SPECULATOR: Post-hype prospects, 2020

They're making it look easy.

The instant success of several rookies both this season (Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso, Chris Paddack, Bo Bichette) and last season (Ronald Acuña, Juan Soto) is changing the way we evaluate prospects in redraft leagues. It's a golden age for prospects and the sky-high expectations that come with them, so the "post-hype" guys that don't hit the ground running—still the most likely outcome—might be tossed aside quicker than ever.

A few 2019 names whose breakouts came a couple years later than expected: Lucas Giolito, Jorge Soler—both of whom were featured in last year's version of this column—as well as Rafael Devers, Yoán Moncada, and Scott Kingery. This group had a few things in common:

  • Lofty rankings on...

Almost!

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