier out of the lineup due to an injury, Mercer stepped up as the second line center during the season, and he’s also been heavily relied on in the face-off circle. The Devils recently clinched a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs and they will have a challenging first-round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. It will be interesting to see how or where the Devils use Mercer and, more importantly, how he performs in the playoffs. Can he power the Devils to their first Stanley Cup victory since 2003?
7. NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech University
To conclude this list, let’s turn to college softball — specifically to established phenom NiJaree Canady. A dominant pitcher for Texas Tech University, Canady has a lengthy list of athletic achievements, from receiving the TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year award in 2023 to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2024. Last week, Canady led her team to sweep University of Utah at home, where she pitched 16 of 18 innings among three games, with 22 strikeouts, seven hits, three walks and one run allowed. It will be thrilling to watch Canady as she and her teammates continue to dominate college softball and make a run in the playoffs.
