The Los Angeles Dodgers were prominently featured in ESPN’s top 100 MLB players list for the 2020 season. Seven players were ranked, which ties the New York Yankees for second in all of baseball behind the Houston Astros (eight selections).
Mookie Betts (No. 5), Cody Bellinger (No. 6), Walker Buehler (No. 19), Clayton Kershaw (No. 48), Justin Turner (No. 68), Max Muncy (No. 69) and Corey Seager (No. 78) are among the Dodgers players that made the cut.
Betts, of course, is entering what would be his first season with the Dodgers after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a blockbuster trade that also netted David Price. Although it’s considered unlikely, there is the possibility he never takes the field for the Dodgers.
In 150 games last season, Betts hit .295/.391/.524 with 40 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, 80 RBI and an American League-leading 135 runs scored across 706 plate appearances.
Bellinger is coming off a historic 2019 season in which he batted .305/.406/.629 with 34 doubles, three triples, 47 home runs and 115 RBI across 661 trips to the plate (156 games).
Bellinger earned many accolades at the conclusion of the year, including a Gold Glove Award, Silver Slugger and National League MVP honors.
Buehler put together a stellar 2019 campaign, going 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 182.1 innings pitched (30 starts). He was selected to his first All-Star Game and finished ninth in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Kershaw was also effective last season, posting a 16-5 record with a 3.03 ERA, 3.86 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 178.1 innings of work (29 games, 28 starts). Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently announced that he will make a franchise-record ninth start on Opening Day this season.
Turner continued swinging a hot bat last season, hitting .290/.372/.509 with 24 doubles, 27 home runs and 67 RBI in 549 plate appearances (135 games).
Muncy put up gaudy numbers as well, batting .251/.374/.515 with career-highs in doubles (22), home runs (35), RBI (98) and walks (90) across 589 trips to the plate (141 games). He earned All-Star nods and finished 15th in NL MVP voting.
Seager also enjoyed a solid 2019 season after missing most of the previous year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He hit .272/.335/.483 with an NL-best 44 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs and 87 RBI in 541 plate appearances (134 games).
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