A little more than one month into the 2024 season, Major League Baseball has already seen its share of surprises.

Some teams and players are overperforming, while others are struggling to meet expectations. What does it all mean, though?

MLB.com polled two dozen front-office executives with a number of questions to gauge what we’ve learned to this point in the season.

Note: Executives were free to skip any questions they chose not to answer, while some also provided multiple answers to some questions.

Which team has been the biggest surprise?

Royals (13 votes)
Guardians (7 votes)
Brewers (2 votes)
Athletics (1 vote)
Tigers (1 vote)

The American League Central dominated this category, with the Royals, Guardians and Tigers garnering 21 of 24 votes.

Kansas City’s strong start caught the attention of the majority of the executives that took part in the poll. The Royals have come out of the gate strong, leaving them near the top of the division standings.

“[Bobby Witt Jr.] has continued to get better and is looking like an MVP-caliber player,” an NL executive said. “The offseason pitching additions have been solid, [Brady] Singer is back on track and [Cole] Ragans looks like the real deal.”

“I thought they would be terrible,” one AL executive said. “But their midrange free-agent deals have been mostly OK, and Witt has been playing at another level.”

Those deals included the addition of Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to the starting rotation, two arms that have helped stabilize the starting five.

“The Royals’ pitching deserves credit for carrying them to a hot start when expectations were low going into the year,” an NL executive said. “Time will tell whether this is sustainable.”

Even with the Royals’ unexpected play, the Guardians are pacing the surprisingly strong division, one which features four teams with winning records.

“They made few additions in the offseason and have since lost [Shane] Bieber to [Tommy John surgery], yet they’re still one of the best teams with one of the best run differentials a month into the season,” said an AL executive.

Cleveland is 8-2 against the White Sox and Athletics, helping fortify its early-season record, though the Guardians have held their own in games against winning teams, compiling an 11-7 mark against the Braves, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins and Mariners.

“I still don’t fully trust it, but they make contact and do a lot of little things well,” an AL executive said. “I saw them closer to a .500 or slightly better team, but given their pitching injuries, I’m surprised they’ve been this good.”

The two executives who chose the Brewers as their early-season surprise noted the departures (namely Corbin Burnes and Craig Counsell) and injury issues (Devin Williams, Brandon Woodruff) that might have sunk most other teams.

“No Burnes/Williams/Woodruff? No problem,” an AL executive said. “They continue to find ways to get it done.”

Which team has been the biggest disappointment?

Astros (16 votes)
Rockies (2 votes)
Cardinals (2 votes)
Giants (1 vote)

No surprise here as the Astros -- winners of the AL West in six of the past seven years and the World Series champs in 2017 and ’22 -- have gotten off to a dreadful start.

“They should be a World Series contender with their roster,” an NL executive said. “But they haven’t gotten anywhere near the production they expected from a good number of players on their roster.”

“They have high expectations and are digging themselves a big hole,” another NL exec said. “They still have some stars, but big questions about the starting rotation and some key offensive players are not performing.”

Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Peña are all off to strong starts, but Alex Bregman has been struggling and José Abreu -- more on him later -- played so poorly that Houston decided to send him to the Minors to work out the kinks. The rotation has also been marred by injuries (Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier) and underperformance (Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti).

“Obviously pitching injuries have hurt them, and they haven’t scored as many runs as expected given their overall offensive production,” an AL executive said. “I just thought with their offense and bullpen, they’d be able to be better than their record shows. Abreu and Bregman need to get going.”

The Giants’ sub-.500 record has been a disappointment to one AL executive, who pointed to the offseason acquisitions of Blake Snell, Jordan Hicks and Jung Hoo Lee as reasons for optimism entering the season.

“After making a number of splashes in the offseason, the acquisitions have largely underperformed so far,” the executive said. “They have their work cut out for them to make the playoffs now.”

Neither of the two executives who voted for the Rockies believed that Colorado was going to have a strong season, but the club’s poor play has them wondering how things might turn around anytime soon.

“Not that I thought they would be good,” an AL executive said, “but it’s scary to think how far away they are.”

Which player has been the biggest surprise?

Mason Miller, A’s (6 votes)
Alec Bohm, Phillies (3 votes)
Kutter Crawford, Red Sox (2 votes)
Tanner Houck, Red Sox (2 votes)
Tyler O’Neill, Red Sox (2 votes)
CJ Abrams, Nationals (1 vote)
Jo Adell, Angels (1 vote)
Mookie Betts, Dodgers (1 vote)
Ronel Blanco, Astros (1 vote)
Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (1 vote)
Jordan Hicks, Giants (1 vote)
Shota Imanaga, Cubs (1 vote)
Tarik Skubal, Tigers (1 vote)
Jordan Westburg, Orioles (1 vote)

Oakland’s hard-throwing closer received the most votes in this wide-ranging question, which saw 14 players mentioned. Miller’s Statcast numbers are off the charts as he ranks in the 100th percentile in six different categories: xERA, xBA, fastball velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage and hard-hit percentage.

“I loved his promise,” an NL executive said. “But he’s been ridiculous to this point -- and in a high-leverage role.”

“I knew he had a good arm and stuff,” an AL executive said. “But he’s dominating the ninth as well as anyone could.”

Bohm earned three votes, while a trio of Red Sox -- Crawford, Houck and O’Neill -- received two mentions apiece.

“O’Neill is mashing the ball the way he did back in 2021,” an AL executive said.

“Houck and Crawford are leading examples of the positive early returns for the Red Sox pitching development infrastructure,” another AL exec said.

“Gunnar Henderson taking it to another level coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign,” an AL executive said. “That’s a statement from a 22-year-old.”

“Westburg been overshadowed by a number of the other big up-and-coming names in Baltimore,” another AL exec said. “With his power now showing up in the big leagues, he could shift himself into All-Star conversation very quickly.”

The most surprising name on the “biggest surprise” list? Betts, a seven-time All-Star and the 2018 AL MVP.

“I guess it’s not really surprising,” an AL executive said. “We all know he’s an unbelievable player, but to do all this while moving to shortstop? Can someone remind him that this game is supposed to be hard?”

Which player has been the biggest disappointment?

José Abreu, Astros (7 votes)
Kris Bryant, Rockies (2 votes)
Corbin Carroll, D-backs (2 votes)
Blake Snell, Giants (2 votes)
Spencer Torkelson, Tigers (2 votes)
Randy Arozarena, Rays (1 vote)
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (1 vote)
Nick Castellanos, Phillies (1 vote)
Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (1 vote)
Jackson Holliday, Orioles (1 vote)
Andrew Vaughn, White Sox (1 vote)

This marks the second straight year that Abreu has earned the most votes in this category, and while he managed to turn his season around in 2023, the 37-year-old recently accepted a Minor League assignment to figure out what has gone wrong this season.

“That dude can hit,” an NL executive said. “Even after the struggles he had last year, this level of production is shocking.”

Abreu had a .099/.156/.113 slash line with no home runs and three RBIs in 22 games prior to his demotion.

“I didn’t think the [three-year, $58.5 million] contract was smart, but he was a roughly league average offensive player last year based on expected stats,” an AL executive said. “But to become a sub-.300 OPS guy is hard to believe.”

Two award-winning veterans received two votes apiece: 2016 NL MVP Bryant and two-time Cy Young winner Snell.

“Bryant should be much better than this in an extremely hitter-friendly park,” an AL exec said.

Bryant got off to a slow start at the plate before landing on the injured list, while Snell -- who didn’t sign with San Francisco until mid-March -- was 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts when an injury sent him to the IL, too.

“He’s paying the price for waiting so long to sign,” an AL executive said.

Two of the game’s young sluggers also received a pair of votes each: Carroll and Torkelson.

“I’m not sure if it’s injury related at all, but Carroll does not look like the same player from 2022 or 2023,” an AL executive said.

“It’s hard not to go with José Abreu, but I’d say at 24 years old, Spencer Torkelson’s start is much more concerning,” another AL exec said. “He’s looking like a DH, and his impact has been nonexistent so far.”

Holliday, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect in baseball, struggled during a 10-game debut in the Majors, going 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts before being sent back to the Minors. The AL executive who tabbed him as most disappointing admitted it’s “probably unfair” to do so, but his performance was eye-opening.

“Not so much that he struggled, but the way he struggled,” the executive said. “He looks like a player who needs another 500 ABs in the Minor Leagues, especially versus left-handed pitching.”

Who has been the most impressive rookie?

Colton Cowser, Orioles (12 votes)
Shota Imanaga, Cubs (6 votes)
Jared Jones, Pirates (4 votes)
Wyatt Langford, Rangers (1 vote)
Jackson Merrill, Padres (1 vote)

Cowser has taken the baton from 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson, who grabbed it from '22 AL ROY runner-up Adley Rutschman, as Baltimore’s pipeline continues to produce impressive big league talent. (Westburg actually received a vote, as well, though the infielder lost his rookie status in '23.)

“Cowser is off to a great start and has a good foundation as a hitter and has tapped into more power,” an AL executive said. “He’s in a system there in Baltimore where they’re equipped to provide him great support to navigate any ups and downs.”

Cowser didn’t fare well during his abbreviated stint in the Majors last season, posting a .434 OPS with no home runs and four RBIs in 26 games. With six homers, 18 RBIs and a .929 OPS through his first 30 games this season, Cowser finds himself among the Orioles’ offensive leaders.

“His power is real, and he will fit in well at Camden Yards,” an AL exec said. “Impressive start after taking his lumps in his debut last year.”

Cowser received 12 votes in this category, easily outpacing both Imanaga and Jones, who could find themselves battling for NL Rookie of the Year honors this season.

“Imanaga looks very impressive,” an NL executive said. “Elite fastball.”

“Jones’ electric stuff is hard to ignore,” another NL exec said.

Merrill, who earned the Padres’ center field job with an impressive spring, has also opened eyes across the league.

“I knew he’d hit, and there’s more power to come, but the defense in center field has been way better than expected,” an AL executive said. “Really impressive considering his quick development path and never really playing out there before.”