Baseball Roundtable 2017 Under-25 Lineup

SOMETHING OLD … NOW SOMETHING NEW

Mike Trout,
Aged out of the Under-25 Lineup
Photo by Keith Allison

In a recent post, I presented “something old” about Major League Baseball 2017 – Baseball Roundtable’s current 35-and-Over Lineup.  (Click here for that post).  Today, I would like to take a look at the “something new” MLB has to offer, presenting BBRT’s 2017 Under-25 Lineup – partially to prove BBRT is not overwhelmingly “old school” when it come to the national pastime (although I still oppose the DH and the “just wave ‘em to first” intentional walk) and also because I believe today’s new crop of young and talented playes bodes well for the future of “the old ball game.”

By way of background, I began my baseball fan-aticism in the early 1950’s, at a time when a host of very good young players were making their MLB debuts.  Between 1950 and 1955 alone, for example, we saw the first MLB appearances of such players as Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, Al Kaline, Sandy Koufax and Brooks Robinson. I’m not sure I’ve seen such an influx of talent in the big leagues in such a short period of time since – until just recently. Today’s game features a wealth of explosive young talent – players who are adding excitement to the game on the mound, in the batter’s box and in the field.

In this column, I would like to present BBRT’s Under-25 Lineup, pitching rotation and key bullpen staffers – based primarily on 2017 performance; but also with an eye to the future.  I might note that by choosing Under-25 instead of 25-and-Under, I have made the task a bit harder – aging out a number of key 25-year-olds like: two-time MVP Mike Trout; current MLB home run leader Aaron Judge; 2015 NL Rookie of the Year and 2016 NL MVP Kris Bryant; 2017 Rookie of the Year candidate Trey Mancini; Robbie Ray (7-3, 2.87 for the D-backs); 2015 All Star and Cardinals’ ace Carlos Martinez (already in his fifth MLB season); and Brewers’ closer Corey Knebel.

With that background, here’s the Baseball Roundtable Under-25 MLB Lineup.  (Stats through June 18, 2017.)

CF/Lead Off – Mookie Betts, Red Sox, 24-years-old, 5’9”, 180-pounds (Fourth MLB season)

Photo by Dennis Heller

Mookie Betts was an All Star (and Gold Glover) in 2016 and is hitting .270, with 12 home runs, 38 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 45 runs scored and an AL-leading 23 doubles as of June 18.  His career MLB average (421 games) is an even .300 and he has 66 home runs to go with 65 steals.

Signed right out of high school (fifth round of the 2011 draft), Betts was not only a honorable mention Louisville Slugger High School All-American baseball player in 2011 (hitting .509 in his senior year), but also the 2011 Nashville Class AAA All-City Player of the Year in basketball.  Although he was the Red Sox’ starting right fielder last year, he was Boston’s regular center fielder in 2015, so he gets the nod at the center of the Under-25 garden – adding a solid bat, speed and good glove to the lineup.  Betts hit .316 over five minor league seasons (299 games).

An all-around athlete, Betts was also the Tennessee boys Bowler of the Year in 2010.

DH – Jose Ramirez, Indians, 24-years-old, 5’9”, 165-pounds (Fifth MLB season)

Photo by apardavila

Jose Ramirez, if I need him, can move around this lineup – playing third, short and second.  In his fifth MLB season (he signed with the Indians as a free agent in 2009), Ramirez will provide an experienced bat to move Betts into scoring position. Although Ramirez got off to a slow start in the majors (hitting .237 over the 2014-15 seasons), since the start of the 2016 season, he has hit .312 with 22 home runs, 126 runs scored, 110 RBI and 29 steals.  This season he is at .313-11-34, with seven steals – a great candidate for the two-spot in the order. Ramirez’ career MLB marks are .282-30-154, with 49 steals, in 398 games.

Ramirez showed his potential in the minor leagues, hitting .304 over five seasons (335 games).

Jose Ramirez can handle the bat.  In 2014, he led the AL with 13 sacrifice bunts … a nice skill for the number-two slot in the order.

SS – Carlos Correa, Astros, 22-years-old, 6’4”, 215-pounds (Third MLB season)

Photo by Keith Allison

Competition was rugged for shortstop on the Under-25 squad, but I went with the youngest of the candidates – the Astros’ Carlos Correa. Also in the running were: Indians’ (23-year-old) SS Francisco Lindor; Dodgers (23-year-old) SS Corey Seager; and Red Sox’ (24-year-old) SS Xander Bogaerts – all 2016 All Stars.  This position is stacked with young stars.

Correa, the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, is in his third major league campaign and is hitting .304, with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. A first-round (first overall) pick in the 2012 June Amateur Draft, the native Puerto Rican has an average of .282, with 55 home runs, 207 RBI and 27 steals in 315 MLB games. In four minor league seasons, Correa hit .313 over 282 games.

Correa was just the third Latino player to be the first overall selection in the MLB Draft – following Alex Rodriguez and Adrian Gonzalez.

RF/Cleanup – Bryce Harper, Nationals, 24-years-old, 6’3”, 215-pounds (Sixth MLB season)

Photo by Keith Allison

In his sixth MLB season at just 24-years-old, Bryce Harper is already an NL Rookie of the Year (2012) and MVP Award (2015) winner, as well as a four-time All Star. This season he is hitting .318, with 17 home runs and 51 RBI (62 games). He is, in effect, the “veteran” bat in the middle of the Under-25 order.

Harper graduated early from high school, earning his GED after his sophomore year. In 2010, at just 17-years-old, Harper enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, where he played catcher and was named 2010 Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

He was selected by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft and, at 17-years-old, hit .343 in the highly touted Arizona Fall League. By age 19, he was an NL All Star.

On May 8, 2016, Bryce Harper tied a MLB record for walks received in a game with six free passes in a 4-3, 13-inning Nationals’ loss to the Cubs.  He was also hit by a pitch in the contest, reaching base seven times in one game without an official at bat.

1B – Cody Bellinger, Dodgers, 21-years-old, 6’4”, 210 pounds (First MLB season) 

Photo by Minda Haas Kuhlmann

The youngest (and only rookie) on the BBRT Under 25 squad, Cody Bellinger will give Bryce Harper some protection in the lineup. Talk about power potential. Bellinger (splitting time between outfield and first base for the Dodgers) has put up a .262-19-43 line in his first 50 MLB games – and even tossed in four stolen bases.

Drafted out of high school in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Bellinger hit .271-65-253 in 361 minor league games (five seasons).  In 2015, he hit .264-30-103 at high A – and, in 2016, he bashed .271-26-71 at Double A/Triple A.

Cody Bellinger is the son of Clay Bellinger – a four-season (1999-2002) major league utility player for the Yankees and Angels. Clay Bellinger made his MLB debut at age 30, after a decade in the minors. (Cody Bellinger reached the majors at age 21, in his fifth pro season.)  Clay Bellinger hit just .193 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI in 183 career MLB games. He played in 19 post season games with the Yankees, including in the 2000 and 2001 World Series.

C – Gary Sanchez, Yankees, 24-years-old, 6’2”, 230-pounds (Third MLB season)

Photo by apardavila

Casey Stengel (after the expansion draft) once said, “You have to have a catcher, because if you don’t you’re likely to have a lot of passed balls.”  Well, the BBRT Under-25 team has a catcher – and he’s a good one.

Dominican Gary Sanchez signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in July of 2009.  He is in his third MLB season, although one of those was of the “cup of coffee” variety – just two at bats in 2015. This season, Sanchez is hitting .287, with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in just 40 games (early-season injury). In 95 career MLB contests, Sanchez is hitting .292-31-75 – robust power numbers and a good average out of the backstop slot.  Sanchez began his professional career at age 17 and, put up a .275 average, with 100 home runs and 431 RBI in 639 minor league seasons.

In August of 2016, his first full month in the major leagues, Sanchez was named not just the AL Rookie of the Month, but also the AL Player of the Month. He hit .389 (37-for-95), with 11 home runs and 21 RBI that August.

3B – Miguel Sano, Twins, 24-years-old, 6’4”, 260-pounds (Third MLB season)

Photo by Keith Allison

It’s always good to have a big guy over at the hot corner, just in case someone charges the mound. (Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews was famous for protecting his pitchers.)  Miguel Sano is that guy on the 2017 Under-25 team. In his third MLB season, Sano – now leading in votes for the 3B American League All Star spot – had found his stroke.  As of June 18, he is hitting .286, with 16 home runs and 48 RBI. In his three MLB seasons (259 games), he has averaged .258, with 59 round trippers and 166 RBI.  The Twins see the 2017 version of Sano as the player they expect going forward.

Sano signed with the Twins in 2009, after being pursued by several MLB teams – reportedly including the Pirates, Indians, Yankees and Red Sox, His $3.15 million signing bonus was the second-highest ever for a Dominican amateur.

Miguel Sano is one of the key players included in the 2012 documentary film “Ballplayer: Pelotero.”

LF – Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox, 22-years-old, 5’10”, 170-pounds (second MLB season)

Andrew Benintendi brings balance of power and speed to the bottom third of the Under-25 Lineup.  This season, he sits at .272-9-39, with eight steals.  In 99 MLB games, he has averaged .279, with 11 homers, 53 RBI, 51 runs scored and nine stolen bases.

A first round (seventh overall) 2015 MLB Draft pick, Benintendi played college ball for the University of Arkansas. As a sophomore, he led the Southeastern Conference with a .380 batting average and 19 home runs – earning recognition as the SEC Player of the Year and the Baseball America College Player of the Year, as well as recieving the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.  Benintendi earned his way to the big leagues in a big hurry, hitting .312, with 20 home runs and 26 steals in 151 minor league games (two seasons).

Andrew Benitendi homered in his first-ever MLB post-season at bat, going deep off the Indians’ Trevor Bauer (October 6, 2016) in Game One of the ALDS. (The Red Sox lost 5-4.)

2B – Brandon Drury, Diamondbacks, 24-years-old, 6’2”, 210-pouids (Third MLB season)

Photo by Keith Allison

Brandon Drury, who can play around the infield, provides a steady glove and will give you solid at bats. This season he’s at .300-8-30 in 62 games.  In three MLB seasons, he’s played in 216 games (at six different positions) and hit .282, with 26 home runs (16 in 2016) and 91 RBI.

Drury was a 33rd round pick (Braves) in the 2010 MLB Draft – and began his professional career at age 17. In seven minor league seasons, he hit .285 with 60 home runs in 641 games.

Brandon Drury was co-MVP of the Appalachian League in 2011, after hitting .347-8-54 in 63 games for the Danville Braves.

Starting Pitcher, Lance McCullers, Astros, 23-years-old, RHP, 6’1”, 205-pounds (Third MLB season)

McCullers stands at 6-1, 2.58, with 89 strikeouts (and just 23 walks) in 76 2/3 innings pitched in 2017. In three MLB seasons, his line is 18-13, 3.05 – fanning 10.4 batters per nine innings.

McCullers was a first round (41^st overall) selection (Astros) in the 2012 MLB draft – after being named the 2012 Gatorade National (High School) Baseball Player of the Year. In five minor league seasons, he went 12-16, with a 3.67 ERA – striking out 320 batters in 267 2/3 inning pitched.

THE REST OF THE UNDER-25 ROTATION (with 2017 records)

Dylan Bundy, Orioles (7-5, 3.29); Luis Severino, Yankees (5-2, 2.99); Kyle Freeland, Rockies (8-4, 3.42);  Michael Fulmer, Tigers (6-5, 3.45).

Closer, Roberto Osuna, Blue Jays, 22-years-old, RHP, 6’2”, 215-pounds (Third MLB season)

Photo by Keith Allison

Robert0 Osuna, apparently, was born to save games. Just 22-years-old, he already has 73 MLB saves (although he did not record a single save in the minor leagues). This season, he is 2-0, 2.67 with 17 saves and 36 strikeouts in 27 innings.  In his three MLB seasons, he 7-9, 2.64, with 73 saves and 193 K in 170 2/3 innings pitched. (Osuna saved 36 games in 2016.)  The Blue Jays signed Osuna (out of Mexico) in 2011 at age 16.

Roberto Osuna is the youngest pitcher in AL history to record a post-season save – and second youngest in MLB history. Osuna was also the youngest player in MLB history to reach 50 saves.

KEY SET UP MEN IN THE UNDER-25 PEN (with 2017 records)

Edwin Diaz, Mariners (2-2, 3.38, 11 saves, 26 appearances); Archie Bradley, Diamondbacks (3-1, 1.13, 25 appearances); Keone Kela (3-1, one save, 3.16, 25 appearances).

Clearly, there are plenty more young stars that could challenge for a spots in the Under-25 Lineup, I’ve already mentioned shortstops Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox, .318-4-390, 8 steals this season), Francisco Lindor (Indians, 256-13-28) and Corey Seager (Dodgers, .281-9-32).  There are also Under-25 players like Mets’ OF Michael Conforto (.289-14-38); Rangers’ OF Nomar Mazara (.278-8-44); and Brewers’ OF Domingo Santana (.270-11-35). Orioles’ third baseman Manny Machado is a proven Under-25 star, but carries just a .213 average (13 home runs) this season and Rangers’ 3B Joey Gallo may develop (he has a .194 average this campaign, but 18 home runs). On the mound, Jose Berrios of the Twins is 6-1, 2.74 in seven starts – and, with a bit more MLB experience, could push his way into the Under-25 rotation listed above – and the Rockies’ Jeff Hoffman is 4-0, 2.25 after six appearances/five starts.  And, those are just a few of the name left out of the lineup (What about Kyle Schwarber?, you might inquire).  The fact is, there is a lot of good (great) young talent out there – and that promises an exciting future in our nation’s ballparks.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT.

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