The 2020 season has a lot to unfold with the start of a new decade and young talent everywhere. There are many teams with bright young stars in their lineup, most teams having at least some quality talent offensively. Whether it’s the superstars of Mike Trout and Mookie Betts or the lesser-known Austin Meadows and Matt Olson, there is a talent all around. MLB teams have lineups that can compete with anybody, however, the only lineup no one can compete with is the New York Yankees.
Catcher: Gary Sanchez
When it comes to a top tier offensive catchers, Sanchez is a top choice. When it comes to wRC+, Gary Sanchez was 5th amongst catchers (min. 300 PAs). He had a 116 wRC+, and with the most home runs amongst catchers in 2019 with 34, in only 106 games, he’s a top offensive catcher.
First Base: Luke Voit
The New York Yankees bulky first baseman Luke Voit is an on-base machine. With a .378 OBP which is 4th amongst qualifying first baseman, Voit knows how to work walks. His wRC+ is 126, good for 10th amongst the first baseman. While his defense leaves a lot to be desired, Voit is arguably a top 10 first baseman, especially offensively.
Second Base: DJ LeMahieu
The hitting machine needs no introduction. Not only is he a fantastic presence for getting hits and being on base, (2nd amongst 2B), but he knows how to slug. He was 4th amongst 2B in SLG%, with a .518 SLG%. He can hit for days, and is easily not just top 10 or top 5 but top 3 offensively at 2B.
Third Base: Gio Urshela
The breakout star is in a tough position to be top 10 in offensively or defensively, with so many stars at 3B. In 2019 Urshela’s wRC+ was a 132, which was tied for 9th at the hot corner, a very impressive mark. He also was 8th in SLG%, and while he isn’t a top 10 3B, he’s a very nice bat to have in the Yankee lineup.
Shortstop: Gleyber Torres
The 23-year-old superstar was 2nd in Home Runs, 7th in wRC+, 6th in SLG%, and 5th in ISO (Isolated Power). There’s simply no denying the offensive prowess of the young stud. He has a power bat with 38 home runs in only his second season, a truly impressive feat. His power strikes fear into batters, but what’s the scariest part? He’s only getting better.
Left Field: Giancarlo Stanton
The issue with measuring Stanton is that he was injured for 2019, so he’s going to be compared on his 2018 season. People think he’s a liability at the plate with the strikeouts, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Amongst ALL OF in 2018, Stanton was 10th in ISO, 15th in wRC+, 15th in ISO, and 4th in longballs. Amongst LF he’s even better, and with the clear power bat he provides, he’s going to have pitchers shaking when he steps up.
Center Field: Mike Tauchman
Mike Tauchman projects more as a Left Fielder, however, he could play CF while Aaron Hicks is out with injury. In 2019 (minimum 250 PA) he was 14th in OBP, 17th in SLG, and 18th in ISO out of 60 qualifiers. Tauchman is a player who can play a big role in the Yankee lineup, as he had a .500+ SLG and .350+ OBP in 2019. His ISO is over .200 meaning he has some solid power in his bat, and he can for sure be a top 10 LF in 2019.
Right Field: Aaron Judge
Want to see impressive stats? Well here comes the Judge. In only 102 games Aaron Judge had the 5th best fWAR (4.6). He had the 4th best wRC+ with a 141, the 7th best SLG%, the 5th best OBP, and the 9th best ISO. Judge is a power bat that everyone will fear in 2020, especially if he can have a healthy season.
Designated Hitter: Mike Ford
The lefty slugger made a name for himself by posting a .303 ISO, a 134 wRC+, and slugging a whopping .559 in his first 50 MLB games. He clobbered 12 longballs for an At-Bat/Home Run rate of 13.5, which if expanded to 502 At-Bats would be 37 home runs. He’s a great lefty bat for the DH role and makes the Yankee lineup deadly.
Yankee Lineup Projection
- DJ LeMahieu 2B
- Aaron Judge RF
- Giancarlo Stanton LF
- Mike Ford DH
- Gleyber Torres SS
- Gary Sanchez C
- Luke Voit 1B
- Mike Tauchman CF
- Gio Urshela 3B
The Yankees lineup could easily have 9 players hit 20+ home runs, and could wreak havoc. With the lowest wRC+ in the lineup being Sanchez’s 116, the lineup is absolutely loaded. With the amount of depth and power in the lineup, the Yankees will easily have the MLB’s best lineup.