Fantasy Baseball

Major League Baseball might be on the brink of a return, though there is work yet to be done.

The owners approved a plan for the 2020 season and have since begun discussions with the MLBPA. However, the league has yet to formally present its plan for a 50-50 revenue split, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

Resolving the financial issue is going to be the most difficult obstacle for both sides, particularly considering MLBPA executive director Tony Clark told Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic the players would not accept such a split.

From a baseball standpoint, the plan reportedly includes an 82-game regular season with an emphasis on regional play, as well as an expanded postseason.

One of the other notable inclusions is the implementation of a universal designated hitter (DH). The concept has been tossed about for some time now, and it seems MLB might use these unprecedented circumstances to test out the universal DH and see how it changes the game. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the universal DH is "expected to be easily approved by the players."

Instituting a universal DH could have drastic ramifications in fantasy baseball, as well. While there is no defined "DH" spot in fantasy, there are a host of National League players whose value could increase tremendously if the plan is indeed approved. 

       

Ranking Players That Most Benefit From Universal DH

1. Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets

2. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves

3. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

4. J.D. Davis, New York Mets

5. Steven Souza Jr., Chicago Cubs

6. Dylan Carlson, St. Louis Cardinals

7. A.J. Pollock, Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Howie Kendrick, Washington Nationals

9. Shogo Akiyama, Cincinnati Reds

10. Wil Myers, San Diego Padres

      

Yoenis Cespedes

The Mets have a number of players who would benefit from the universal DH, including guys like J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith and Brandon Nimmo. But the rule would be most beneficial to Cespedes.

Cespedes missed the entirety of the 2019 season because of injury, and he played just 129 games in 2017 and 2018, combined. Durability issues have plagued his career, but some of those issues might be negated if he no longer had to play the outfield.

The 34-year-old is still a prolific hitter when healthy. He slugged over .530 in every season between 2015 and 2017, and he would give the Mets another power bat in the middle of the lineup behind Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto.

Not to mention, New York would feel more comfortable tossing Cespedes in the lineup without having to worry about him as a defensive liability. At the same time, a universal DH would allow the Mets to disperse at-bats among their outfielders while instilling Cespedes as another run-producer.

      

Austin Riley

   

Riley had an up-and-down rookie season. He slashed .356/.397/.746 with seven homers in his first 15 games, but quickly fell off.

The 23-year-old finished with a .226/.279./.471 slash, and he struggled to hit the breaking ball. Riley posted a 36.4 percent strikeout rate, and he whiffed at over 48 percent of the breaking balls he saw last season, per Baseball Savant. Still, Riley is young, and he has big-time power. After all, he did club 18 homers in just 274 at-bats. 

Atlanta had a dilemma in terms of splitting reps between Riley and Johan Camargo at third base. But having a universal DH would give the Braves a clear option: start the defensive-minded Camargo at the hot corner, and allow Riley to narrow his focus to hitting at the DH spot.    

Letting Riley develop in the DH would be good for his career development, and it would also give the Braves a more balanced lineup. Contact-oriented guys like Camargo and Nick Markakis would get plenty of at-bats, but opposing pitchers would also have to worry about Riley hitting behind the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna.

          

Steven Souza Jr.

Yes, the universal DH would also benefit Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber. However, Schwarber was always going to receive the lion's share of the at-bats in that spot even in the absence of a DH.

Souza, on the other hand, was going to have to fight with the likes of Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr. for playing time. If the Cubs are allowed to move Schwarber to the DH spot, they have more flexibility in testing Souza's capabilities in left.

Like Cespedes, Souza missed all of 2019 after suffering a torn ACL. He also missed 90 games in 2018. However, the Cubs signed him to a one-year, "prove it" kind of deal. Souza is just two years removed from posting an .810 OPS with 30 homers and 16 stolen bases. Perhaps he can give the Cubs added production if he is healthy.

The Cubs need more steadiness at the dish from their outfield group. If a universal DH is approved, Chicago can still get Schwarber his at-bats while also giving a healthy Souza more opportunities to show he is healthy.

         

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Before Major League Baseball was put on hold, Luis Robert and Jesus Luzardo were expected to shine in their first full seasons.

Robert is expected to begin the 2020 campaign in the Chicago White Sox lineup, which gives him the best chance of any top prospect to make an impact.

Luzardo made his debut for the Oakland Athletics in September and is now projected to take on a larger role within the rotation.

Other prospects could emerge throughout season, but few are expected to match the production of Robert and Luzardo from the start, which makes them the most ideal fantasy prospects.  

                         

Fantasy Baseball 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta

2. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

3. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

8. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Juan Soto, OF, Washington

12. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

           

Fantasy Rankings for Top Prospects

1. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

2. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland

3. Gavin Lux, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Carter Kieboom, SS, Washington 

5. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

6. Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox 

7. Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis

8. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota

9. Mackenzie Gore, SP, San Diego

10. Casey Mize, SP, Detroit 

          

Luis Robert

Robert's minor league power generated buzz for what he could do in a major-league lineup.

The outfielder mashed 32 home runs and drove in 92 runs across three levels of the White Sox system.

Robert spent the most time at Double-A Birmingham, but he made a larger offensive impact at Triple-A Charlotte, where he hit 16 long balls. 

The 22-year-old should be integrated into a lineup headlined by Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Edwin Encarnacion.

Due to the power already in the White Sox lineup, Robert will likely start in the bottom half of the batting order but could move up if he adjusts well to the majors. 

Although he is the No. 3 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com, he could make the biggest impact of any top-10 prospect.

Tampa Bay's Wander Franco is not expected to land in the majors in 2020, and Gavin Lux has to fight to remain in a crowded Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. 

Since Robert carries so much offensive potential, he should be worth a mid-to-late round pick as outfield depth to start the season. 

                 

Jesus Luzardo 

Luzardo showed promise working out of the Oakland bullpen in September. 

The southpaw conceded two earned runs and struck out 16 batters over 12 innings in six appearances. Those outings were a glimpse into what he can produce in the Athletics' starting rotation this season.

In 2018, he went 10-5 across three minor league levels, and if he hadn't suffered injuries in 2019, he may well have made that impact last season. 

Luzardo should draw fantasy interest because of his strikeout total. He had 129 in 109.1 innings in 2018. 

If the 22-year-old translates that power to the major league mound, he could be a solid provider throughout the season.

Since fantasy owners have been tipped off to his potential, you may have to select Luzardo a round or two before expected. However, the payoff could be worth it if he achieves success in the American League West. 

               

Gavin Lux

Lux hit a pair of home runs and drove in nine runs during his September stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The call-up was a reward for hitting 26 home runs for Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The 22-year-old could provide power in the Dodgers lineup, but there is a concern about how much playing time he will get on a loaded roster. 

He could start at second base, but with right-handed bats Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor fighting for playing time, some of Lux's at-bats could be taken away.

Lux hit .270 with four doubles and eight RBI versus right-handed hurlers, but he recorded a single hit in 12 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.

His power numbers are intriguing, but he needs to improve against southpaws to be a consistent figure in lineups.

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

Major League Baseball's top starting pitchers could become more valuable than they already are in fantasy baseball leagues if the season is shortened.

If starting pitchers are making around 15 appearances, fantasy owners would have little room for error when selecting their rotations, which could lead to pitchers being taken over hitters in a few early rounds. As such, Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom could be chosen in the middle of the first round in some drafts because of the consistency they bring to the mound.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday that the proposal being prepared by MLB features between 78 and 82 games, and a regionalized schedule could be played. If that is the plan for the 2020 campaign, the elite starters may have more of an advantage because of decreased travel and experience against hitters in their respective divisions.

                              

Fantasy Baseball 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta

2. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

3. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

8. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Juan Soto, OF, Washington

12. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

                    

Pitcher Rankings

1. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

2. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

3. Max Scherzer, Washington

4. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Justin Verlander, Houston

6. Stephen Strasburg. Washington

7. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis

8. Shane Bieber, Cleveland

9. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

10. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay 

               

Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole rarely suffered a poor start in his final season with the Houston Astros.

He lasted at least five innings in all but one start and struck out 10 batters in 21 appearances. If he brings the same consistency to the New York Yankees, Cole will remain on top of the pitcher rankings throughout the 2020 campaign.

Cole's high strikeout rate and his 2.50 ERA should entice a few owners in the middle of the first round. In 2019, he made six starts against American League East opposition and averaged 10.1 punch outs, including a pair of 14-strikeout outings.

Cole's 21-7 regular-season mark in September and October should also be intriguing for owners who want to justify selecting him over a slugger in the first round. He would be more than worth a high selection if he comes close to earning 10 wins and keeps his strikeouts-per-nine innings mark over 12 for the third consecutive season.

                        

Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom has three straight seasons with double-digit wins, a strikeout-per-nine inning rate over 10 and 200 total strikeouts. The New York Mets ace also has back-to-back campaigns with an ERA under 2.50, which could be hard to replicate against the lineups of the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

He posted a 7-3 mark against National League East opposition in 2019, and he would have earned a few more victories if he received proper run support.

Despite owning a 1-2 record versus Atlanta, deGrom lasted at least six innings in three starts, struck out 39 batters and gave up nine earned runs. He posted similar numbers against the Washington Nationals, as he did not concede more than four runs in any of his four appearances. If he contributes at a similar level against NL East opposition in 2020, deGrom could put himself in the position to win plenty of games.

His biggest concern comes with the New York Mets offense, as he had at least two no decisions from June on in 2019. As long as deGrom posts high strikeout totals and keeps his ERA down, he should carry value as a top-10 fantasy pick, even if the wins do not come in bunches.

                           

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

Shortstop should be one of the first positions filled in a majority of fantasy baseball drafts.

A trio of shortstops, led by Francisco Lindor, are the preferred options once Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Christian Yelich are off the board. Lindor, Trevor Story and Trea Turner could be selected in succession if owners do not want to go after elite starting pitchers in the middle of the opening round.

In the case of Lindor and Story, there is a possibility for owners to take teammates on the left side of the infield with their first two picks.

                                  

Fantasy Baseball 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta

2. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

3. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

8. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Juan Soto, OF, Washington

12. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

                         

Predictions for Top Infielders

Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

Lindor's three consecutive 30-home run seasons, combined with his consistency to reach base, should make him the first non-outfielder chosen.

The 26-year-old totaled at least 170 hits in each of the past four campaigns and has had an OPS over .830 in four of his five major league seasons.

Lindor is expected to set the tone at the top of the Cleveland order, and his ability to get on base could result in plenty of stolen bases and runs. He has 47 stolen bases over the previous two seasons, and he has scored at least 99 times in every year since 2016.

The shortstop's run total should remain high with Oscar Mercado, Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez hitting behind him. The latter had more RBI and stolen bases than Lindor in 14 fewer games, and some owners could combine him with his teammate on the left side of the infield.

Taking two players from the same team in the first two rounds comes with a risk if they are facing an unfavorable matchup, but it may be worth it given how well both players have performed.

Prediction: No. 6 overall.

                         

Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

The top third of the Colorado Rockies order should also be intriguing to fantasy owners in the opening two rounds.

Trevor Story carries an edge over Nolan Arenado in fantasy rankings because of his potential to score more runs and steal bases. The shortstop recorded 111 runs and 23 stolen bases compared to the 102 runs and trio of stolen bases from Arenado in 2019.

Story also possesses comparable power to his teammate, who could be a late first- or early second-round selection.

In the past two seasons, the 27-year-old had at least 35 home runs, a .290 batting average, .550 slugging percentage and .910 OPS. Were Lindor chosen at No. 6, Story could be the next player off the board because of his consistent numbers.

If the draft falls a certain way, Story and Arenado could be on rosters together, but that would require a few starting pitchers to be taken above the Colorado third baseman.

Prediction: No. 8 overall. 

                        

Trea Turner, SS, Washington

Turner lost some support in the Washington Nationals order with Anthony Rendon departing for the Los Angeles Angels in December.

That move puts more pressure on Turner to combine with Juan Soto to provide the Nationals with offense from the heart of the order.

Turner has yet to produce 20 home runs in a single season, but he has had back-to-back seasons with 35 stolen bases and 150 hits. If he remains healthy, he has a chance to increase his power numbers, as he produced 19 home runs in 122 games in 2019. In 2018, the shortstop hit the same number of long balls over 162 appearances.

If he produces home runs and RBI at a higher level with more responsibility in the Washington order, Turner could finish the campaign as the top-ranked infielder.

There is a small chance he is paired with Soto on some fantasy rosters. But that may require the shortstop to drop a few spots in the first round and some pitchers to be taken ahead of Soto for him to land early in the second.

Prediction: No. 9 overall.

                         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Christian Yelich are the likely candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy baseball drafts. 

The trio of outfielders provide some of the best power in Major League Baseball and have put up strong numbers across most offensive stat categories. 

Trout may be viewed as the safest option of the three because of his longevity at the top of the sport, while Acuna and Yelich deserve consideration following impressive two-year runs.

                        

Fantasy Baseball Rankings

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta

3. Christian Yelich, OP, Milwaukee

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

8. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

12. Juan Soto, OF, Washington 

          

Mike Trout

Trout has six seasons with at least 30 home runs and three with over 100 RBI.

He reached both milestones in 2019, as he mashed a career-high 45 long balls and drove in 104 runs. 

The 28-year-old also owns seven seasons with 100 runs and eight with triple digits in hits. 

Trout will fill up most stat categories with ease and provide consistent splits. He had a .291 batting average, .438 on-base percentage, .645 slugging percentage and 1.083 OPS in 2019.

Opposing pitchers likely will not avoid throwing to Trout since the Angels lineup now possesses Anthony Rendon in addition to Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols.

If Rendon bats behind Trout in most games, the outfielder's run total could rise above the 110 times he crossed home plate last season.

The consistent numbers over a long period of time and the reinforcements added to the Angels lineup should be enough to convince plenty of owners to select Trout at No. 1.

If Acuna or Yelich is the top pick, Trout likely would not last past the No. 2 selection in most leagues. 

                

Ronald Acuna Jr. 

In two years, Acuna has boosted his fantasy stock to the highest level. 

In 2019, the 22-year-old produced 41 home runs, 101 RBI, 175 hits and 127 runs.

The Atlanta outfielder's splits decreased in comparison to 2018, but that was due to a higher total of plate appearances. 

Acuna's biggest edge over Trout is in stolen bases, as he recorded 37 in his sophomore campaign.

Most of the power numbers are comparable to Trout, but he may not be able to match Trout's numbers in each of the four offensive splits. 

There could also be a worry about Acuna's strikeout rate, as he was sat down on strikes 188 times in 2019.

Although that total is higher than most would like, it is offset by the power he contributes from the leadoff position.

If he continues on an upward trajectory, Acuna could outhit Trout in some categories in 2020, and that potential could place him at the top of draft boards.

                

Christian Yelich

Yelich's two seasons in Milwaukee have vaulted him near the top of most fantasy rankings. 

He has 80 home runs and 207 RBI with the Brewers, and he posted career bests in all four offensive splits in 2019.

Yelich has consistently reached base throughout his career with six 100-hit seasons, and he has eclipsed 160 base knocks in each of the last four campaigns. 

His increased power numbers and a career-best 30 stolen bases from a year ago make him one of the most well-rounded options. 

Yelich has all the qualities of a No. 1 overall pick when healthy, but some owners selecting at No. 1 or No. 2 could turn away from him because of the injury that cost him 32 games in 2019.

If Yelich falls past No. 3, it would be viewed as a surprise given how well he can produce when at 100 percent.

               

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference

Late-round fantasy baseball draft picks will not win leagues for you, but they could be X-factors in certain matchups.

A plethora of intriguing options will be available in the final few rounds, and although sifting through that list requires a bit of work, it could come with a decent payoff.

Miami Marlins pitcher Caleb Smith is one of the hurlers who could be of interest because of his total in a valuable stat category.

Aristides Aquino of the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers catcher Omar Narvaez may provide value with their power, but concerns about their production and consistency will keep them around until the later rounds.

                       

Projections for Late-Round Sleepers

Caleb Smith, SP, Miami

Smith carries some intrigue because of his strikeout rate.

The 28-year-old fanned 168 batters over 153.1 innings in 28 starts in 2019.

Two years ago, the Marlins hurler struck out 88 opponents in 77.1 frames over 16 appearances. That is where the intrigue stops going into the new campaign, as he needs to correct some flaws to improve his fantasy value.

Smith conceded 33 home runs and recorded a 4.52 ERA that was inflated by poor numbers in August and September. His five outings with five or more earned runs allowed decreased his value further, but if he can improve on those numbers, he could be a low-risk, high-reward selection in the final few rounds.

The southpaw put up solid numbers against both left-and-right-handed hitters in 2019. He had a 2.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 134 strikeouts versus right-handed batters, and he held lefties to a .211 batting average.

As long as he decreases his home run concessions, Smith might be worth stashing in the final few rounds as pitching depth.

Projection: 18th round.

                     

Aristides Aquino, OF, Cincinnati

Aquino was one of the must-add players in August when he was first called up by the Cincinnati Reds.

The outfielder hit 11 of his 19 home runs from August 3-17, but his power dried up thereafter. The 26-year-old finished with a .259 batting average, .316 on-base percentage and 47 RBIs.

Some fantasy owners may reach for Aquino a few rounds before he should be selected based off his potential for power. But if he showcases his home run strength on a more consistent basis, he could carry value as a depth outfielder.

Aquino's ceiling could be as high as his power takes him, but there is also a chance he remains inconsistent and hits the waiver wire within a few weeks. Since most players available at the back end of fantasy drafts come with risks, it is worth taking a flier on Aquino in case he once again brings pop to the Reds lineup.

Projection: 19th round.

                     

Omar Narvaez, C, Milwaukee

A shift from Seattle to Milwaukee could increase Narvaez's totals.

In 2019, he posted 22 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .813 OPS in his first-career 100-game season.

Narvaez is positioned in a much better lineup alongside Christian Yelich, Keston Hiura and others. Even at the bottom of the order, Narvaez could reap rewards if Yelich and Hiura reach base at the start of innings.

The potential for more RBIs and a consistent batting average throughout the catcher's career should make him an intriguing late-round pick. Narvaez has hit .275 or higher in each of the past three seasons, and if he can prove that he can mash double-digit homers again, he could carry more value in the middle of the campaign.

It would be a risky move to use the 28-year-old as your primary catcher, but if you select top players at other positions, you could try to get away with it.

Projection: 19th round.

                  

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

It's more common than ever for prospects to make significant impacts in Major League Baseball.

Teams still manipulate service time to their benefit, but they have also gotten more willing to bring up their best young players in an attempt to help them make a push for the postseason. That benefits fantasy players who keep a close eye on the minor league scene and know what to expect from these young studs.

As the wait for the 2020 MLB regular season continues, here's a first-round mock draft for a standard 12-team league and a look at the best prospects to bet on having big impacts when games begin.

                          

2020 Fantasy Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

6. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

7. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

8. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

9. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

10. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

11. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

12. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

                 

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

One reason that Luis Robert should be the first prospect taken in every fantasy draft is guaranteed playing time.

Even though the Chicago White Sox haven't formally announced anything, Robert seems all but certain to start the season in the big leagues after signing a six-year contract extension in January before playing in an MLB game.

Another significant reason to bet on Robert is his preternatural ability to hit. The 22-year-old rose to the No. 3 spot on MLB.com's top 100 prospect rankings after posting a .328/.376/.624 slash line with 32 homers, 92 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 122 games across three levels last season.

Per The Athletic's Keith Law, Robert's swing has a load that MLB pitchers might be able to exploit with velocity on the inside part of the plate, but "the remainder of the tool package points to 30/30 upside with plus defense at a skill position."

Robert seems likely to start the year hitting in the middle of a White Sox lineup that already includes Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu. That core group has tremendous upside, with Robert capable of hitting for a high average, big power and adding 20-25 stolen bases.

If it all comes together out of the gate, Robert could become a top-10 fantasy outfielder as a rookie.

                       

Joey Bart, C, San Francisco Giants

Joey Bart looks to have been on the fast track to the big leagues since being drafted No. 2 overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2018. A broken hand bone cost him six weeks last season, but he still made it to Double-A and finished with a .278/.328/.495 slash line with 16 homers in 79 games.

Giants president Farhan Zaidi told the Giants Insider Podcast (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic) that Bart has the chance to open this season in Triple-A, assuming there is a minor league season.

If there's a downside to betting on Bart in 2020, being a catcher makes his climb up the ranks more difficult than that of a normal prospect. He has to be a good defender even before focusing on what his offense might look like. Per MLB.com, Bart has "continually" improved his defense in the minors to the point scouts view him as a potential Gold Glove winner behind the plate.

The Giants still use Buster Posey as their primary catcher, but eventually he will move to first base full time.

Bart can force the issue if he impresses the front office enough with his defensive ability and offensive potential. The Georgia Tech alum might be more of a power-first hitter out of the gate because of his swing-and-miss tendencies—he's struck out 118 times in 130 minor league games at the lower levels.

Given how weak the crop of fantasy catchers is across MLB, any player with a modicum of upside will be worth keeping an eye on. Bart is better than that and will force himself into San Francisco's starting lineup soon.

                  

Evan White, 1B, Seattle Mariners

One advantage that rebuilding teams have with their top prospects is the benefit of patience. There's no pressure to force a young player to perform if a club knows it's not chasing a postseason berth.

Much like the White Sox did with Robert, the Seattle Mariners took some suspense out of their decision with Evan White by signing him to a six-year contract in November even though he only has four games of experience at Triple-A.

White isn't regarded at the same level as Robert, but he's started to tap into some of the offensive potential that led the Mariners to select him No. 17 overall out of Kentucky in the 2017 MLB draft.

In 92 games at Double-A last season, White set a career high with 18 home runs. The 24-year-old had just 14 long balls in 138 games over the previous two seasons combined.

Law did note there is more development for White to do if he wants to reach his offensive potential:

"It's not a big-fly-power kind of swing, but should help him hit line drives with the right launch angle to put 20-plus into the seats. He's aggressive early in counts and could probably get to more power, at the cost of some contact, by becoming more patient and waiting for a pitch he can drive. His defense and pure hit tool, which is a 50/55 right now, makes him a near-certain regular, while that newfound power potential gives him a chance to be a half to full grade more."

The Mariners don't have anyone blocking White's path. Nor do they have any incentive to bail on him quickly if he gets off to a slow start.

As long as White remains the team's regular first baseman, he should be able to hit .280 with 15-20 homers and drive in 60-70 runs depending on how long the 2020 season ends up being.

One of the biggest questions about Major League Baseball in 2020 is how the delayed start to the season will affect player performance.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, there is optimism that MLB will have a season of sorts this year, with one idea being to start play in 10-12 states or in as many as 20 ballparks around the league.

Athletes in all sports are used to a strict routines that allow them to be at their peak during the season and sustain that performance over a long period of time. Any disruption to those regimens could affect how they play.

This will be important to remember in MLB as the league continues to figure out a potential return plan. Fantasy baseball will also be very different this year, with the top stars likely having more value than ever because a shorter season would make it more difficult for big statistical seasons.

That doesn't mean there won't be any breakout stars in 2020; it just might be harder to pinpoint where the surprises are going to come from. That's not impossible if you know where to look.

Here are our best bets for breakout fantasy stars to keep an eye on as you prepare for your draft.

                                 

2020 Fantasy Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

6. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

7. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

8. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

9. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

10. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

11. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

12. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

                        

2020 Fantasy Breakout Stars

Willie Calhoun, OF, Texas Rangers

After brief cups of coffee with the Texas Rangers during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Willie Calhoun finally seemed to catch on last season. The 25-year-old hit .269/.323/.524 with 21 homers and 48 RBI in 83 games.

Calhoun had an interesting journey to the big leagues. He showed good power in his first three minor league seasons, recording 69 homers in 333 games from 2015-17. When the Rangers sent him to Triple-A at the start of 2018, his hitting remained strong with a .294 average and .351 on-base percentage. However, his power fell off with nine homers and a .431 slugging percentage in 108 games.

Per CBS Sports, Calhoun might have even more offensive potential to tap into because some of the metrics he posted last season weren't in line with what he did in the minors:

"Calhoun's 6.8 percent walk rate in Texas was well below his 9.0 percent career average in the minors, while his .262 BABIP was also a far cry from his career minor league BABIP of around .300. We should eventually see a more patient approach from Calhoun, better batted-ball luck, and prodigious power, which should play well in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park."

According to Fantasy Pros, Calhoun is the 49th outfielder being selected and has an average draft position of 179.4. The outfielder directly ahead of him is Byron Buxton, who has only played more than 100 games in a season once since 2015.

The value Calhoun presents with his ability to hit for average and 25-30 homers in a full season makes him much more valuable than the 15th-round draft pick that he is right now.

                            

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

All of the hype for a Toronto Blue Jays prospect last season was reserved for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but it was the son of another former MLB star who was a better player in 2019.

Bo Bichette hit .311/.358/.571 with 11 homers in 46 games as a 21-year-old last season. Guerrero hit .272/.339/.433 with 15 homers in 123 games as a 20-year-old.

Guerrero's natural ability to hit gives him the higher ceiling, but Bichette shouldn't go overlooked among the next wave of Toronto stars. He put up a .321/.380/.515 slash line with 37 homers in 323 minor-league games.

Another thing that gives Bichette as much value as, if not more than Guerrero in 2020 is position. The Florida native is a shortstop, where the offensive bar is lower than at third base or designated hitter.

There will likely be some regression in Bichette's batting average because his .368 BABIP seems unlikely to repeat. Per ZiPS projection models, he is expected to hit .276/.335/.472 with 19 homers, 79 RBI, 73 runs and 28 stolen bases. His 3.3 projected wins above replacement would match Corey Seager's total from last season.

Bichette's average draft position is 67.8, making him the 13th shortstop coming off the board. His ability to hit for average and power, combined with the speed to rack up stolen bases, makes him a potential top-five player at the position in 2020.

                     

German Marquez, SP, Colorado Rockies

Betting on any Colorado Rockies pitcher to have success is a tall task, but there is a lot to like about German Marquez in 2020.

The 2019 campaign was a disappointment for Marquez coming off a 2018 in which he had a 3.77 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 196 innings. Last season saw the Venezuelan right-hander post a 4.76 ERA, allow a career-high 1.5 home runs per nine innings and lead the National League with 14 wild pitches.

There are reasons to believe Marquez was the victim of bad luck in 2019. His home run rate spiked despite having the second-best ground-ball and fly-ball rates of his career. The 25-year-old posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.00) in his four big league seasons.

"His fastball velocity increased for a third consecutive season, now up to 95.7 mph, his swinging strike rate improved slightly (up to 12.7 percent from 12.5 percent), he had a sterling 4.9 percent walk rate and he maintained his 1.20 WHIP from the prior season," per Sports Illustrated's Jaime Eisner. "He also had a 3.54 xFIP."

Marquez is a deep sleeper who is currently the 51st pitcher coming off the board with an average draft position of 178.6. Right behind Marquez is Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., who hasn't pitched since Oct. 17, 2018, following Tommy John surgery.

Marquez's ceiling is lowered because of the way Colorado's thin air hurts pitchers, but he's got the raw stuff to be at least a No. 2 starter in 2020 based on his peripheral stats.

As the wait for Major League Baseball to start playing in 2020 continues, there does appear to be a strong sense of hope there will be games played at some point. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, "nearly everyone" in MLB's decision-making hierarchy, including league officials, doctors and union leaders, is "increasingly optimistic" there will be a season. 

Passan did note the optimism is guarded and loaded with caveats. And it seems all but certain this season, assuming it does happen, will be shorter than 162 games. 

However, even a shortened season seems unlikely to have a significant impact on the order of things in your fantasy draft. There will be a shorter window for players who get off to slow starts to turn their season around, but for the most part, the best players will still be the best players. 

Here's a first-round mock draft for a 12-team standard league, as well as a look at which players are most likely to disappoint this season. 

        

2020 Fantasy Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

6. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

7. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

8. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

9. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

10. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

11. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

12. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

              

2020 Fantasy Busts

Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros

One player who benefited from the season not starting on time was Justin Verlander. The American League Cy Young winner dealt with injuries during spring training and had groin surgery on March 17. 

The procedure required him to miss six weeks. Whenever play resumes, it would be reasonable to expect he will be fully recovered to take the mound for Houston's season opener. 

Despite that hope, though, there are still reasons to think Verlander could be in line for regression in 2020. The eight-time All-Star was removed from a March 8 spring start against the New York Mets due to soreness in his triceps.

The triceps issue could merely be attributed to usual spring fatigue, but it's also fair to note Verlander turned 37 in February. Even though he has seemed immortal, posting a 2.55 ERA and 590 strikeouts in 437 innings over the past two seasons, eventually age will catch up to him. 

This isn't to suggest Verlander will fall off the cliff in 2020. I would still bet on him being a top-15 fantasy pitcher, and Fantasy Pros has the right-hander ranked as the No. 5 starting pitcher, ahead of Stephen Strasburg, Jack Flaherty and Shane Bieber. 

That trio can't match Verlander's career resume, but all three feel like safer bets at this point to produce at a higher level. 

         

Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Ryan Braun hasn't had a late-career spike like Verlander, but the former National League MVP did have a solid 2019 that provided some hope he can be a fantasy starter again. 

In 144 games last season, he posted a .285/.343/.505 slash line with 22 home runs, 75 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His average on-base percentage, slugging percentage and homer total were his highest since 2016. 

Digging deeper into the numbers, though, suggests Braun was playing over his head. The six-time All-Star had his highest batting average on balls in play (.325) since 2016, despite posting the second-lowest walk rate (6.7 percent) and third-highest strikeout rate (20.7 percent) of his career. 

Last season also marked the first time since 2015 that he was able to play in at least 140 games. He's 36 years old, so betting on durability at this point in his career is a tall order. 

Fantasy Pros has Braun ranked as the 61st-best outfielder this season, but he's still ahead of more intriguing options such as Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel (No. 64), Hunter Renfroe of the Tampa Bay Rays (No. 68) and Corey Dickerson of the Miami Marlins (No. 71). 

             

Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

Adalberto Mondesi is an interesting fantasy player because the only tool he has that makes an impact is speed. The Kansas City Royals shortstop tied for the MLB lead with 10 triples and finished second with 43 stolen bases last season. 

Aside from that ability to create plays on the bases, he doesn't offer much of anything else. He had a .263/.291/.424 slash line with nine home runs in 102 games in 2019. There was some hope the 24-year-old was evolving after 2018 when he hit .276/.306/.498 with 14 homers in 75 games. 

Based on ZiPS model (h/t FanGraphs), Mondesi projects to see another reduction in his overall production in 2020 with a .249/.285/.423 slash line. 

The system has him hitting 14 homers and stealing 42 bases, but that was factoring in a 162-game schedule. Playing a reduced schedule will significantly impact his overall value more than a lot of players because he doesn't hit for power or get on base. 

Fantasy Pros has Mondesi ranked as the No. 9 shortstop, ahead of Manny Machado (No. 10; also eligible at third base), Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Tim Anderson. 

Those players are much better hitters than Mondesi has ever been in MLB. Thinking he will continue to hit for enough average to utilize that speed on the bases is a long shot. 

The best first basemen in baseball reside in the National League. 

In most fantasy baseball drafts, the top five players at the position will come from the senior circuit, with Atlanta's Freddie Freeman and Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers both coming off the board early.

Freeman is the top true first baseman, while Bellinger has split time between the right corner of the infield and the outfield during his career.

After those two are selected, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets will receive the most draft attention after he produced one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory.

If you miss out on the top three first basemen, you can still get value out of Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt and others, but Freeman, Bellinger and Alonso are in a class of their own.

          

First Base Rankings

1. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

2. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta

3. Pete Alonso, New York Mets

4. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

5. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis

6. Matt Olson, Oakland

7. Josh Bell, Pittsburgh

8. Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

9. Carlos Santana, Cleveland

10. D.J. LeMahieu, New York Yankees

              

Freddie Freeman

Freeman is coming off a season in which he produced career bests in runs, home runs and RBI.

In addition to his 38 home runs and 121 RBI, the Atlanta first baseman recorded his fifth season with more than 175 hits and an OPS over .930 for the third time. 

Freeman should have plenty of run-producing opportunities again in 2020 with Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies hitting in front of him.

The addition of Marcell Ozuna should provide some security beneath Freeman as the Braves look to fend off the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals in the National League East. 

Freeman did the majority of his damage in 2019 against right-handed pitchers, as he recorded 30 home runs, 97 RBI and a 1.005 OPS. 

The 30-year-old had 342 fewer plate appearances against left-handed pitching, and in those matchups, he had eight home runs, 24 RBI and an OPS of .750.

Freeman's splits even out more when you compare his production at SunTrust Park and on the road. He produced a better batting average, on-base percentage and OPS on the road but had higher power numbers in Georgia. 

He should be one of the first sluggers off the board in fantasy baseball drafts, and some owners may feel comfortable taking him in the opening round.

If he does not land in the first 10 to 12 picks, depending on how large your league is, he will not last longer than the second round due to his power and importance within the Atlanta lineup.

Projection: Late first round or early second round.

                

Cody Bellinger

The positional flexibility of Bellinger could hand owners an advantage if they draft a certain way. He should play the bulk of his games in the outfield, but he has first base eligibility on all fantasy sites. 

The 24-year-old has started 216 games in the outfield and 196 at first base in his career, and he played in the infield on 36 occasions in 2019. 

In certain situations, the Dodgers could move Bellinger to first base to make room for A.J. Pollock or Joc Pederson in the lineup.

The versatility of Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez also helps with certain matchups, or if players need days off. 

Muncy can move from first base to second or third base, and Hernandez can start at second base or the outfield, which could force Bellinger down to first. 

Bellinger delivered more home runs and RBI than Freeman while posting a better OPS in 2019. His 47 home runs, 115 RBI and 1.035 OPS were all career highs. 

If you draft him and three other outfielders, you could maximize the power in your lineup since only Freeman and Alonso may be able to match Bellinger's numbers at first base.

Projection: First round

             

Pete Alonso

Most owners will be buying Alonso's stock high after he produced 53 home runs and 120 RBI in his rookie season. 

If you miss out on Freeman or Bellinger, the Mets star is worth an early selection because of how much he can provide in the power categories.

The argument against choosing Alonso in the first two rounds involves his 183 strikeouts and .260 batting average. 

Thirty-four percent of the 25-year-old's hits were home runs and his on-base percentage of .358 suffered because of that. 

Since Alonso is the third-best first baseman in fantasy rankings, he could go earlier than projected because of the need at the position and the power he displayed in 2019. 

If he improves his batting average and on-base percentage and cuts down on his strikeouts, he could become more valuable than he was a year ago.

Projection: Third round

               

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.