2015 MLB All-Star Rosters: B/R's Final 34-Man Roster Predictions
If you're anxiously awaiting the reveals of the rosters for the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, you need to hang in there for a few more days. The starters won't be announced until Sunday, and the reserves and pitchers won't come until Monday.
But if you want a great big educated guess on what the rosters might look like, you've come to the right place.
We're here to take a whack at projecting the final 34-man rosters for both the American League and National League. That means predicting which players will make the cut as starters, as well as those who will be selected as reserves and pitchers (24 for the AL, 25 for the NL) by the players, AL skipper Ned Yost and NL skipper Bruce Bochy and, finally, the winners of the final votes for both leagues.
Since this is a lot to predict, your humble narrator holds no delusions about actually hitting every nail on the head. But what the heck. Let's go ahead and have some fun predicting the future anyway.
American League Starters
1 of 10
MLB Communications revealed the most recent voting totals for the American League starters on Monday afternoon. Going off those figures, it's a good bet that the following players will be lining up as starters at Great American Ball Park on July 14:
| C | Salvador Perez | KCR | 11,666,785 | 5,260,963 |
| 1B | Miguel Cabrera | DET | 11,594,518 | 2,443,610 |
| 2B | Jose Altuve | HOU | 7,282,934 | -231,708 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson | TOR | 11,738,206 | 1,365,338 |
| SS | Alcides Escobar | KCR | 10,057,381 | 2,662,218 |
| OF | Mike Trout | LAA | 11,461,212 | 1,042,869 |
| OF | Lorenzo Cain | KCR | 10,418,343 | 1,484,291 |
| OF | Alex Gordon | KCR | 8,934,052 | 1,401,798 |
| DH | Nelson Cruz | SEA | 8,891,784 | 204,905 |
With advantages of more than 2 million votes, Salvador Perez, Miguel Cabrera and Alcides Escobar are locks. Mike Trout, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon are also secure in their spots in the outfield. Josh Donaldson is also a safe bet to hold on at third base after gaining, as Mark Newman of MLB.com reported, a whopping 2.7 million votes in the last week.
This leaves just two spots where there's some actual drama: second base and designated hitter.
I'm going with Nelson Cruz to earn the honors at DH in part because he has momentum on his side after passing Kendrys Morales in the voting this past week, but also because he's having a better season. Cruz has a 112-point advantage in OPS (.919 to .807) over Morales, as well as 10 more homers (19 to nine).
As for second base, it admittedly feels like going out on a limb in projecting that Jose Altuve will pass Omar Infante. But darn it, I just can't help but trust that baseball fans will do the right thing.
In following up a .632 OPS in 2014 with a .555 OPS in 2015, Infante is a bad hitter who's turned into a worse hitter. And though his defense at second base is indeed good, it's not as if he's Roberto Alomar.
As for Altuve, he's the AL's reigning batting champion and is carrying on strongly with a .292 average, a .751 OPS, seven homers and an AL-leading 21 stolen bases this year.
“He’s the best second baseman in the American League, if not the whole game of baseball,” Astros teammate Dallas Keuchel told CBS Houston's Chris Abshire. “If we can get out there and get the votes going it would be greatly appreciated from our standpoint in the clubhouse, seeing what we see everyday with him doing his thing.”
Well, WAR would actually say that Altuve isn't even the AL's the best second baseman. But apart from that, the people should heed Keuchel's words.
National League Starters
2 of 10
MLB Communications also revealed the latest voting update for the National League starters on Monday, and it allows for the following projections:
| C | Buster Posey | SFG | 7,990,423 | 1,711,870 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | ARI | 7,341,683 | 3,652,755 |
| 2B | Dee Gordon | MIA | 6,316,113 | 1,585,265 |
| 3B | Todd Frazier | CIN | 6,189,347 | -62,980 |
| SS | Jhonny Peralta | STL | 7,151,624 | 2,884,386 |
| OF | Bryce Harper | WAS | 11,363,949 | 5,301,631 |
| OF | Matt Holliday | STL | 5,454,953 | 339,531 |
| OF | Joc Pederson | LAD | 2,977,227 | -1,600,419 |
The biggest lock here is Bryce Harper, whose incredible season (MLB-leading 1.180 OPS and 24 homers) have made him the NL's leading vote-getter by plenty. Next to him, Buster Posey, Paul Goldschmidt, Dee Gordon and Jhonny Peralta are all safe.
This leads us to where there's some drama: third base and the final two outfield spots.
The limb I'm going out on here is Todd Frazier overtaking Matt Carpenter at third base, but it's a sturdy limb. Frazier has been steadily gaining on Carpenter, and the support should keep coming. Frazier is a local hero in Cincinnati who's also having a fantastic season with a .962 OPS and 25 homers. He also has recency bias going for him, as he's been on a power surge in the last couple of weeks.
Outside of third base, things get weird in the outfield.
The voting totals put Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Holliday and Nori Aoki next in line behind Harper, but all three are injured. To this end, we know Stanton won't be healthy by the All-Star break, and it also seems highly unlikely that Aoki will be healthy by then.
Holliday, however, actually has a chance.
Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com has reported that the veteran left fielder will be able to test his injured quad with some running this week, and that the St. Louis Cardinals haven't ruled out a return before the All-Star break. Knowing that Holliday has told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his leg is getting "better" and "stronger," here's thinking that happens.
If so, the NL outfield would need only one injury replacement. Article O, Section 4(c) of MLB's collective bargaining agreement says that will ultimately be up to Bruce Bochy, and it's not hard to imagine him overruling the fan vote and selecting Joc Pederson over Andrew McCutchen. Beyond Pederson having a better season, there's the fact that Bochy knows all too well what the rookie superstar is capable of.
American League Reserves
3 of 10
Catcher: Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays
It's been several years since Martin's last All-Star selection in 2011, but he definitely deserves one this year. He's raked at the plate with an .840 OPS and 11 home runs, and he's still carrying on as one of the game's elite defensive catchers.
Catcher: Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics
There's perhaps been no bigger surprise in the AL this season than Stephen Vogt. He's broken out to the tune of a .917 OPS and 13 home runs, not to mention 53 RBI that tie him for second with Miguel Cabrera among American Leaguers. Expect him to be properly rewarded for his efforts.
First Base: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
Pujols isn't doing so great in the fan voting, but it's easy to imagine the support from his fellow players being there. He's having a renaissance season with an .891 OPS and AL-best 24 home runs, numbers that point toward his first American League All-Star selection.
Second Base: Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
Kipnis is getting a raw deal in the fan voting, but he's an easy call for the AL's bench. He's easily the best choice to represent the Indians, he owns a .346 average and a .936 OPS and has played quality defense at second base. As far as WAR is concerned, he's arguably been the AL's best player.
Second Base: Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins
Dozier is another second baseman who deserves better in the fan voting, but he should be able to find his way onto the AL's bench. He opened eyes with the season he had in 2014, and has only improved on it this year with an .871 OPS, 16 homers and seven steals. Ask Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk, and he'll tell you that Dozier is MLB's best second baseman.
Third Base: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
Here's where we find an example of hype becoming reality. Machado has broken out in a big way offensively with an .896 OPS, 16 homers and 11 steals, and he's also still an elite defender at the hot corner. In fact, WAR says he's just as deserving of a starting nod as Donaldson.
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
Jose Iglesias is the obvious choice for the AL's reserve shortstop. But somebody has to represent the Red Sox, and it makes more sense to put Bogaerts—who's hitting .289 and playing quality defense—at short than it does to put Dustin Pedroia at second base or Mookie Betts in a crowded outfield.
Outfielder: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
With five straight All-Star nods under his belt, Bautista is here partially because he's an All-Star legacy guy who's likely getting in no matter what. But he's also once again deserving of a nod, as he's OPS'ing .875 with 15 jacks.
Outfielder: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
Jones is another All-Star legacy guy, as he has a string of three straight All-Star berths to extend. But he's also deserving, as he's OPS'ing .809 with 10 homers and center field defense worthy of his Gold Glove reputation.
Outfielder: Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers
Cespedes made the AL's reserves after narrowly missing out on a starting spot last year. Here's guessing he does the same this year. He's having an even better first half with an .808 OPS and 10 home runs, and there's still support for his reputation as a dangerous defensive presence in left field.
Outfielder: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
Gardner has been overlooked his whole career, but it's hard for anyone to ignore what he's been doing this season. With a .305 average, an .873 OPS, nine home runs and 15 steals to his name, it'll be a tragedy if neither the players nor Ned Yost puts Gardner on the AL bench.
Designated Hitter: Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers
Fielder is listed as a first baseman on the fan ballot, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he's listed as a DH on the player ballot. In light of his .347 average, .944 OPS and his general lack of drama, Fielder should get more support from his peers than fellow star DH Alex Rodriguez.
National League Reserves
4 of 10
Catcher: Yasmani Grandal, Los Angeles Dodgers
Buster Posey is undoubtedly the best catcher in the National League, but Grandal has been a close second this season in terms of offense with his .877 OPS and 12 homers. Also, some of his peers may have also noticed what Baseball Prospectus rates as the best strike-framing talent in the bigs.
Catcher: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
Molina isn't having a great year, but a .291 average and .710 OPS combined with his typically excellent defense certainly qualifies as a "good" year. In addition, he probably still holds too much respect among his peers for his string of six straight All-Star berths to be broken up.
First Base: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
Somebody's going to have to represent the Cubs in Cincinnati, and there's no choice better than Rizzo. He's hitting .300 with a .968 OPS, 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases, making him the NL's best offensive first baseman outside of Paul Goldschmidt.
First Base: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
There are several other deserving first basemen in the NL outside of Goldschmidt and Rizzo, but Votto is the one who stands out as most likely to get an All-Star nod. He has the hometown narrative going for him, and is also enjoying a throwback season with an .896 OPS and 14 homers that make him the NL's third-best offensive first baseman behind Goldschmidt and Rizzo.
Second Base: Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants
Kolten Wong is an enticing choice for the NL's backup second baseman, but Panik deserves it based on the numbers. His .312 average and .840 OPS make him easily the NL's best offensive second baseman, and his budding reputation as a solid defender at second base is also well-founded.
Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
Similar to how Rizzo is obviously the best choice to represent the Cubs, no member of the Rockies is more deserving of a ticket to Cincinnati than Arenado. He's hitting .292 with a .945 OPS, 24 home runs and MLB-leading 68 RBI, all while playing superb defense at third base. 'Nough said.
Third Base: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
Even if Carpenter fails to hold off Todd Frazier in the fan voting, he should make the roster anyway. His .840 OPS and eight homers make for an even better first half this year than the one that netted him a selection as a reserve last year, and his ability to play multiple positions won't hurt his cause.
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants
He may not be measuring up to Jhonny Peralta in the fan voting, but Crawford should get onto the NL's bench. He's broken out with an .819 OPS and 10 homers that make him the NL's top offensive shortstop, and there are numbers that back up his reputation as a stellar defensive shortstop.
Outfielder: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
If McCutchen isn't named to the NL's starting lineup as an injury replacement, he should at least find his way to the bench. He's another legacy All-Star guy at this point with four straight All-Star selections under his belt, and has shrugged off a slow start with a .335 average and .967 OPS in his last 54 games.
Outfielder: Justin Upton, San Diego Padres
Upton is in the same boat as Rizzo and Arenado in that he's easily the best choice to represent his team in Cincinnati. While too many of his Padres mates have failed to live up to expectations, he's OPS'd .809 with 14 homers and 15 stolen bases.
Outfielder: A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks
It's tempting to land on Ryan Braun as a representative for the Milwaukee Brewers, but the baggage he comes with muddies the picture. Besides, Pollock is more deserving. He's an excellent defensive center fielder who also has a .791 OPS, nine homers and 16 stolen bases.
Utility: Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
Josh Harrison made his way onto the NL's bench last year as a super-sub, a move that surprised many. But if Turner takes a similar path to the NL's bench this year, nobody will be surprised. He's hitting .316 with a .954 OPS and 11 homers, and he's been one of the NL's elite hitters dating back to 2014.
American League Pitchers
5 of 10
Starting Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
With an AL-best ERA at 2.03 over an MLB-leading 124.1 innings, Keuchel is well in line to win the American League Cy Young Award, much less make the American League All-Star team. He's a lock to make the squad, and should be considered the leading candidate to start.
Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox as a whole are a sad bunch, but Sale represents an obvious pick to represent them at the All-Star Game. He has a 2.87 ERA and has struck out an MLB-best 141 batters in 103.1 innings, and he recently joined a club that includes just him and Pedro Martinez. So, yeah.
Starting Pitcher: Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics
Gray is second in the AL with a 2.09 ERA, and he also has the league's lowest home run rate at 0.42 per nine innings. Beyond these things, he's due to be rewarded for pitching like an ace (2.74 career ERA) from the moment he set foot in the big leagues back in 2013.
Starting Pitcher: Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
Somebody has to represent the Rays in Cincinnati, and there's no better choice than Archer. With a 2.31 ERA and 133 strikeouts (second behind only Sale) in 109 innings, he's a breakout ace who's very much deserving of an All-Star nod.
Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
King Felix is a good bet to be selected based solely on his All-Star legacy, as he's made four straight All-Star teams and five out of six since 2009. But he's also tied for the AL lead in wins with 10, and has pitched better than his solid 3.05 ERA suggests he has.
Starting Pitcher: David Price, Detroit Tigers
Like Hernandez, Price is another All-Star regular who should get another nod based on the season he's having. His 2.62 ERA puts him in the top five in the AL, and his 110 innings rank third behind only Keuchel and Corey Kluber.
Starting Pitcher: Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels
Here's a guy nobody could have predicted would be in the All-Star conversation, but Santiago has earned it. He has a 2.58 ERA in 94.1 innings, the former of which is good for fourth in the AL.
Starting Pitcher: Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Gallardo is also a surprise entry in the All-Star conversation, but there he is with a 2.72 ERA in 96 innings. And indeed, the well-known fact that Texas is not a welcoming place for ERAs like that could give him some bonus points with his fellow players.
Relief Pitcher: Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins
Perkins has made the All-Star team in each of the last two seasons, and should make it three straight this year. His 25 saves lead the AL, and he also has a 1.39 ERA and impressive 29-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32.1 innings.
Relief Pitcher: Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
Britton certainly deserves to be an All-Star based on what he's done this year, as he has 22 saves and a 1.87 ERA. The fact that he also saved 37 games with a 1.65 ERA in 2014 and didn't make the All-Star team should further help his cause.
Relief Pitcher: Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
Betances was a rare non-closer All-Star in 2014, and he looks poised to repeat that feat in 2015. With a 1.17 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 38.1 innings, he's having an even better first half than the one he had last year.
Relief Pitcher: Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals
Wait, two non-closer relievers on the All-Star roster? Yup. It's doubtful that Yost will head to Cincinnati without at least one of his star relievers, and Davis is the best choice of the bunch. With an 0.27 ERA (tops among AL relievers) in 33 innings, he's been just as overpowering this year as he was in 2014.
National League Pitchers
6 of 10
Starting Pitcher: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
All-Star selections don't get much more obvious than this one. Scherzer has arguably been MLB's best pitcher in 2015, posting a 1.79 ERA with 130 strikeouts and just 14 walks in an NL-high 110.1 innings. That he's also in the middle of a spectacular three-start stretch should also help his cause.
Starting Pitcher: Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
Though Scherzer has gotten all the hype, Greinke also belongs in the conversation of MLB's best pitcher. His 1.58 ERA is the best in all of MLB, and should earn him an automatic berth to what would surprisingly be only his third All-Star team.
Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
Cole may get into the All-Star Game on the strength of his MLB-best 11 wins. But aside from that, he also owns a 2.20 ERA and has struck out 108 in 102.1 innings. Those are also All-Star-worthy numbers.
Starting Pitcher: Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves
Somebody will have to represent the Braves in Cincinnati, and Miller is unquestionably the best choice. His 2.20 ERA ties him with Cole for the fifth-best mark in the NL, and he's also Cole's equal in innings with 102.1.
Starting Pitcher: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Just as Miller is the obvious choice to represent the Braves, deGrom is the obvious choice to represent the Mets. He's following up his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2014 with a 2.15 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 100.1 innings. And if you haven't noticed, he's been especially hot lately.
Starting Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
Though he has a 2.99 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 108.1 innings, Bumgarner really only has a flimsy claim to being one of the NL's best pitchers in 2015. But after what he did last October, he should have no trouble getting in courtesy of either his fellow players or by the hand of Bruce Bochy.
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
With just a 3.20 ERA, Kershaw isn't having his best season. But he is a legacy All-Star guy with four straight selections under his belt, and the fact that he's second in MLB behind only Chris Sale with 140 strikeouts should help his cause for a fifth straight selection.
Starting Pitcher: A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates
Burnett deserves an All-Star nod based solely on the fact that he has the NL's third-best ERA at 2.01. Aside from that, it probably won't hurt his cause that he's a longtime veteran who's never been an All-Star. He's bound to get plenty of sympathy votes from his fellow veterans.
Relief Pitcher: Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Though it's Pirates starters who have generated most of the pitching hype in Pittsburgh this season, Melancon's exploits should get some attention. He leads the NL with 24 saves and has a 1.67 ERA.
Relief Pitcher: Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals
Rosenthal is following an up-and-down 2014 season with 23 saves and a 0.51 ERA that's tops among NL relievers. Besides that, it never hurts to have one of the NL's hardest throwers in your pen.
Relief Pitcher: Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
There's bound to be at least one legacy All-Star in the NL's bullpen, and Chapman makes more sense than Craig Kimbrel. In addition to being a Cincinnati favorite, he has a 1.89 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. And yes, he still has baseball's hardest fastball.
Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies
Somebody has to represent the woeful Phillies, and there's more room for Papelbon than there is for Cole Hamels or Maikel Franco. He's struck out 33 in 29.2 innings, and he had an ERA in the low 1.00s as recently as mid-June.
Relief Pitcher: Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers
Rodriguez should take the same path as Papelbon into the National League's bullpen. The Brewers need a representative, and he's a good choice with a 1.50 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings. And as hinted before, he also comes with less baggage than Ryan Braun.
American League Final Vote
7 of 10
When the time comes, five players will be nominated for the American League Final Vote. And to fill those five spots, AL skipper Ned Yost is going to be picking from probably around a dozen candidates.
But rather than narrow that part down, I'll skip right to the guy who I figure is most likely to make the cut and then win the vote: Mike Moustakas.
If Moustakas does get beat out by Josh Donaldson for the AL's starting third base gig and by Manny Machado for a spot on the bench, he'd stand out as a worthy candidate for the Final Vote. And given that selecting the candidates is his boss' job, a nomination for Moustakas would be all but guaranteed.
As for why he would win, there's the fact that Moustakas is having an All-Star-worthy season with a .313 average and .820 OPS alongside excellent defense at third base. By WAR, he's been one of the AL's elite third basemen.
But just as important, Moustakas would have the Kansas City advantage going for him. Royals fans have been going at the All-Star voting like they're on a mission from the baseball gods. And based on the fact that he's received over 10 million votes for the starting lineup, we know that this mission certainly applies to Moustakas. If he were to be a Final Vote candidate, it would presumably be more of the same.
National League Final Vote
8 of 10
Not unlike the AL Final Vote, the National League Final Vote is going to involve cutting a list of many candidates down to just five. For Bruce Bochy, that'll be no easy task.
But if my roster projections pan out—and yes, I'm aware that's a pretty big "if"—one guy who's going to stand out as a must-have nomination is St. Louis' Michael Wacha.
Wacha's lack of a track record and dominant overall numbers figures to make it tough for him to crack the NL's initial list of pitchers, but he would stand out as an obvious snub if he doesn't make the cut. A nomination for the Final Vote would thus be a way to fix that.
Wacha would have the goods to win it. The fact that he has 10 wins would attract some votes, and a 2.77 ERA and 74-22 K/BB ratio in 94.1 innings is none too shabby either.
Beyond that, Cardinals fans have been rocking the All-Star vote nearly as hard as Royals fans. They'll presumably keep rocking it if he finds his way onto the Final Vote, even if it means denying votes to fellow Cardinals standout Carlos Martinez.
Final American League Roster
9 of 10
Add it all up, and the American League squad will come out looking like this:
| C | Salvador Perez | KCR |
| 1B | Miguel Cabrera | DET |
| 2B | Jose Altuve | HOU |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson | TOR |
| SS | Alcides Escobar | KCR |
| OF | Mike Trout | LAA |
| OF | Lorenzo Cain | KCR |
| OF | Alex Gordon | KCR |
| DH | Nelson Cruz | SEA |
| C | Russell Martin | TOR |
| C | Stephen Vogt | OAK |
| 1B | Albert Pujols | LAA |
| 2B | Jason Kipnis | CLE |
| 2B | Brian Dozier | MIN |
| 3B | Manny Machado | BAL |
| 3B | Mike Moustakas | KCR |
| SS | Xander Bogaerts | BOS |
| OF | Jose Bautista | TOR |
| OF | Adam Jones | BAL |
| OF | Yoenis Cespedes | DET |
| OF | Brett Gardner | NYY |
| DH | Prince Fielder | TEX |
| SP | Dallas Keuchel | HOU |
| SP | Chris Sale | CHW |
| SP | Sonny Gray | OAK |
| SP | Chris Archer | TBR |
| SP | Felix Hernandez | SEA |
| SP | David Price | DET |
| SP | Hector Santiago | LAA |
| SP | Yovani Gallardo | TEX |
| RP | Glen Perkins | MIN |
| RP | Zach Britton | BAL |
| RP | Dellin Betances | NYY |
| RP | Wade Davis | KCR |
Final National League Roster
10 of 10
And here, at the end of the road, is what we're predicting the National League roster to look like:
| C | Buster Posey | SFG |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | ARI |
| 2B | Dee Gordon | MIA |
| 3B | Todd Frazier | CIN |
| SS | Jhonny Peralta | STL |
| OF | Bryce Harper | WAS |
| OF | Matt Holliday | STL |
| OF | Joc Pederson | LAD |
| C | Yasmani Grandal | LAD |
| C | Yadier Molina | STL |
| 1B | Anthony Rizzo | CHC |
| 1B | Joey Votto | CIN |
| 2B | Joe Panik | SFG |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | COL |
| 3B | Matt Carpenter | STL |
| SS | Brandon Crawford | SFG |
| OF | Andrew McCutchen | PIT |
| OF | Justin Upton | SDP |
| OF | A.J. Pollock | ARI |
| UTIL | Justin Turner | LAD |
| SP | Max Scherzer | WAS |
| SP | Zack Greinke | LAD |
| SP | Gerrit Cole | PIT |
| SP | Shelby Miller | ATL |
| SP | Jacob deGrom | NYM |
| SP | Madison Bumgarner | SFG |
| SP | Clayton Kershaw | LAD |
| SP | A.J. Burnett | PIT |
| SP | Michael Wacha | STL |
| RP | Mark Melancon | PIT |
| RP | Trevor Rosenthal | STL |
| RP | Aroldis Chapman | CIN |
| RP | Jonathan Papelbon | PHI |
| RP | Francisco Rodriguez | MIL |
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.
.jpg?w=600 "Manning Asked Mendoza to Attend Draft")
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Pickens Signing Tag")
.png?w=600 "Top 300 Prospects 📊")
