by Jasper Abrahams
As the 2020 Major League Baseball season is up and going, many players are off to a hot start, while others are off to a rocky start. Here are two players that are overwhelming expectations and two others who have been underwhelming expectations.
Who’s Overwhelmed:
Charlie Blackmon: Colorado Rockies, RF
Off to a scorching hot start in his 2020 campaign, Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon is on pace to shatter record books.
The left-handed hitter currently stands head-and-shoulders above other competition in batting average. His league leading .437 average is rarely seen — even during a shortened season. Blackmon’s batting average touched its peak at .500 when the slugger was 34-for-68 at the dish. To put this into a larger perspective, good hitters hit .280, great hitters hit .300 and not even Hall-of-Famers touch .325. Charlie Blackmon is certainly writing his own chapter in the record books.
The lefty hitter is currently third in Major League Baseball in RBI with 22 and he has no signs of slowing down. If Colorado’s daily three-hole hitter can keep up his record-breaking numbers, he’ll be an unanimous MVP in the National League this season.
Lance Lynn: Texas Rangers, SP
An arm that has certainly overwhelmed spectators in the 2020 season is Texas Rangers’ ace, Lance Lynn.
Many overlook Lynn’s name when listing the top pitchers in the Major Leagues, but his standout performance this season is certainly one to watch for. Currently 3-0, which is tied for 5th-best in MLB, Lynn always pushes the Rangers in a strong position to win every time he takes the mound.
The right-hander’s league-leading 1.11 ERA is certainly eye-opening. Allowing an average of 2.6 hits per start (wow), it’s obvious to see how dominant Lynn is in his 2020 campaign.
If the Rangers’ ace is able to keep producing, he’ll end up with a Cy Young award in his hands at the end of the season.
Who’s Underwhelmed:
Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, DH/SP
Heading into the 2020 season, Shohei Ohtani was looked at as a darkhorse candidate for the American League MVP award. But this season, the two-way player has shown the exact opposite.
Only appearing in two games before he was shut down as a pitcher for the season, his appearances on the rubber were not ideal. In a combined 1.2 innings of work, Ohtani allowed seven runs, eight walks and three hits on 80 pitches. Yikes. It’s safe to say, Ohtani has to go back to the drawing board.
Ohtani’s plate appearances have fallen parallel to his pitching appearances. Holding a .203 batting average, the usual top-of-the-lineup hitter has fallen into a deep slump at the plate. Although tallying 10 RBI, Ohtani’s strikeout average is among the highest in the league, sitting at roughly 28%.
Shohei Ohtani has a plethora of potential and brings a high-ceiling to the table with the Angeles, but this season he has shown anything but that.
Cody Bellinger: Los Angeles Dodgers, CF
Another superstar who has certainly underwhelmed is Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Cody Bellinger. A pre-season front-runner for the National League MVP award, Belli has been struggling at the plate.
Carrying a league-worst .187 batting average along with 16 strikeouts, is no-doubt a horrendous slump for the MVP favorite. Although the Dodgers have been working around Bellinger’s slump with other pivotal bats including Mookie Betts and Corey Seager, Los Angeles is certainly missing the consistent production of Bellinger in the lineup.
There is still plenty of time for the Dodgers’ cleanup hitter to turn on the gears and flip his season around. If LA can get the reigning MVP back to his normal production, the Dodgers will be a scary sight to see.
