Players With The Best Chance To Hit .400 In MLB’s Shortened 2020 Season

Ted Williams in 1941 was the last MLB player to hit .400 in a season, and it seems unlikely that another player will ever hit that mark over the course of a full season. However, with a COVID-19-shortened 2020 MLB season, several players could be in the mix to hit .400 over a 60-game stretch. These are the stars with the best chance do it when baseball begins later this month.

 

Mike Trout

Let’s start with the best player in baseball. Mike Trout is 28 years old and in the prime of his career, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he puts up an historic pace in a 60-game campaign. The three-time American League MVP might ultimately put up more impressive power numbers out west, but he undoubtedly has the talent to get his average up high in the .300s and approaching .400. Also, Trout might have the best lineup around him in his career, which could take some pressure off him.

 

Christian Yelich

If not for his late-season injury last year, Christian Yelich might be a back-to-back National League MVP. He’s simply been on another level these past two seasons, hitting .326 and .329 (with 36 and 44 bombs). Like Trout, Yelich is 28 years old and could be ready to take it up another notch in a shortened season where every game is even more important than usual.

 

Cody Bellinger

Through 49 games last season, Cody Bellinger was above the .400 mark, so he’s squarely among the players with the best chance to do it during a two-month regular season. Bellinger might get a boost from playing on a stacked Dodgers team (which, don’t forget, added Mookie Betts) that beats up on an under-matched NL West in this geographically based MLB schedule. If the soon-to-be-25-year-old Bellinger gets hot, his 2020 run could be epic.

 

Jose Altuve

In 2017, Jose Altuve had a .420 average over a 60-game span, and he’s a three-time batting champion in the American League. Some might point to the Astros cheating scandal and say that Altuve won’t be as good moving forward, but the All-Star second baseman is clearly motivated to show that he’s a great player with or without an extra edge in sign stealing. Another downside might be that Altuve’s comfort level in the box could be lower if teams are throwing at him and his teammates as retribution, but look for the Houston franchise cornerstone to be as focused as ever this year.

 

Anthony Rendon

We started with Mike Trout, but could Trout’s new teammate have a shot at hitting .400 through 60 games this summer? Anthony Rendon is one of the best pure hitters in baseball, and he could get some good pitches to hit while next to Trout in the Angels lineup. Rendon has raised his average from .270 to .301 to .308 to .319 in each of the past four seasons, and he has the approach in the box to again take another step in 2020—potentially a huge one in average in a shortened season.