This Baseball 'Dream Team' Lineup Full of MLB Stars Would Win Team USA an Olympic Gold Medal
Baseball was set to return to the Olympics this year in Tokyo. The event has been pushed to 2021, however, and Bryce Harper recently made some noise saying how MLB stars should be playing in the event instead of exclusively amateurs.
The thought of the league sending its best players to the Olympics instantly conjures up fantasy lineups that would be a treat to watch, similar to a best-case scenario for the World Baseball Classic. Let's take a look at an ideal American lineup that should ensure a gold medal victory if they're all allowed to take time off and team up together.
Baseball stars need to be in the Olympics.
— 12up (@12upSport) May 8, 2020
Bryce is right. https://t.co/3BbQyiwvFs
1. Mike Trout, CF
The most obvious choice on the list. Trout should win the MVP Award every season, and is already one of the all-time greats. Done and done.
2. Mookie Betts, RF
Betts earns the starting spot over Harper thanks to the 6.9 WAR he posted in 2019. He has a career .374 on-base percentage and is a threat on the bases. Betts has finished top-10 in AL MVP voting each of the past three seasons, and won the award in 2018.
3. Cody Bellinger, 1B
Gold Glove. Silver Slugger. MVP.
— MLB (@MLB) November 15, 2019
What a year for @Cody_Bellinger. pic.twitter.com/s2elv7I64R
Bellinger went from NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 to MVP in 2019. He posted a remarkable 9.1 WAR last season and hit 47 home runs. The young star primarily played in the outfield last year, but has experience at first base as well.
4. Alex Bregman, 3B
Bregman also finished with a 9.1 WAR in 2019, and drove in over 100 runs for the second straight year. He hit 37 doubles and 41 home runs, and would be a perfect fit in the cleanup spot.
5. Christian Yelich, LF
Hey @Marlins, this home run just reminded us that we never said how much we appreciate you for bringing Christian Yelich into our lives. Thanks for the NL MVP. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/CtCiad1WAf
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 6, 2019
The 2018 NL MVP likely would have won the award in 2019 if not for a late injury. Like Trout, he is a must-have on this team.
6. Whit Merrifield, 2B
The 2019 All-Star makes this team after leading the league in hits last season with 206. He has also led the league in stolen bases twice, and would likely be more celebrated if he were playing in a bigger market than Kansas City.
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
Realmuto has back-to-back All-Star Games on his ledger and has posted a WAR of at least 4.4 in each of the past three seasons. The Philadelphia Phillies catcher is the top option at his position by far when it comes to American players.
8. Trevor Story, SS
The Colorado Rockies shortstop had a 6.1 WAR in 2019 and took home a second straight Silver Slugger Award. He hit 35 home runs last season and added 38 doubles.
9. Bryce Harper, DH
Low key one of my favorite moments from 2019 — this dude yelling “overrated” at Bryce Harper seconds before he puts one on the moon. pic.twitter.com/r8bHH9q8OT
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) May 1, 2020
Harper gets the nod at DH, even after a down year in 2019. He is still a six-time All-Star and has a career .385 on-base percentage. Getting his speed and power to round out the lineup would be unfair to opposing teams.
Jacob deGrom, SP
It was between deGrom and Gerrit Cole. The former comes out on top, thanks to back-to-back Cy Young Awards and his career 2.62 ERA.
Josh Hader, RP
Hader finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting in 2018 and has a career 2.42 ERA. He also had a 16.4 K/9 last season and 37 saves. Lock it down for your country, son.