As we head toward the end of the 2019 baseball year, let’s take a look back at the season that was and also take a look forward at what we can expect in 2020.

The 2019 season will obviously be remembered as the year of the long ball. There have never been as many home runs hit in a single regular season of baseball. Heading into Thursday’s action there were a total of 6625 home runs hit. Prior to this season, the most home runs ever hit were 6105 in 2017. Eleven teams hit 200 or more home runs in 2018, and 24 have reached that milestone this season. 

Will this trend continue? Maybe, but probably not for long! MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has requested that a new study be done on the current baseballs being used in the game today in order to determine if they are the cause for the recent surge in home runs in the big leagues. The Triple-A International and Pacific Coast Leagues began using the same baseballs that are currently being used in the MLB this season and there was a noticeable uptick in the number of home runs that were hit. That fact gives you a hint as to what the final results of this latest study will be. MLB has hinted that they would be able to roll out new baseballs by the 2021 season.

Another trend that we might see in baseball’s future is the introduction of the Robot Umpires. The TrackMan system was introduced in the independent Atlantic League’s All-Star Game this season and it worked out so well that the league decided to continue using the robo-umps for the rest of the year. The system uses Doppler radar to determine balls and strikes and calls for the plate umpire to receive the ball or strike call from a TrackMan computer system through an earpiece that is connected to an iPhone. It may be a little while before we see it actually implemented in the big leagues, but it’s probably coming. 

As for the MLB player pool, it seems to be getting younger and younger. It also seems that the majority of the ball players who are being promoted from the minor leagues are major league ready from the first day they step onto a Major League Baseball field. In reality, in comparing the average age of a big league ball player from 2010 and today there is an insignificant difference. The average age of a ball player in 2010 was 27.2. In 2019 it was 27.16. However, four of the top 15 fantasy baseball players, (Ronald Acuña Jr. , Rafael Devers , Juan Soto , and Pete Alonso ), have three years or less of major league service time in their careers. 

Who are going to be the young fresh faces that we should look out for in 2020? Gavin Lux got a brief taste of big league baseball action with the Dodgers this season. He has a lifetime .300 plus minor league batting average and has an above average power and speed skill-set.  

Orioles prospect Ryan Mountcastle hit 25 home runs and batted .312 in Triple-A this season and should be given the opportunity to compete for a starting job next spring.

A’s outfielder Ramón Laureano had 23 home runs and 13 stolen bases to go along with his .290 average entering this season. He packed on some muscle ahead of this season, and will probably look to do the same this offseason.

Phillies SS/3B/OF Scott Kingery has hit 19 home runs and stolen 15 bases in 456 ABs in 2019.

Talk about youth, Angels outfield prospect Jo Adell is just 20 years old, and he has a .298 career minor league batting average to go along with his .518 slugging percentage. 

Mets 1B/3B/OF J.D. Davis has made his 396 ABs count. He entered Thursday’s action with a .308 BA and 20 home runs. If he’s given every day ABs he can easily eclipse 30 HRs.

The Dodgers have themselves a young catcher with plenty of potential in Will Smith . He’s hit 14 home runs in 51 games. That would put him on pace for 44 home runs in a 162 game season.

Blue Jays second baseman Cavan Biggio has 16 home runs and 13 stolen bases in his first 343 ABs. That would make him a 20/20 guy across a full season. 

Rays first baseman Nate Lowe and second baseman Brandon Lowe will be late round flyers next season who will have upside potential.

Nationals second base prospect Carter Kieboom has an excellent hit tool. He faltered in his brief exposure to big league pitching but should be considered a big time prospect.

Out of sight and out of mind. Red Sox 1B/2B Michael Chavis has a 248 overall ADP in late season early 2020 mock drafts. He can flat out hit and his time on the IL has made him an afterthought. At his current ADP he could be one of the biggest bargains in fantasy baseball.

Look for Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to be next season’s Shane Bieber . He pitched to a 2.81 ERA with a 10.8 K/9 average in his first 15 big league starts this season. If he keeps his walk rate in check he should have a big 2020 season.

A’s starter Frankie Montas missed a big chunk of time while serving his suspension for using PEDs. He came back a pitched well on Wednesday and is a mid to late round target in fantasy baseball drafts next season. His teammate Jesús Luzardo missed time due to injury and will have a lot of upside entering the 2020 season.

All stats are accurate as of the morning of 9.26.2019.