Call to the Pen picks the 2019 All-MLB Team
In celebration of the first-annual All-MLB team, the Call to the Pen staff has cast their ballot for this year’s team. Who got the majority vote?
After the conclusion of the 2019 season, MLB introduced a first in the awards and honors; the 2019 All-MLB Team.
Much like the All-Star game, fans can vote for the players they find most deserving of the honor of All-MLB but with a limit of the players available to vote for.
The build has your basic lineup with every position – including designated hitter – and a full starting rotation plus two relief pitchers.
These players include those already adding some hardware to their collection like Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout, Justin Verlander and many more!
If you want to cast your vote, the ballot is found here on MLB’s website.
So now the burning question gets answered; who did we vote for? 16 Call to the Pen staffers cast their ballot.
2019 All-MLB Starting Rotation
Gerrit Cole – 16 votes (unanimous)
Jacob deGrom – 14 votes
Justin Verlander – 12 votes
Max Scherzer – 10 votes
Stephen Strasburg – 6 votes
Others Receiving Votes: Mike Soroka (3), Sonny Gray (2), Jack Flaherty (2), Walker Buehler (2), Lance Lynn (2), Charlie Morton (2), Hyun-Jin Ryu (2), Shane Bieber (1), Zack Greinke (1), Mike Minor (1), Patrick Corbin (1), Aaron Nola (1)
There was most certainly widespread opinion regarding who made this year’s best rotation. But one thing the staff came to agree on, Gerrit Cole was the automatic answer.
Cole dominated this season with the Houston Astros as part of a dynamic rotation. Cole touted the league’s lowest ERA (2.50) and highest strikeout total (326). He was an automatic All-Star as well as Cy Young runner-up and MVP finalist.
Filling the rest of the rotation out is the two Cy Young winners and the world-champion aces in DC.
deGrom followed up his 2018 campaign with his second-consecutive award. Another strikeout machine he was as he led all National Leaguers with 255 Ks. He also made his second-consecutive all-star appearance.
Verlander, who is aging like the finest of wines, might have been the best pitcher all year. He led the entire league in wins (21), starts (34), innings pitched (223), WHIP (0.803) and hits per nine (5.5).
Scherzer maintained his all-star status for the seventh-consecutive season. He once again limited hitters and made them look foolish at the plate. His 12.7 K/9 was the highest in the NL this season.
Rounding out the rotation is Scherzer’s counterpart Strasburg. Strasburg obviously finished the season well by taking home the postseason’s final honor of World Series MVP. His regular season saw him complete 209 innings; the most in the National League that season.
2019 All-MLB Relief Pitchers
Kirby Yates – 11 votes
Aroldis Chapman – 7 votes
Others receiving votes: Josh Hader (6), Liam Hendriks (4), Roberto Osuna (1), Ken Giles (1), Seth Lugo (1), Brandon Workman (1)
The man who saved more games (41) than any other closer this season gets top billing in the All-MLB bullpen.
Yates was electric this past season with the Padres and even made his first all-star team. Yates was practically untouchable with a 1.19 ERA over more than 60 innings pitched. He also struck out 101 batters and surrendered just 13 walks.
Just two years ago, Yates was a struggling reliever claimed by the Padres off waivers and became an instant staple. Yates filled the role left by Brad Hand and he filled it to perfection.
Only fair that the bullpen has at least one righty and one lefty, and man oh man there may not be a better left-handed reliever than Chapman.
‘The Missle’ put together another stellar campaign in 2019 making a second-consecutive all-star game and continuing to be tough on hitters.
Chapman held a 2.21 ERA, struck-out 85 batters during the past season. A consistent piece at the top of the Yankee bullpen finds himself on the 2019 All-MLB team.
2019 All-MLB Infield
Catcher: JT Realmuto – 10 votes
Others receiving votes: Mitch Garver (3), Yasmani Grandal (2), Gary Sanchez (1)
There were some stellar backstops this season. Some making their names known and others continuing their status as elite.
But not many catchers could hold a candle to the performance of Realmuto in 2019.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Realmuto compiled what might have been the best performance of any catcher in quite a few years.
His speed, power, and defense made him a versatile weapon for the Phils which lead to an all-star appearance, gold glove and a silver slugger.
Realmuto finished the year with 25 home runs, 83 RBI and a .820 OPS.
First Base: Freddie Freeman – 10 votes
Others receiving votes: Pete Alonso (3), Anthony Rizzo (1), Jose Abreu (1), Josh Bell (1)
This was a tough position this season. Alonso clubbed more home runs than anyone else. Rizzo revived his career, Abreu remained consistent while Josh Bell truly put forth a breakout season.
But Freeman has kept his production to a high level in the middle of a fresh Braves’ lineup surrounded by Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and Josh Donaldson.
Freeman started his second-consecutive all-star game while continuing to produce runs. 38 home runs and 121 RBI and a .938 OPS. Hard to top that.
Second Base: DJ LeMahieu – 11 votes
Others receiving votes: Jose Altuve (2), Ozzie Albies (2), Ketel Marte (1)
This position had the highest majority as far as the infielders were concerned, and can you blame us?
LeMahieu wasn’t even supposed to play all that much this season and instead became the most important contributor to the Yankees’ roster.
A career high in home runs (26) and by a lot. Hit .327 for the season. Started the all-star game. Fourth in MVP voting. And his first silver slugger at second base.
LeMahieu went from losing his job in Colorado to becoming maybe the MVP in New York.
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts – 7 votes
Others receiving votes: Marcus Semien (4), Francisco Lindor (3), Trevor Story (1), Tim Anderson (1)
This was a more well-rounded vote and there were some great shortstops this season. Offense is growing at this position once more and heading that charge is Bogaerts.
Another all-star appearance with 33 home runs and 117 RBI were a couple of highlights for the Red Sox shortstop. He also put together an impressive .309/.384/.555 slash line.
Those numbers led to his third silver slugger award as well. At just 26-years-old, there is plenty more to look forward to from him.
Third Base: Anthony Rendon – 10 votes
Others receiving votes: Alex Bregman (3), Nolan Arenado (2), Yoan Moncada (1)
There are many elite players at the hot corner it would seem. Arenado is the regular, Bregman is most certainly the young-gun on the rise, but this season most certainly belonged to Rendon.
If not for #Belli vs. #Yeli the MVP award may have belonged to Rendon given how well his season went.
He drove in the most runs in the league (126) and the National League in doubles with 44. Not to mention he hit 34 homers and had a strong OPS of 1.010. An all-star and a silver slugger helped to emphasize his campaign.
Also, this was his first all-star game. I’m not sure how but it is the first of many.
2019 All-MLB Outfield and DH
Outfield: Mike Trout – 16 votes (unanimous)
Cody Bellinger – 12 votes
Christian Yelich – 10 votes
Others receiving votes: Ronald Acuna Jr (4), Mookie Betts (2), Ketel Marte (1), Charlie Blackmon (1), Bryce Harper (1), Andrew McCutchen (1)
The only other player to get the unanimous vote from CttP is none other than Trout, and it is hard to argue against him.
All-star. MVP. Silver slugger. A slash line of .438/.645/.1.083. I think that should suffice.
The other two candidates put on a show all season long. Bellinger vs. Yelich was the headline of the National League and either one would have made a great MVP.
Bellinger bounced back from a rough 2018 campaign and completely retooled each factor of his game.
47 homers, 117 RBI, as well as 351 total bases – the most in the National League. He also greatly improved his speed and defense as now a regular right fielder. He collected his first gold glove and silver slugger along with his first MVP.
Yelich continued his power surge that began late last season with 44 home runs, 97 RBI and the highest slugging percentage in the league at .671. The most underrated improvement to Yelich’s game had to be his speed, as he swiped 30 bags this year as well.
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz – 7 votes
Others receiving votes: JD Martinez (5), Yordan Alvarez (1), Jorge Soler (1)
This was the closest margin of victory for the ‘position’ players but Cruz gets a very-deserving edge here.
The ‘Boomstick’ certainly arrived once more this season. Cruz hit 41 home runs as part of a Twins team that hit more homers than any other MLB team in history.
Next. Bold predictions for the offseason. dark
He collected his third silver slugger – all coming in the last five seasons – and shows no signs of slowing at the dish.