Who will make the 2025 All-Star Game?

Who will make the 2025 All-Star Game?

September 10th, 2020

There sadly was no All-Star Game (or Futures Game) this summer, but let's contemplate a Midsummer Classic five years into the future ...

I'm basing this on who I believe will be the best players in baseball in 2025 and generally avoiding players on the wrong side of 30. Your All-Star Game starting lineups:

American League

C: Adley Rutschman, Orioles

1B: Spencer Torkelson, Tigers

2B: , Blue Jays

3B: , Red Sox

SS: Wander Franco, Rays

OF: , White Sox

OF: , White Sox

OF: , Angels

DH: , Blue Jays

P: , Indians

National League

C: , Giants

1B: , Mets

2B: , Dodgers

3B: , Nationals

SS: , Padres

OF: , Braves

OF: , Dodgers

OF: , Dodgers

DH: , Nationals

P: , Dodgers

There were some tough calls, including leaving off , , , , , and , among others. I found room for six current Top 100 Prospects on the two squads: Franco (No. 1), Lux (No. 2), Rutschman (No. 3), Torkelson (No. 6), Bart (No. 13) and Kieboom (No. 21).

Four starts don't make a career, of course, but 's first four big league starts with the Marlins have been spectacular. He has a 1.80 ERA and 25/2 K/BB ratio in 25 innings, and opponents are batting just .231/.255/.330 against him. He ranks second among big league starters with 10 fastballs clocked at 100 mph or harder (behind ) and with an average velocity of 98.6 mph on his four-seamer (behind ), and his heater has set up a changeup that has been almost unhittable.

This is the Sanchez the Marlins hoped they were getting in the trade with the Phillies in February 2019. There were some concerns about his health, but not his stuff or control, and he has shown the high-octane fastball, dancing changeup and power slider that give him ace potential. Few pitching prospects combine pitches and polish like he does, and he could become Miami's best starter since the late José Fernández.

Have Tigers right-hander Casey Mize’s struggles in the big leagues thus far negativity affected his overall projection as a top-of-the-line starting pitcher? Is this just a case of growing pains or was he overrated?

-- Scott G., Uniontown, Ohio

By contrast, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Draft has struggled in his introduction to the big leagues. has lasted just 14 2/3 innings in four starts, posting a 6.75 ERA, 16/6 K/BB ratio and .297/.392/.500 opponent batting line. He has averaged 94 mph with his fastball and thrown some nasty splitters, but he has mostly struggled with his breaking pitches and his command.

Mize currently stands at No. 7 on our Top 100 Prospects list and I'm still bullish on his future. More rookies scuffle than succeed when they first reach the Majors, and the coronavirus shutdown has made the 2020 season even more difficult than usual. His command is as good or better than that of anyone on the Top 100, but he uncharacteristically hasn't been able to locate his pitches where he wants against big leaguers -- and they've made him pay.

has been the Orioles' best hitter since they finally promoted him in late August, batting .339/.397/.607 with four homers in 16 games. He has hit for power since Baltimore drafted him in 2015's first round, so that hasn't been a surprise, but his plate discipline and left-field defense have been pleasant developments.

Mountcastle walked in just 5 percent of his plate appearances in the Minors but has doubled that so far in his introduction to the Majors. Small sample size, I know, but if he can maintain some plate discipline he could become a middle-of-the-order presence for the Orioles. And while he wasted the first four years of his pro career playing on the left side of the infield despite having a below-average arm that meant he wouldn't stick there, he has played a decent left field for Baltimore without much experience at the position.