Here is the star-studded 2020 All-MLB Team
Though the pandemic-shortened 2020 schedule marked the first time since World War II that Major League Baseball did not stage an All-Star Game, the All-MLB Team presented by CohnReznick ensures that superlative seasons are still recognized.
Like 2019, the All-MLB Team is split into a First and Second Team, each with one catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop and designated hitter, plus three outfielders, five starting pitchers and two relievers.
The selection process, featuring an impressive group of nominees, started in early November, with 50% of the vote coming from fans and 50% coming from a panel of experts. Fans were able to vote once every 24 hours until 2 p.m. on Nov. 13.
The results of the second annual All-MLB Team voting were announced Wednesday night on MLB Network. And the winners are ¡
FIRST TEAM
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees*
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
3B: Manny Machado, Padres
OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Juan Soto, Nationals
DH: Marcell Ozuna, Braves*
SP: Shane Bieber, Indians
SP: Trevor Bauer, Reds*
SP: Yu Darvish, Cubs
SP: Max Fried, Braves
SP: Jacob deGrom, Mets
RP: Liam Hendriks, A¡¯s*
RP: Nick Anderson, Rays
SECOND TEAM
C: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies*
1B: Jos¨¦ Abreu, White Sox
2B: Brandon Lowe, Rays
SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers
3B: Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, Indians
OF: Ronald Acu?a Jr., Braves
OF: Mike Yastrzemski, Giants
OF: Michael Conforto, Mets
DH: Nelson Cruz, Twins*
SP: Dinelson Lamet, Padres
SP: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
SP: Kenta Maeda, Twins
SP: Hyun Jin Ryu, Blue Jays
RP: Brad Hand, Indians*
RP: Devin Williams, Brewers
*Denotes player is a current free agent.
Here's a closer look at the winners at each position:
CATCHER
First Team: Salvador Perez, Royals
After missing all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery, Perez was at his best in 2020, with a .986 OPS that was more than 200 points higher than his career norm.
Second Team: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
The 29-year-old is one of the most coveted free agents in the market after another strong season in every facet. Realmuto had an .840 OPS, 11 homers and four steals while providing reliable defense behind the plate.
FIRST BASE
First Team: Freddie Freeman, Braves
Despite a difficult bout with COVID-19 at the outset of Summer Camp, Freeman was a worthy pick for NL MVP with a .341/.462/.640 slash and an MLB-high 37 extra-base hits.
Second Team: Jos¨¦ Abreu, White Sox
The AL MVP went 60-for-60, as in an average of one RBI for every game played. He led the AL in hits (76) and slugging percentage (.617).
SECOND BASE
First Team: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
With a .364 average, LeMahieu became the first player in modern history to win the batting title in both leagues (he also did it with the Rockies in 2016). He is a back-to-back All-MLB First Teamer.
Second Team: Brandon Lowe, Rays
The best everyday player on the AL champs during the regular season, Lowe had a .269/.362/.554 slash and finished eighth in the AL MVP vote.
SHORTSTOP
First Team: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
If excitement created were a stat, Tatis Jr. likely would have led the league. Leading all shortstops in homers (17), RBIs (45) and runs (50) -- at the age of 21, no less -- will have to suffice.
Second Team: Corey Seager, Dodgers
The .943 OPS and 28 extra-base hits in the regular season were nice. But Seager¡¯s 2020 will most be remembered for him winning MVP honors in both the NL Championship Series and the World Series.
THIRD BASE
First Team: Manny Machado, Padres
In his second season in San Diego, Machado played like the star he was signed to be, delivering a .304/.370/.580 slash and finishing third in the NL MVP vote.
Second Team: Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, Indians
The AL MVP runner-up, Ram¨ªrez went ballistic in the season¡¯s final two weeks to finish with a .993 OPS, 17 homers, 16 doubles and 10 stolen bases.
OUTFIELD
First Team: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
No settling-in period here. Betts arrived in L.A. and had one of his very best seasons, with a .927 OPS, 16 homers, 10 steals, a second-place finish in the MVP vote and a World Series ring delivered.
First Team: Mike Trout, Angels
When a fifth-place finish in the MVP vote is a disappointment, you¡¯ve had a nice career. Trout¡¯s .993 OPS, 17 homers and 46 RBIs earned him his eighth Silver Slugger honor. He joins LeMahieu as the only position players to make the All-MLB First Team two years in a row.
First Team: Juan Soto, Nationals
Limited to 47 games due to a positive COVID-19 test just before the team¡¯s opener, Soto made up for lost time with an NL-best .351 average and MLB-best 1.185 OPS in his age-21 season.
Second Team: Ronald Acu?a, Jr.
The 22-year-old soared to new heights in both on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.581) while hitting 14 homers and swiping eight bags.
Second Team: Mike Yastrzemski, Giants
With a .968 OPS and 28 extra-base hits (including an NL-high four triples), the grandson of a Hall of Famer proved his age-28 breakout in 2019 was no fluke.
Second Team: Michael Conforto, Mets
Already a reliable producer for the Mets in previous seasons, Conforto blossomed into a bona fide star in 2020, with a .322/.412/.515 slash.
DESIGNATED HITTER
First Team: Marcell Ozuna, Braves
The NL¡¯s previously unplanned adoption of the DH rule benefited Ozuna and the Braves in a big way. He delivered a .338/.431/.636 slash with an NL-leading 18 homers and 56 RBIs.
Second Team: Nelson Cruz, Twins
Age ain¡¯t nothing but a number when you¡¯re putting up these stats at age 40 -- a .303/.397/.595 slash, 16 homers and a 1.089 OPS with runners in scoring position.
STARTING PITCHERS
First Team: Shane Bieber, Indians
The unanimous AL Cy Young pick was a no-brainer here, too, as Bieber¡¯s 1.63 ERA, 122 strikeouts and 281 ERA+ were all unmatched in MLB this year.
First Team: Trevor Bauer, Reds
One of the game¡¯s most colorful personalities had his finest season, posting an NL-best 1.73 ERA and 0.795 WHIP while cruising to the Cy Young honor ahead of his free agency.
First Team: Yu Darvish, Cubs
Yu asked for it, Yu got it. Darvish was victorious in eight of his 12 starts thanks to a 2.01 ERA and NL-best 2.23 Fielding Independent Pitching mark in his best season as a Cub.
First Team: Max Fried, Braves
As the rest of the Braves¡¯ rotation crumbled around him, the 26-year-old Fried stepped into the ace shoes with a 7-0 record, 2.25 ERA and 1.089 WHIP in 56 innings.
First Team: Jacob deGrom, Mets
Though he fell just short of his third consecutive Cy Young Award, deGrom was the only pitcher to attain All-MLB honors for the second straight year. His 2.38 ERA, 104 strikeouts and 0.956 WHIP once again put him in the upper crust.
Second Team: Dinelson Lamet, Padres
Powered by one of the sharpest sliders in the sport, the 28-year-old Lamet had a breakout year, with a 2.09 ERA and 0.855 WHIP in 69 innings.
Second Team: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
OK, so it wasn¡¯t the Cy Young season so many expected. But Cole¡¯s 2.84 ERA, 0.959 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 73 innings made for a pretty good first year in pinstripes.
Second Team: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Not that his performance ever seriously waned, but Kershaw had a resurgence in 2020 by returning to a sub-1.00 WHIP (0.84) with a 7.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 2.16 ERA. And, of course, he finally got over that October hump.
Second Team: Kenta Maeda, Twins
The Twins¡¯ trade for the veteran right-hander worked out wonderfully. His 2.70 ERA and Major League-best 0.75 WHIP earned him a second-place finish in the AL Cy Young vote.
Second Team: Hyun Jin Ryu, Blue Jays
If you¡¯re scoring at home, the 2019 Dodgers rotation makes up three-fifths of the 2020 All-MLB Second Team¡¯s rotation. Ryu¡¯s first season in Toronto saw him turn in a typically excellent 2.69 ERA in 67 innings.
RELIEF PITCHERS
First Team: Liam Hendriks, A¡¯s
The man known as ¡°Hercu-Liam¡± didn¡¯t replicate his insane numbers from 2019; he bettered them. Hendriks put up a 1.78 ERA with a 0.671 WHIP, 12.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 14 saves in 24 appearances.
First Team: Nick Anderson, Rays
His ill-fated replacement of Blake Snell in Game 6 of the World Series is the fresh memory, but voters rightly did not forget the 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP in 16 1/3 innings in the regular season.
Second Team: Brad Hand, Indians
With a Major League-best 16 saves, a 2.05 ERA and 0.773 WHIP, Hand was once again one of the best closers in baseball in 2020.
Second Team: Devin Williams, Brewers
One of the great revelations of the shortened season was the coming-out party of Williams¡¯ unhittable changeup. It helped him post a 0.33 ERA and .090 average against, en route to claiming NL Rookie of the Year honors.