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Home , Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, Cristian Pache, Francisco Lindor, Jarred Kelenic, Juan Soto

MLB PREVIEW22021021

BURT’S PICKS TOP 15 UNDER 25 CNHI Sports Boston writer Bill Burt picks z Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres (22): the order of finish for He got paid (14 years, $340 million) each division and before the Padres had to. Is he the postseason winners: best player in ? Maybe. Division winner Wild card W , OF, Nationals (22): The * next ? He might be better. Early start to his career is epic, on a par with . EAST Yankees W Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, * Braves (23): One word to describe him: Electric. Another great two-way player with five tools. Another best-player candidate. CENTRAL z , OF, White Sox (23): Another five-tool guy as centerfielder. Was on 32-HR pace over 162 games last summer.

Detroit Tigers z Jr., 1B, Blue Jays

(22): It seems like he’s 28 based on WEST highlights we’ve been seeing. Like his dad, he can ’ pitch for * power. Intelligent hitter.

Oakland A’s z Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles (23): The only on list. A Pudge NEW KIDS Rodriguez clone as five-tool guy. Also a . AL POSTSEASON z Wander Franco, SS, Rays (20): It’s WILD CARD early. He hasn’t played a game in the Rays over Angels ON THE CLOCK majors. But a switch-hitting, power- hitting with big-time power. ALDS Baseball’s saving grace could be its young superstars Yankees over Rays z Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox (24): Normally, a slight dip expected, but White Sox over Astros BY BILL BURT with so much young talent not CNHI SPORTS BOSTON anymore. Elite hitter. Subpar defender. ALCS Yankees over White here’s a lot to complain about these days — z Eloy Jiménez, White Sox (24): Sox the coronavirus, people hating on others Injured in , he is out five T and, of course, how boring baseball is. to six months. Still another Sox gem, Commissioner Robert who will be an MVP candidate soon. Manfred has called inner-circle “town meetings” EAST Fernando among execs and owners to see if baseball can Tatis Jr., z Yordan Alvarez, OF, Astros (24): Lost get people, especially young people, more excited Padres 2020 due to knee surgery. Had * about the game and its future. an impressive 2019 with 27 HRs in 87 There are a lot of things, some crazier than games with 1.067 OPS. Healthy? A others, on the table, such as pitch counts, short- superstar now. ening the games to seven innings, designated But here’s another common bond between hitters in both leagues, banning the shift, etc., them: They are exciting to watch perform. z Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates (24): etc. Cocky? Absolutely. Some (Soto) more than Another dude with power, average and CENTRAL Here’s one suggestion: Let’s focus on the good others. But that is part of their charm. They defense. Needs to walk more, but of baseball, and right now that is young, electric, compete, and they fear nobody. we’re being picky. superstar-caliber talent … all under the age of 25. This is great for baseball, which is looking St. Louis Cardinals Never before has this sport been overrun with to draw the younger crowd again. The younger z Gleyber Torres, 2B, Yankees (24): such ability with its young people. crowd doesn’t appreciate the intricacies of the 2020 was not a great year, but that The wait-till-they-get-2,000-at-bats dictum game from previous generations, but they appre- was the norm. Saw a 35-to-40 HR guy has been tossed aside. The young players are not ciate electric talent and the MLB has never been in 2019. Expect rebound year. waiting three or four years to make a difference in this position with so many great – and I mean and really bring some excitement. “great” – players. z , 2B, Braves (24): WEST What do the names Juan Soto (Nationals), Fer- And guess what? There’s more coming. Entering his fifth season. Not a nando Tatis Jr. (Padres) and Ronald Acuña Jr. The top prospect in baseball is 20-year-old superstar, but could be .300/30 * (Braves) have in common, besides their National Wander Franco of the Rays. As crazy as this HR/100 RBI guy with all-star potential. League affiliation? sounds, he might be better than Soto, Tatis and Arizona D-Backs They are MVP candidates, right there with Acuna. z , RHP, Braves (23): Dodgers stars and . And he’s not alone. There are about 10 players After looking like future Cy Young Oh yeah, and the trio is all under 25 years old. in their early 20s who will get an opportunity to winner in 2019 (13-4, 2.68 ERA), tore In fact, well under 25. display their wares like the current crop. Achilles last August. Control and NL POSTSEASON savvy are his strengths.

Andrew Vaughn, 1B, White Sox (23) Spencer Torkelson, 3B, Tigers (21) WILD CARD z Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays (23): A Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals (22) 10 more , OF, Mariners (21) Padres over Phillies under lot more nimble and less powerful MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres (22) Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (21) than his dad (Dante), Bo is showing NLDS 25 to some electric play in field and at plate. , OF, Braves (22) watch CJ Abrams, SS, Padres (20) Mets over Brewers Sixto Sánchez, RHP, Marlins (22) Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners (20) Padres over Dodgers

NLCS Mets over Padres WORLDORLD SSERIESERIES Jacob deGrom, Mets RHP MVP FAVORITES METS WININ SUBWAYSUBWAY SERIESSERIES 2020: 4-2, 2.38 ERA, 104 It’s taken a while — jjustust over two ddecadesecades — Career: 70-51, 2.61 ERA, 2021 AL MVP ODDS but it’s going to hhappenappen aagain.gain. ThThee YYankeesankees 1,359 strikeouts and the Mets firstst met for a World SSerieseries in Mike Trout (Angels) +200 October 2000. Theyhey are amoamongng the ttopop five (Astros) +1000 teams in baseball,ll, anandd neneitherither wwillill hhaveave an eaeasysy (Yankees) +1200 road there. The DDodgersodgers agaagainin wwillill bbee tthehe bbestest team iinn baseball, but theyy won’t meet the loloftyfty exexpectationspectations with Jose Ramirez (Indians) +1200 some hungry teamsams chasing, including division rival SSanan NL AWARDS AL AWARDS (A’s) +1500 Diego, which will hhaveave tthehe tatalentlent to comcompete.pete. ThThee MMetsets are MVP: Fernando MVP: Aaron (Angels) +1500 loaded, too, and ttheirheir year iiss hhere.ere. ThThee YYankeesankees wwillill neeneedd a Tatis Jr., Padres Judge, Yankees late-July trade, pprobablyrobably fforor a big-time , to oofficiallyfficially 2021 NL MVP ODDS put them over thee top iinn tthehe AAmericanmerican LLeague.eague. ThThee Cy Young Cy Young Juan Soto (Nationals) +750 Yankees need a hhealthyealthy AAaronaron JJudgeudge ((left),left), and it’s time Award: Jacob Award: Gerrit Giancarlo Stantonon ((left)left) earned his keep, which will Mookie Betts (Dodgers) +750 deGrom, Mets Cole, Yankees happen in 2021. I like both ooff these teams to excite Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) +800 baseball fans worldwideorldwide with a classic SSubwayubway Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves) +850 Series. This time it’ll be the New York Mets, afterafter Rookie of the Rookie of the adding two stars inin FFranciscorancisco LiLindorndor aandnd Year: MacKenzie Year: Wander Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres) +850 Carlos Carrascoo, wwinninginning iinn seven games.games. Gore, Padres Franco, Rays (Cardinals) +1200

CONTENT: Bill Burt | CNHI Sports Boston PHOTOS: Dilip Vishwanat, Ron Tringali, Kelly Gavin and Lizzy Barrett of MLB Heather Bremer | CNHI Sports Indiana