18 under-the-radar athletes who will hit the big time in 2018 by Alan Dawson on Jan 8, 2018, 10:53 AM Advertisement
 Sports fans are always looking for the next big thing, whether it's a footballer like Neymar, a basketball player like LeBron James, or a boxer who will measure up to Anthony Joshua. Business Insider has compiled a list of young, under-the-radar athletes who look set to make waves in the ring, on the court, or on the pitch in 2018. From the "next Conor McGregor" to the new "face of snowboarding," the athletes could become the biggest thing in their respective sports. Ranked by age from oldest to youngest, scroll down to see 18 under-the-radar young athletes who we expect to hit the big time in 2018. SEE ALSO: The 24 best footballers on the planet right now Mackenzie Dern, 24 — The American bringing expert jiu-jitsu to UFC.  Age: 24 Sport: Cage fighting Profile: Once a highly-decorated athlete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Dern is beginning to take the wider mixed martial arts industry by storm. She has won five cage fights in a row and is due to contest her first UFC bout on March 3. Here's Dern using stand-up to knock Mandy Polk to the ground, before locking in a tight rear naked choke submission at LFA 24 in 2017. Youtube Embed:
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Ōtani Shōhei, 23 — Japan's Babe Ruth, who has a record-breaking 102.5mph pitch.  Age: 23 Sport: Baseball Profile: Shōhei began his career playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013. Before he left for MLB team Los Angeles Angels in 2017, he won the 2016 Japan Series title, a number of MVP awards, and recorded the fastest pitch in Japanese baseball history at 102.5 mph. His transfer to the Angels is set to take his career to the next level and, in the video below, you can see exactly why he is known as the "Japanese Babe Ruth." Youtube Embed:
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Mattie Rogers, 22 — An American record-setter who can already lift twice her bodyweight.  Age: 22 Sport: Weightlifting Profile: Rogers has strength and power that belies her age as she already holds the United States record in the snatch (106kg), clean & jerk (134kg), and total (239kg) lift in her weight class (69kg). The Floridian has tremendous technique and though she missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games, she was the best lifter at the National Championships and Olympic Trials. She won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships (video below) and, as she gets older, she will only get stronger. Instagram Embed:
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