Predicting the 2020s team of the decade

January 2nd, 2020
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      Happy New Year to everyone! As we enter a new decade, MLB Pipeline readers have questions about the future ...

      In the same vein as MLB.com's all-2010s teams, who makes your projected all-decade squads for the 2020s?

      -- Grayson C., Denver

      None of our all-2010s first-teamers were 30 by the time the decade started, so I used that as a general guideline. I thought I'd have some fun and include several prospects, but that proved next to impossible because there are so many good young players already tearing it up in the big leagues.

      Mike Trout is one of the best players ever and he's still only 28. I have to include Ronald Acuña Jr. (22), Cody Bellinger (24) and Juan Soto (22), so there's my first-team outfield and DH -- with no room for Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts, Eloy Jiménez, let alone White Sox prospect Luis Robert (No. 3 on the soon-to-be-revamped MLB Pipeline Top 100). The game's top prospect, Wander Franco of the Rays, can't dislodge Fernando Tatis Jr. or Francisco Lindor from shortstop or Alex Bregman or Rafael Devers from third base.

      Here are my all-2020s teams, including six current prospects:

      First Team

      C: Adley Rutschman, Orioles
      1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
      2B: Gavin Lux, Dodgers
      3B: Alex Bregman, Astros
      SS: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
      OF: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
      OF: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
      OF: Mike Trout, Angels
      DH: Juan Soto, Nationals
      Two-way: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
      SP: Walker Buehler, Dodgers
      SP: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
      SP: Jack Flaherty, Cardinals
      SP: MacKenzie Gore, Padres
      SP: Mike Soroka, Braves
      RP: Josh Hader, Brewers

      Second Team

      C: Joey Bart, Giants
      1B: Pete Alonso, Mets
      2B: Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
      3B: Rafael Devers, Red Sox
      SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians
      OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
      OF: Eloy Jiménez, White Sox
      OF: Christian Yelich, Brewers
      DH: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
      Two-way: Brendan McKay, Rays
      SP: Shane Bieber, Indians
      SP: Luis Castillo, Reds
      SP: Lucas Giolito, White Sox
      SP: Casey Mize, Tigers
      SP: Blake Snell, Rays
      RP: Raisel Iglesias, Reds

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      Who are some of your favorite under-the-radar prospects to make a big splash in the new year?

      -- Kyle C., Portland, Ore.

      We're working on updating the MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects list, which will be revealed toward the end of the month with our usual one-hour show on MLB Network. I started my process by lining up my personal Top 125, and these were my three highest-ranked players not on our current list:

      Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets: He hinted at his considerable offensive upside by batting .312/.407/.510 in his U.S. debut at age 17 and he has the tools to become at least a solid defender.

      Brennen Davis, OF, Cubs: Finger injuries limited him to 50 games in low Class A last year, but he flashed 30-30 potential while batting .305/.381/.525 in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League, and he could stick in center field.

      Geraldo Perdomo, SS/2B, D-backs: One of the breakout performers in the Arizona Fall League, he helped make Jazz Chisholm expendable in the Zac Gallen trade and could have solid tools across the board once fully developed.

      The Giants do have a much improved farm system, as Mike Rosenbaum noted in a story earlier this week. I expect they'll crack our ranking of the top 15 systems when we update those in the spring.

      San Francisco presently has on our Top 100 Prospects list from last summer: catcher Joey Bart (No. 19), outfielder Heliot Ramos (No. 50), shortstop Marco Luciano (No. 61) and outfielder Hunter Bishop (No. 65). I included left-hander Seth Corry on my personal list for the next Top 100 after he dominated in 2019, ranking second in the Minors in ERA (1.76), third in opponent average (.171) and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.6) and strikeout rate (33.9 percent). Corry's best weapons are a downer curveball and a lively 92-96 mph fastball

      Next up is outfielder Alexander Canario, a $60,000 steal from the Dominican Republic in 2016. He has the best bat speed in the system and hit .318/.377/.623 with 16 homers in 59 games between Rookie and short-season ball last year. He also has a chance to remain in center field and will fit the right-field profile well if he can't.

      Also keep an eye on another outfielder, Luis Matos. Signed for $725,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, he topped the Dominican Summer League in doubles (24), extra-base hits (33) and total bases (134) during his pro debut and batted .367/.438/.566 between two Rookie-level stops. He's a hit-over-power guy with plenty of both commodities, and he also is a possible center fielder.

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      Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him @jimcallisMLB and @jimcallis.bsky.social. Listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.