Superstars have always been apart of the game. But have they ever been as good as they are today?

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You hear it all the time. “Baseball is so boring.” “Why is it so long?” “You’re telling me I have to wait a whole minute for the next pitch to be thrown.” “I only put baseball on when I want to fall asleep.”

Baseball notoriously has been a sport that is predominantly watched by avid fans or people who have loved the sport from a young age, whether that be a cause of their local Little League experience or playing catch in their backyard.

While other sports, such as football or basketball, obtain thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands, of more causal fans, or people who occasionally watch games but do not passionately follow the sport, even some of the biggest sports fans do not consider watching a single second of the World Series, which is baseball’s conclusion to the season and its biggest annual event. Its slow pace and lack of immediate intensity or action lulls many people to sleep.

So, what makes 2020 different? Why should baseball gain more viewership than past years when new rules such as turning the baseball into a fireball before each pitch (wouldn’t that be fun!) have not been incorporated? Here’s why:

The Superstars Are Better Than Ever

There have always been periods throughout baseball’s history in which incredible talent coincided with each other: Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. However, the density of pure, inconceivable athleticism and talent in players of this generation may be the most extraordinary yet. Of course, most current players will not become as widely known as the names above, but the sheer amount of ones who potentially could amount to all-time status is higher than ever.

Mike Trout, before he retires, very seriously could be regarded and respected as the greatest baseball player to ever lace his cleats and grab a glove. He’s just 28 years young. Just last season, he inked the richest contract in American sports history when he signed a 13-year, $426 million deal with the Anaheim Angels. Yet, executives around the league still think, had he waited to go into free agency, Mike Trout could have made even more money. In 2020, and for many years to come, the world will get the privilege of watching this man play 162 games.

Mookie Betts, arguably the second best player behind Mike Trout, has comparable athleticism to Bo Jackson, who is widely considered the greatest duel-sport athlete of ever. His combination of offensive prowess, whether it be hitting for power or spraying line drives for base hits, and defensive wizardry is unmatched even when being compared to some history’s best players. Although he is an outstanding two-sport athlete (he is also a professional bowler), Mookie is, if possible, even more beloved for his attitude, energy, and love towards his teammates, opponents, and the game of baseball in general.

Young Talent

New, exciting names are emerging as well. Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Benintendi, Corey Seager, Rafael Devers, Gleyber Torres, Ozzie Albies, and countless other players have proven their worth and shown that their talent can be extremely impactful in some of the biggest moments. What do they all have in common? They’re 25 or younger.

Leading the charge of young athletes are Ronald Acuna Jr, Juan Soto, and Cody Bellinger. Ronald Acuna was one of the youngest players in MLB history to hit for 40 home runs and steal 40 bases last season, while Juan Soto lead an underdog Washington Nationals team to a World Series Championship over powerhouses like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros. Oh, and if that young talent is not suburb enough, Cody Bellinger, in his 3rd full season, just won the National League MVP in 2019. He is 24 years young.

This excludes pitchers, such as Jack Flaherty, German Marquez, Jose Berrios, and Jordan Hicks, that are also 25 or younger and who have already began etching their names in baseball history and altering how hitters approach each at bat.

Just as Acuna Jr, Soto, and Bellinger head the surge of young offensive superstars, Josh Hader and Walker Buehler have shown that, despite being young, the future for pitching is promising as well. Josh Hader has emerged as likely the best pure closer in baseball despite throwing his fastball 88.6% of the time, while Walker Buehler looks to continue the legacy of Clayton Kershaw as the face of Dodgers pitching. His pedigree and performances thus far in his career have been incredible and unmatched to even some of baseball’s greatest arms.

Veteran Stars

However, older players are not easily allowing these young stars to steal some of their spotlight. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Giancarlo Stanton, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, Gerrit Cole, Nolan Arenado, Jacob DeGrom, Kris Bryant, Jose Altuve, Max Scherzer, and innumerable other names continue to put up unforeseen stats that compare to some of the game’s all-time best.

Some of the best veteran players in the league, like Christian Yelich, Justin Verlander, and Francisco Lindor, are reluctant to give up their throne. Christian Yelich, a year after winning the National League MVP in 2018, arguably had an even better year offensively in 2019. Without an injury plaguing the end of his season, it is debatable whether he would have taken the MVP award from Cody Bellinger.

Justin Verlander, after almost retiring before joining the Houston Astros, has redefined himself as a pitcher. The 36 year old led a pitching stuff with immense talent, ultimately directing them to the World Series. In his 15th season during the 2019 campaign, Verlander won the American League Cy Young award.

Finally, Francisco Lindor is as exciting as any player in today’s game. Arguably the best offensive shortstop in the league, Lindor plays the game with heart and a smile on his face. His mixture of pure offensive ability and flashy defensive skills align him to possibly become the richest shortstop in Major League history once he reaches free agency.

In Summary

Talent is everywhere in the MLB today. Even some of the worst teams in the league have players that make each and every game appealing. The ability of today’s players is undeniable and inescapable, and the density of superstars lurking in 2020 makes this upcoming season one that could potentially be the greatest in Major League Baseball’s long-lasting history.