B/R's MLB 20 for '20: Projecting Top 20 Superstars in 2020
For the past several weeks, we've been going position by position and taking a look at who profiles to be the best players in the game five years from now with our "MLB 20 in '20" series.
With all of the individual-position articles finished, let's put a bow on the series with a look at who graded out as the top 20 players overall for the 2020 season.
First, here's a quick link to each individual-position article in case you missed one along the way or want a refresher on how that particular position was scored:
Also included at the end of this article is a quick look at what the ultimate 25-man roster would look like, as well as a hypothetical batting order for this superteam.
Hopefully you've enjoyed this series, and I appreciate all the feedback and lively debate that took place in the comment section along the way.
*Note:ย All basic statistics and WAR numbers come courtesy ofย Baseball-Reference.com. Advanced stats come fromย FanGraphs,ย and detailed pitching stats are fromย Brooks Baseball.ย Stats are current through July 23.
Just Missed the Cut
1 of 22
- 21. SS Addison Russell, CHC (79 overall)
- 22. SP Michael Wacha, STL (79 overall)
- 23. RF George Springer, HOU (79 overall)
- 24. SP Matt Harvey, NYM (79 overall)
- 25. SP Jacob deGrom, NYM (79 overall)
- 26. SP Dallas Keuchel, HOU (79 overall)
- 27. SP Felix Hernandez, SEA (79 overall)
- 28. SP Tyler Glasnow, PIT (78 overall)
- 29. SP Julio Urias, LAD (78 overall)
- 30. RF Yasiel Puig, LAD (78 overall)
- 31. SP Carlos Martinez, STL (78 overall)
- 32. CF Clint Frazier, CLE (77 overall)
- 33. 1B Freddie Freeman, ATL (77 overall)
- 34. 3B Anthony Rendon, WAS (77 overall)
- 35. LF Starling Marte, PIT (77 overall)
- 36. SP Chris Archer, TB (77 overall)
- 37. SS Dansby Swanson, ARI (76 overall)
- 38. 2B Kolten Wong, STL (76 overall)
- 39. SP Shelby Miller, ATL (76 overall)
- 40. RF Jorge Soler, CHC (75 overall)
- 41. 1B Josh Bell, PIT (75 overall)
- 42. 2B Yoan Moncada, BOS (75 overall)
- 43. CF A.J. Pollock, ARI (75 overall)
- 44. CF Andrew McCutchen, PIT (75 overall)
20. SP Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics
2 of 22
2020 Age:ย 30
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
The Oakland Athletics have a pretty lengthy history of shipping out their homegrown talents before they become too expensive, but if there's one player worth bucking that trend for, it's right-hander Sonny Gray.
The Vanderbilt product doesn't have the prototypical workhorse build at 5'11" and 195 pounds, but he's certainly performed like an ace since moving to the top of the rotation last season.
The 25-year-old is 10-4 with a 2.30 ERA and 1.010 WHIP so far this season, and he's really taken the next step since focusing more on his slider as his primary breaking pitch.
Gray has another year on the cheap before reaching arbitration for the first time after the 2016 season, but the Athletics brass would be wise to open up their wallets and build around the dynamic starter moving forward.
19. CF Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers
3 of 22
2020 Age:ย 28
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Joc Pederson is still a work in progress at this point, evidenced by the fact he's currently hitting .227 with an NL-high 115 punch-outs for a 29.2 percent strikeout rate.
However, he's also shown plenty of what made him such a highly regarded prospect heading into the season, as he's launched 20 home runs and walked at an impressive 15.0 percent rate.
At some point, he'll probably need to dial back his swing-from-the-heels, all-or-nothing approach at the plate, but that's also part of what's quickly made him a fan favorite in Los Angeles. After all, it's resulted in an MLB-best 430.5-footย average on his home runs so far this year, according to ESPN's Home Run Tracker.
Even if he remains a high-strikeout guy, Pederson should be a perennial 30-homer threat with terrific on-base numbers and a good glove to boot. Expect him to join Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager as the Dodgers' position-player cornerstones going forward.
18. SP Lucas Giolito, Washington Nationals
4 of 22
2020 Age:ย 26
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Lucas Giolito is the only player in the top 20 who has yet to make his major league debut, but he has all the tools to be the next man up in a line of impressive Washington Nationals starters.
There's a very real chance he would have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft if not for a UCL sprain during his senior year of high school. That caused him to slip to the Nationals at No. 16 overall and eventually required Tommy John surgery. As a result, the team has slowly brought him along.
Giolito just recently passed his pro career 200-inning mark, but the results speak for themselves, as he's goneย 15-8 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.098 WHIP and 10.3 K/9.
With a fastball that can touch 100 mph and a hammer curve and a changeup that are lethal against lefties, all coming from a solid 6'6", 255-pound frame, Giolito has all the pieces to be an absolute force once he arrives in Washington.
17. SP Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
5 of 22
2020 Age:ย 27
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
The New York Mets have a lot of young starting pitching talent, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Noah Syndergaard wind up as the best of the bunch.
An imposing figure at 6'6" and 240 pounds, Syndergaard is still just 22 years old and is already thriving at the big league level. In 13 starts this season, he's gone 4-5 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.144 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.
At four years younger than Matt Harvey and five years younger than Jacob deGrom, he has more upside than any of the Mets' impressive stable of arms.
His fastball consistently reaches the high 90s and pairs with a hammer curve and an improving changeup that is already some of baseball's most electric stuff. Five years from now, he could truly be dominant.
16. CF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
6 of 22
2020 Age:ย 27
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
The Boston Red Sox have experienced a trying season, but Mookie Betts has emerged from the rubble as a bona fide star. He's perhaps the franchise's future face who will carry the torch after Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz call it a career.
With an impressive mix of power and speed, he's posted a .766 OPS with 24 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs while also swiping 13 bases.
His glove has also been phenomenal, as he's settled into life in center field after coming through the farm system as a second baseman. He's graded out well from a metrics standpointย with 11 defensive runs saved and a 7.0 UZR/150.
All of that has added up to a 5.1 WAR, good for fourth among all American League position players, and there is still plenty of room for the 22-year-old to improve all facets of his game.
15. SP Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
7 of 22
2020 Age:ย 27
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Whether or not you're a Miami Marlins fan, no one was happy when Tommy John surgery sidelined Jose Fernandez last season. He's one of the game's most exciting young talents and must-see TV every time he takes the mound.
His electric stuff has bounced back nicely since he returned to the mound last month, and he's gone 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA, 0.962 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 26 innings over four starts.
Still just 22 years old, Fernandez could well be challenging for the title of baseball's best pitcher five years from now, but it's probably wise to be cautiously optimistic now that he's gone under the knife.
The Marlins made a huge investment in Giancarlo Stanton this past offseason, and making a similar commitment to Fernandez would give them two franchise cornerstones to build around long term.
14. SP Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
8 of 22
2020 Age:ย 30
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Somewhat underrated early in his career, Madison Bumgarner announced himself as a bona fide superstar on the national scene with a brilliant postseason performance last October.
However, he's far from just a one-month wonder, having gone 60-43 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.112 WHIP while averaging 208 innings over the past four seasons.
The October numbers are still what jump off the page, though, as he's gone 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA and 0.883 WHIP in 88.1 career playoff innings. That includes 4-0 with a save and a 0.25 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance in the World Series, on his way to winning three rings.
With so much success already on his resume, it's easy to forget he's still just 25 years old. At this point, he's a few more postseason gems away from being one of the greatest playoff performers the game has ever seen.
13. SP Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
9 of 22
2020 Age:ย 29
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Gerrit Cole certainly looked the part of a future ace when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him No. 1 in the 2011 draft out of UCLA, and this season he's emerged as just that.
With a burly 6'4", 230-pound frame and a fastball that can reach triple digits, the pure tools were never a question, but he's refined his overall game since reaching the majors and taken his performance to another level this season.
As of now, Cole leads the National League with 13 wins to go along with a 2.31 ERA, 1.091 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 124.2 innings. The decision to throw hisย slider more (13.0 to 22.4 percent) and curveball less (13.9 to 6.1 percent) appears to have made a huge difference.
Cole appears to be the bridge between the current duo of Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett and the future duo of Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon. But regardless of who's pitching alongside him in the Pittsburgh rotation, he'll be the ace.
12. 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
10 of 22
2020 Age:ย 29
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Whether it's an eventual trade or a simple decline in production, the end of the Troy Tulowitzki era in Colorado is coming, and it's coming soon.
Replacing the face of the franchise is never easy, but the Rockies look to have their next homegrown superstar ready to step into that role in third baseman Nolan Arenado.
It didn't take the 24-year-old long to establish himself as an elite defender, winning Gold Glove honors in each of his first two seasons, but he's taken his offensive game to another level this year.
Arenado currently has a .901 OPS with 24 doubles, 24 home runs and 72 RBI, and his 3.8 WAR ranks ninth among NL position players. He's by no means a product of his environment either with a .901 OPS and 15 home runs on the road.
Now if only he could pitch, things might look a bit brighter for the Rockies going forward.
11. SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
11 of 22
2020 Age:ย 31
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
It took Chris Sale less than two months and just 11 minor league appearances to reach the majors after the Chicago White Sox selected him with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2010 draft.
Armed with a mid-90s fastball, a fantastic changeup and a slider that he's using less but is still deadly, it didn't take Sale long to establish himself as one of the game's elite starters once he joined the starting rotation full time.
Sensing the bright future to come, the White Sox wisely locked him up on a five-year, $32.5 million deal prior to the 2013 season. With two option years totaling $26 million tacked onto the end, he's under contract through the 2019 season.
This has been a disappointing year for the White Sox as a whole, but with Sale and fellow left-hander Carlos Rodon anchoring the rotation and Jose Abreu penciled into the middle of the lineup, there is still plenty of reason for optimism going forward.
10. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
12 of 22
2020 Age:ย 32
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
After a strong first full season in the majors in 2012 (.850 OPS, 43 2B, 20 HR), it looked like the Arizona Diamondbacks had a good all-around player in Paul Goldschmidt, but he's turned out to be far more than just another solid everyday player.
He followed up his 2012 performance with an MVP-caliber season in 2013 (.952 OPS, 36 HR, 125 RBI), and he is undoubtedly one of the most feared sluggers in all of baseball in 2015.
The 27-year-old currently leads the NL with a .344 average, 73 RBI and 75 walks, adding in 23 doubles, 21 home runs and 17 stolen bases for a 6.0 WAR that ranks third among NL position players.
The Diamondbacks are in the process of rebuilding, but they have some solid offensive pieces to build around with Goldschmidt headlining a list that also includes A.J. Pollock, Yasmany Tomas and Jake Lamb. It may not be long before they're again relevant in the NL West.
9. 3B Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
13 of 22
2020 Age:ย 28
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
With a glaring hole at third base following a season-ending injury to Wilson Betemit, the Baltimore Orioles pulled the trigger on calling up a 19-year-old Manny Machado to not only make his big league debut but also shift to a new position after being drafted as a shortstop.
After holding his own in the middle of a pennant race, Machado took the first steps toward becoming a legitimate superstar the next season with 51 doubles, 14 home runs, a 6.7 WAR and a Gold Glove to top it all off.
A pair of knee injuries cut into his development the past two seasons, but he's healthy this year, and he's taken his offensive game to another level, hitting .297/.366/.533 with 21 home runs and 51 RBI.
That production has gone a long way in helping replace Nelson Cruz in the lineup, and it may not be long before Machado unseats center fielder Adam Jones as the franchise's face.
8. SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
14 of 22
2020 Age:ย 25
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Carlos Correa hasย beenย compared to Alex Rodriguezย more than once on his way to reaching the big leagues, and while he may never quite develop that kind of power, he does have the potential to be a perennial force offensively.
On the big side for the position at 6'4" and 210 pounds, Correa was hittingย .335/.407/.600 with 21 doubles and 10 home runs in 215 minor league at-bats when he earned the call to join a contending Houston lineup.
The 20-year-old has more than held his own to this point, posting an .870 OPS with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 25 RBI in 154 at-bats.
Correa has the tools to be a .300 hitter and a 20/20 performer year in and year out, and depending on how he fills out and his bat speed, 30 home runs is not out of the question. Throw in his plus defensive skills, and Correa should be a driving force behind the Astros' continued return to relevance.
7. 1B Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
15 of 22
2020 Age:ย 30
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Despite being just 25 years old himself, Anthony Rizzo has emerged as the leader of a young Chicago Cubs team this season, and that doesn't figure to change anytime soon.
After a disappointing first full season in Chicago saw him hit .233/.323/.419 with 23 home runs, Rizzo was one of 2014's breakout stars on his way to a .286/.386/.527 line and 32 home runs to rank second in the NL in long balls.
His work against left-handed pitching proved to be the big difference, as he went from a .189/.282/.342 line against southpaws in '13 to .300/.421/.507 last year, and those improved splits have continued in 2015.
The Cubs wisely locked up Rizzo on a seven-year, $41 million deal prior to the 2013 season, and it includes a pair of option years at $14.5 million that should keep him on the North Side through 2021.
He'll be right in the middle of everything that's to come for the Cubs over the next five years and beyond.
6. RF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
16 of 22
2020 Age:ย 30
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
It's not hyperbole to say no one in baseball has as much power as Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton, and he racked up 154 career home runs before turning 25 this past offseason.
The Marlins rewarded that early-career production with a record 13-year, $325 million extension that runs through the 2027 season, so regardless of what the rest of their roster looks like, Stanton figures to be manning right field in Miami for the foreseeable future.
Injuries have been an issue for Stanton, as he's reached 500 at-bats just twice in his first five seasons, but a lot of them have been more fluky than anything else. There's no reason at this point to think he can't join the 500-home run club.
The Marlins' efforts to assemble a contender around him during the offseason failed this time around, but they have the core pieces in place to make some noise once everything falls into place. If and when that happens, expect Stanton to be an MVP front-runner.
5. 3B Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
17 of 22
2020 Age:ย 28
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
It came as a surprise to some when the Chicago Cubs grabbed University of San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft rather than taking a pitcher.
Roughly two years later, it's hard to even fathom the Cubs might have taken right-hander Jon Grayโwho has yet to break through for a pitching-starved Colorado Rockies team, ahead of Bryant.
The 23-year-old Bryant is hitting .258/.367/.449 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI so far in his rookie season, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. A .300 batting average with 40 home runs and 120 RBI is well within reach.
Anthony Rizzo may be the Cubs' team leader as the club's "seasoned veteran," but all signs point toward Bryant being the face of the franchise and one of the more marketable athletes in the sport.
4. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
18 of 22
2020 Age:ย 32
2020 Repertoire Outlook
2020 Command Outlook
2020 Durability Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Postseason struggles and a sterling first half from teammate Zack Greinke aside, Clayton Kershaw still has a firm grasp on the title of "best pitcher in baseball" as he enters the prime of his career.
The 27-year-old got off to a relatively slow start this year, but he's gone 6-3 with a 1.21 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 81.2 innings over his last 11 starts, again looking like the stud we've seen the past four seasons.
Since the start of 2011, Kershaw has gone 72-26 with a 2.11 ERA, 0.946 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He has four ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards and an MVP to his credit during that span, and he's shown no signs of slowing to this point.
His 5.12 ERA in October is the only thing holding back his legacy, and all it takes is one huge postseason to put those struggles in the rearview. He should have plenty of chances going forward, playing for a Dodgers franchise with a seemingly endless supply of money.
3. CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
19 of 22
2020 Age:ย 26
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
The consensus top talent in the 2012 draft, Byron Buxton wound up going No. 2 overall to the Minnesota Twins, who gave him the largest bonus of the draft class at $6 million.
In his first full season in the minors, he proved to be well worth the investment, hitting .334/.424/.520 with 19 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases while reaching High-A Fort Myers.
Buxton struggled to make the leap to the majors this season before landing on the disabled list in June, and at this point, he's still a long way from his ceiling. However, that ceiling is as high as any other young player's in the game, as he's a legitimate five-tool talent.
His speed tool stands out more than anything right now, but Buxton has the complete skill set to turn into a perennial 30/30 guy with a .300 batting average and Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.
Alongside Miguel Sano, he should be a staple in the Minnesota lineup for the next decade.
2. RF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
20 of 22
2020 Age:ย 27
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
Remember when calling Bryce Harper baseball's most overrated player was commonplace around the baseball world?
It's safe to say those days are behind us.
Mike Trout may still be baseball's best all-around player, but statistically no one is having a better season than Harper in 2015, and the scary thing is he's still just 22 years old.
The plus-plus power has always been there, but a more disciplined approach (9.6 to 19.2 percentย walk rate) has made all the difference, and a .332/.462/.681 line with 27 home runs and 64 RBI is the proof.
It's fair to assume Harper will be one of the league's best for a long time, but the question remains where he'll be spending the bulk of his career.
He's under the Nationals' team control through 2018, but there is a growing feelingย he will eventually wind up in the Bronx playing for the Yankees team he rooted for growing up.
That would certainly elevate his star power even more, at least in the pop-culture world as a whole.
1. CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
21 of 22
2020 Age:ย 28
2020 Offensive Outlook
2020 Defensive/Speed Outlook
2020 Upside Factor
2020 Overall Projection
To put it simply, there's nothing Mike Trout doesn't do exceedingly well on a baseball diamond.
Still just 23 years old, Trout might be the most complete player the game has seen since Mickey Mantle was in his prime and healthy, playing for the New York Yankees.
He's built like a linebacker at 6'2" and 235 pounds, and he runs like a receiver with 111 career stolen bases in 129 attempts. You just don't see that kind of pure athleticism in the sport very often.
The Angels gave Trout a six-year, $144.5 million extension that locks him up through the 2020 season, at which time he'll reach free agency ahead of his age-29 season.
As the sport's new face, and still short of reaching his prime, Trout is on a path that could have him wrapping up his career as one of the best the sport has ever seen.
Whether you're an Angels fan or not, there's no denying Trout is a once-in-a-generation talent, so enjoy him while you can.
The Ultimate 2020 25-Man Roster
22 of 22
Position Players
| LF | Starling Marte | Pirates | 31 | 77 |
| CF | Mike Trout | Angels | 28 | 91 |
| RF | ย Bryce Harper | Nationals | 27 | 89 |
| 3B | Kris Bryant | Cubs | 28 | 86 |
| 1B | Anthony Rizzo | Cubs | 30 | 86 |
| SS | Carlos Correa | Astros | 25 | 85 |
| 2B | Kolten Wong | Cardinals | 29 | 76 |
| C | Salvador Perez | Royals | 30 | 74 |
| C | Blake Swihart | Red Sox | 28 | 72 |
| 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | D'Backs | 32 | 85 |
| 3B | Manny Machado | Orioles | 27 | 85 |
| OF | Byron Buxton | Twins | 26 | 88 |
| OF | Giancarlo Stanton | Marlins | 30 | 86 |
Pitchers
| LHP | Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers | 32 | 87 |
| LHP | Chris Sale | White Sox | 31 | 84 |
| RHP | Gerrit Cole | Pirates | 29 | 83 |
| LHP | Madison Bumgarner | Giants | 30 | 83 |
| RHP | Jose Fernandez | Marlins | 27 | 82 |
| RHP | Carson Fulmer | White Sox | 26 | 67 |
| LHP | Zach Britton | Orioles | 32 | 67 |
| RHP | Dellin Betances | Yankees | 32 | 67 |
| RHP | Carson Smith | Mariners | 30 | 67 |
| RHP | Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 32 | 68 |
| LHP | Aroldis Chapman | Reds | 32 | 68 |
| RHP | Craig Kimbrel | Padres | 32 | 69 |
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