In 2019, the MLB introduced the first-ever All-MLB Team. A team that consists of the best players at each position, voted by fans and writers. It is used as a fashion of congratulating the best of the best at the end of the season rather than during the mid-summer classic in July. The All-MLB Team consists of one hitter at each of the eight fielding spots along with a Designated Hitter. Additionally, five starting pitchers and two relief pitchers. The All-Fantasy Team would differ from the All-MLB Team due to Fantasy baseball not valuing defense as highly, but both teams would still be similar. This is the projected 2021 All-MLB Fantasy Baseball Team.
Infielders
1B Freddie Freeman / 2B DJ LeMahieu / 3B Anthony Rendon / SS Corey Seager / C J.T. Realmuto
2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman is one of baseball’s most consistent players. In 2020, he truly let his talent shine hitting .341 with 13 home runs and a 1.102 OPS. Freeman shows no signs of slowing down. It seems as though he will man first base for the 2021 All-Fantasy 2021 Team. DJ LeMahieu has been the All-MLB second baseman two years straight and in 2020 led the American League in batting average, on-base percentage (OBP) and OPS. Clearly showing his true offensive consistency. 2019 World Series champion Anthony Rendon had a bit of a down season after his 2019 campaign. However, he has the potential to come back better than ever. In 2019, he hit .319 with 34 home runs and a 1.010 OPS. Corey Seager has struggled with injuries throughout his whole career, but now that he’s healthy he’s hitting like the best in the game. Seager was named World Series MVP in 2020, was an All-MLB shortstop finalist and had an amazing Spring Training. This spring, he is hitting .333 with a 1.178 OPS. J.T. Realmuto is by far the game’s best overall catcher. He can also hit very well. In the last 2 seasons, he’s hit .273 with 36 home runs over 192 games.
Outfielders
LF Juan Soto / CF Mike Trout / RF Ronald Acuna Jr. / DH Yordan Alvarez
Juan Soto is arguably the game’s best offensive player. In 202o, he led the National League in average and the entire league in OBP and SLG, while posting a slashline of .350/.495/.695. On pace to be among the best players in history, Mike Trout has a lifetime .304 Batting Average and a 1.000 OPS. 2018 NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the games most exciting young players right now. In 2019, Acuna was 3 stolen bases away from a 40/40 season and could easily do it in 2021. Finally, Yordan Alvarez has had it rough since the 2019 regular season. That came after playing two games in 2020 and having a tough 2019 Postseason. Some forget how dominant he was in his rookie campaign when he hit .313 with a 1.067 OPS.
Starting Pitchers
RHP Jacob deGrom / RHP Gerrit Cole / RHP Shane Bieber
Two time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom has been the league’s most dominant pitcher since 2018. deGrom has a 162 game average of a 2.10 ERA, 0.943 whip and 281 strikeouts. His Win-Loss Ratio isn’t the greatest, but that is pretty uncontrollable for a pitcher. New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, has also proven to be one of the league’s best pitchers, putting up an astounding 326 strikeout season in 2019. He has averaged a 2.65 ERA, 0.962 whip and 301 strikeouts per season since 2018. In addition, Shane Bieber had an amazing 2020 season. He put up a 1.63 ERA with a league leading 122 strikeouts over12 games. He was sure to be the Cy Young Winner. Bieber shows no signs of slowing down either, looking ahead to 2021.
LHP Hyun Jin Ryu / LHP Blake Snell
Hyun Jin Ryu is among the games most crafty starting pitchers. Without throwing too hard, Ryu manages to strike hitters out with movement and location. Ryu has finished in the Top Three in Cy Young Award voting two seasons in a row. Additionally, he was the winner of the ERA title in 2019. Blake Snell’s 2020 did not go as planned, even though he was very dominant in the postseason. This spring, the left-hander has pitched 14.1 scoreless innings and could be back to his old self. In 2018, when he won the American League Cy Young Award, he had a 1.89 ERA with 221 strikeouts and a 0.974 WHIP. These two could very well be on the 2021 All-MLB Fantasy Baseball Team.
Relief Pitchers
LHP Josh Hader/ RHP Liam Hendriks
Two time All-Star Josh Hader has a career 2.54 ERA and led the National League in saves in 2020. In 2021, Josh Hader will be in the best spot to rack up on saves, coming into the game after Devin Williams. It’s safe to say he is one of the best closers in baseball. Liam Hendriks has been in the league for many years, but has just recently become truly dominant. He led all of baseball in saves in 2020 with a 1.78 ERA. Furthermore, his WHIP was an incredible 0.671. Hendriks has the possibility to be the league’s best closer with that dominance. These two relievers could both be on the 2021 All-MLB Fantasy Baseball Team.
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Players Mentioned: Freddie Freeman, DJ LeMahieu, Anthony Rendon, Corey Seager, J.T. Realmuto, Juan Soto, Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr., Yordan Alvarez, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Shane Bieber, Hyun Jin Ryu, Blake Snell, Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Liam Hendriks.
