On the Clock New Kids
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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 baseball? Maybe. Division winner Wild card W Juan Soto, OF, Nationals (22): The * next Mike Trout? He might be better. AMERICAN LEAGUE Early start to his career is epic, on a par with Ted Williams. EAST New York Yankees W Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Tampa Bay Rays * Braves (23): One word to describe him: Electric. Toronto Blue Jays Another great two-way Boston Red Sox player with five tools. Baltimore Orioles Another best-player candidate. CENTRAL z Luis Robert, OF, White Chicago White Sox Sox (23): Another five-tool Minnesota Twins guy as centerfielder. Was on Cleveland Indians 32-HR pace over 162 games Kansas City Royals last summer. Detroit Tigers z Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (22): It seems like he’s 28 based on WEST highlights we’ve been seeing. Like his Houston Astros dad, he can hit pitchers’ pitch for Los Angeles Angels* power. Intelligent hitter. Oakland A’s z Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles (23): Seattle Mariners The only catcher on list. A Pudge Texas Rangers NEW KIDS Rodriguez clone as five-tool guy. Also a switch hitter. 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 shortstop 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 spring training, he is out five T and, of course, how boring baseball is. to six months. Still another Sox gem, NATIONAL LEAGUE Major League Baseball 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 New York Mets get people, especially young people, more excited Padres 2020 due to double knee surgery. Had Philadelphia Phillies * about the game and its future. an impressive 2019 with 27 HRs in 87 There are a lot of things, some crazier than Washington Nationals games with 1.067 OPS. Healthy? A others, on the table, such as pitch counts, short- superstar now. Atlanta Braves ening the games to seven innings, designated But here’s another common bond between Miami Marlins 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, Milwaukee Brewers 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): Chicago Cubs such ability with its young people. crowd doesn’t appreciate the intricacies of the 2020 was not a great year, but that Cincinnati Reds 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. Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Ozzie Albies, 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 Los Angeles Dodgers nando Tatis Jr. (Padres) and Ronald Acuña Jr. The top prospect in baseball is 20-year-old superstar, but could be .300/30 San Diego Padres * (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 Mike Soroka, RHP, Braves (23): San Francisco Giants Dodgers stars Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger. And he’s not alone. There are about 10 players After looking like future Cy Young Colorado Rockies 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 Jarred Kelenic, 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. Cristian Pache, 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 strikeouts It’s taken a while — justjust over two decadesdecades — 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 Alex Bregman (Astros) +1000 teams in baseball,ll, anandd neneitherither wwillill hhaveave an eaeasysy Aaron Judge (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 Matt Chapman (A’s) +1500 Diego, which will hhaveave tthehe tatalentlent to comcompete.pete. ThThee MMetsets are MVP: Fernando MVP: Aaron Anthony Rendon (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 pitcher, 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 iinn FFranciscorancisco LiLindorndor aandnd Year: MacKenzie Year: Wander Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres) +850 Carlos Carrascoo, wwinninginning iinn seven ggames.ames. Gore, Padres Franco, Rays Nolan Arenado (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.