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4 NL Players Who Will Be First-Time MLB All-Stars in 2020

By Scott Rogust

The Nationals' Juan Soto and the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. have a great chance to be National League All-Stars in the in 2020
The Nationals' Juan Soto and the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. have a great chance to be National League All-Stars in the in 2020 / G Fiume/Getty Images

The National League is rather stacked when it comes to talent, especially the young kind, and that's going to make this year's All-Star voting process extremely difficult. Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich are automatic locks, while the addition of Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers pretty much fills out your starting outfield straight away.

There are, however, plenty of players who have never made it to the Midsummer Classic who are inevitably going to nail down their spot in Hollywood in July. These four in particular will have a terrific chance to do so.

4. Nationals OF Juan Soto

Juan Soto made a name for himself in the 2019 postseason.
Juan Soto made a name for himself in the 2019 postseason. / Elsa/Getty Images

The Washington Nationals have a legitimate star in the form of 21-year-old outfielder Juan Soto. Last season, he bludgeoned the baseball, swatting 34 home runs and 110 RBI all while batting .282. But Soto truly made a name for himself in the Nationals' World Series championship run last year, posting five homers and 14 RBI in 17 posteason games. Soto has entered the MLB spotlight, and fans will definitely elect him as a starting outfielder in the All-Star Game.

3. Cardinals SP Jack Flaherty

Jack Flaherty is the ace of the Cardinals in 2020.
Jack Flaherty is the ace of the Cardinals in 2020. / Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

Jack Flaherty made his big league debut back in 2017, and even though he's worked his way up to the No. 1 spot in the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching rotation, he doesn't yet have an All-Star Game to his credit. In 33 games last season, Flaherty recorded a 2.75 ERA and NL-leading 0.97 WHIP. The 24-year-old is one of the brightest pitchers in the league, so it shouldn't come as a shock if he nod -- or even if he starts the game.

2. Nationals SS Trea Turner

Trea Turner has never made the All Star Game, but that could change in 2020.
Trea Turner has never made the All Star Game, but that could change in 2020. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Trea Turner has played in the majors for five years, and has never made it to the All-Star Game, which will come as a surprise to many. But now that Anthony Rendon has left the Washington Nationals in free agency, the infield will now be lead by Turner. Last season, the shortstop posted a .298 batting average, .850 OPS, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 35 stolen bases. Turner shouldn't be denied an All-Star spot, and could join a shortstop tandem with the next individual on this list.

1. Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Jr. was a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2019 before an injury halted his campaign.
Fernando Tatis Jr. was a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2019 before an injury halted his campaign. / Norm Hall/Getty Images

Come on, Fernando Tatis Jr. is bound to play in many MLB All-Star Games in his career. Tatis made his debut with the San Diego Padres last season and looked to be the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, but those dreams ended due to a season-ending stress reaction in his back. Prior to that injury, Tatis recorded a .312 batting average and .989 OPS, along with 22 home runs and 53 RBI. Expect him to not only make the All-Star game, but to be named the NL's starting shortstop in due time.