When someone tells you to think of the first word that comes to mind when it comes to the sport of baseball, what would you say? A lot of people would refer to the sport as pretty boring and lifeless, not viewing it on even close to the same level of entertainment as football or basketball. The biggest names come to mind pretty easily when recollecting the best and most notable names of the latter two sports. However, when asked to do the same thing when it comes to baseball, some might even fail to mention Mike Trout, the face of the sport and one of the greatest players of all time at the ripe age of 29. 

The youth movement has encapsulated the last decade in both basketball and football. Stars of the game are emerging at younger ages than ever, reaching superstardom within years of reaching the big stage. Players like Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes have both reached that level in their second seasons. The excitement surrounding these young stars has made these sports so great, a testament to these players’ hard work and immense talent. 

Baseball players typically have a longer adjustment period when reaching the show. It is a rare sight to see baseball players make an immediate impact when they get to the professional level. That is, until now, as the youth movement is starting to commence in the MLB. Young stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. have made ridiculous impacts early on, similar to that of football and baseball’s budding stars. From diving catches to long home-runs, baseball’s young stars are consistently making the awe-inspiring plays typically seen of veterans.

Despite this, baseball’s viewership pales in comparison to that of football and basketball, especially in the biggest games. It seems that the youth movement has made little impact. Even with the young stars of today, the casual descriptions of “boring and lifeless” when referencing baseball still remain. The youth movement has increased the flair and excitement of the game, but not the extent that fans might hope. MLB’s rules have limited the impact of the youth movement, as suspensions have commonly been enforced for laughable reasons.

Whether it be this lack of flair, or the arduous nine inning experience, adjectives such as stale and tiresome are commonly heard when discussing baseball. To those who watch, however, the sport’s unpredictability is what makes it so great. With ninth-inning comebacks, or unexpected performances, the unforeseeable future of any game is what makes the sport what it is. Baseball’s up and down nature consistently has fans on the edge of their seats, awaiting the crazy play that may happen next. So to those who don’t watch, I implore you to take a seat, and enjoy ‘America’s Pastime.’