2020 Rankings: Updated Top 40 Outfielders: Whose Status Is Shaky, Beneficiaries From The Late Start & More

With the 2020 season seemingly set to get underway we need to revisit our rankings, as things have dramatically changed since March.  The addition of the DH in the National League, players opting out and others getting diagnosed with COVID-19 (and the unknown about their status) are just some of the obstacles fantasy owners are facing.  Let’s take a look at how things currently look, but keep in mind that things can change quickly:

1. Chrisitan Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers
2. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
3. Ronald Acuna – Atlanta Braves
4. Juan Soto – Washington Nationals
5. J.D. Martinez – Boston Red Sox
6. Cody Bellinger – Los Angeles Dodgers
7. Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers
8. Bryce Harper – Philadelphia Phillies
9. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees
10. George Springer – Houston Astros
11. Charlie Blackmon – Colorado Rockies
12. Austin Meadows – Tampa Bay Rays
13. Marcell Ozuna – Atlanta Braves
14. Eloy Jimenez – Chicago White Sox
15. Nick Castellanos – Cincinnati Reds
16. Ketel Marte – Arizona Diamondbacks
17. Starling Marte – Arizona Diamondbacks
18. Victor Robles – Washington Nationals
19. Tommy Pham – San Diego Padres
20. Michael Conforto – New York Mets
21. Eddie Rosario – Minnesota Twins
22. Whit Merrifield – Kansas City Royals
23. Kyle Schwarber – Chicago Cubs
24. Joey Gallo – Texas Rangers
25. Max Kepler – Minnesota Twins
26. Giancarlo Stanton – New York Yankees
27. Jorge Soler – Kansas City Royals
28. Franmil Reyes – Cleveland Indians
29. Ramon Laureano – Oakland Athletics
30. Andrew Benintendi – Boston Red Sox
31. Brian Anderson – Miami Marlins
32. Kris Bryant – Chicago Cubs
33. Oscar Mercado – Cleveland Indians
34. Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers
35. Hunter Dozier – Kansas City Royals
36. Michael Brantley – Houston Astros
37. Luis Robert – Chicago White Sox
38. Danny Santana – Texas Rangers
39. Jeff McNeil – New York Mets
40. Nomar Mazara – Chicago White Sox

Notes:

• Aaron Judge would’ve missed significant time early this season, but with the delayed start he should be ready for Opening Day.  That obviously leads to a big jump in his ranking, especially with the type of numbers he’s capable of in a 60 game sprint (for example, in August & September ’17 he played in 54 games and slugged 18 HR with 39 RBI and 45 R).
• Another player who benefited from the late start to the season is Michael Conforto, as he was set to miss Opening Day with an oblique injury.  Now fully healthy, he’s primed to take the next step forward in his development and could emerge as a true superstar.
• While Charlie Blackmon was diagnosed with COVID-19, reports have him as asymptomatic.  If he gets cleared to return to “Summer Camp” it’s conceivable that he’s ready for Opening Day, or not too long after, so don’t downgrade him too far.  However time is running out and he needs to report soon for that to be an option.
• What’s going on with Austin Meadows?  Reports are that he’s been absent from “Summer Camp”, though he was in attendance initially.  We haven’t gotten much in terms of a follow-up to this point, and it’s possible that we won’t.  All fantasy owners can do is wait and see.
• After testing positive for COVID-19, both Tommy Pham and Joey Gallo have been cleared to return.  There’s still time for them to be ready for Opening Day, so don’t downgrade them.
• How long have we heard that Kyle Schwarber was the perfect AL player, where he would thrive as a DH.  Now we finally get to see how accurate it was, as he’s likely going to be a primary beneficiary of the addition of the DH to the National League.

Sources – Fangraphs, MLB.com

Make sure to check out all of our Updated 2020 preseason rankings: