Which MLB Player Will Bounce Back In 2020?

Image credit: Edwin Diaz (Getty Images)

This is one of 10 burning questions in our 2020 MLB season preview. To see all of our bold predictions, click here. All answers to the question are from Baseball America’s editorial team.


Ben Badler: Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees. He spent most of 2019 on the injured list, but Stanton played 158 games in 2018 and 159 games the year before. Expect a healthy Stanton to return to the 4-6 WAR type player he has shown in the past, even as he enters his age-30 season. 

Carlos Collazo: Carlos Correa, SS, Astros. This is a risky pick because Correa has just one season playing more than 150 games. In his other four seasons, he’s averaged just 98 games. But when healthy, Correa is one of the best players in baseball. Let’s hope he stays on the field in 2020.

JJ Cooper: Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians. Ramirez’s numbers were ruined by an awful first three months of last season. Expect him to be more like the player who dominated in 2017 and 2018 and the second half of 2019. That’s good news for the Indians, because they need him and Francisco Lindor to be exceptional to catch the Twins.

Matt Eddy: Edwin Diaz, RHP, Mets. From major league saves leader in 2018 to homer-prone timebomb in 2019, Diaz spent the offseason focusing on nutrition and conditioning. Plus, new Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner made Diaz’s reclamation his top priority. 

Kyle Glaser: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals. Goldschmidt wasn’t quite his usual elite self last year, but he quietly found his form over the season’s final two months when it mattered most. Expect year two with his new organization to yield greater comfort and a return to MVP-level production. 

Joe Healy: Joey Votto, 1B, Reds. Now in his mid-30s, Votto’s on-base percentage slipping by 60 points last season is likely the start of a decline for the Cincinnati institution, but few players deserve more of the benefit of the doubt about their ability to tinker and improve at an advanced age. Look for Votto’s numbers to be more in line with what we saw from him in 2018, at least for one more year. 

Josh Norris: Luis Severino, RHP, Yankees. Shelved most of the year with injuries, a healthy Severino will further strengthen a rotation that will need an early boost while James Paxton recovers from back surgery.

(Editor’s Note: This story went to press before news of Severino’s Tommy John surgery).

Chris Trenkle: Blake Snell, LHP Rays. After winning the AL Cy Young in 2018, Snell certainly did not envision pitching to a 4.28 ERA and missing more than a month with an elbow injury last year. This season, he will return to being the pitcher who posted a 1.89 ERA two seasons ago.

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