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ESPN The Magazine's 21st Century All-Star team is comprised of players who were rookies in 2000 or later. Kazuhiro Sasaki and Ichiro Suzuki -- AL Rookie of the Year winners in 2000 and 2001, respectively -- were deemed ineligible because of their professional experience playing in Japan.
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BATTING ORDER
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Pos., player
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Age
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Team
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Bats
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1.
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2B Alfonso Soriano
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25
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Yankees
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Right
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Only 2B to go 30/30; now on pace to be the fourth 40/40 man (A-Rod, Canseco, Barry Bonds).
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2.
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SS Rafael Furcal
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25
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Braves
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Switch
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Slugging .486-better than Tejada and Jeter-while reaching base in more than 90 percent of games.
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3.
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1B Albert Pujols
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23
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Cardinals
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Right
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Had more RBI (329) in his first 400 big league games than anyone since Ted Williams (349).
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4.
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RF Lance Berkman
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27
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Astros
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Switch
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Fastest Astro to 100 homers (452 games) and only the fifth switch-hitter with 40 in a season.
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5.
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DH Vernon Wells
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24
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Blue Jays
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Right
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Last season, was the youngest Blue Jay ever with 100 RBI; on pace to drive in 145 this year.
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6.
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3B Hank Blalock
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22
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Rangers
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Left
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Never met an RHP he couldn't rip (.364 BA). And look out for little bro Jake, a Philly farmhand.
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7.
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LF Austin Kearns
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23
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Reds
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Right
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Why wait? In his first season and a half, he's batted over .450 with 12 HRs on the first pitch.
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8.
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C A.J. Pierzynski
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26
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Twins
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Left
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Opponents hate the cocky C even more when he hits with runners in scoring position (.385).
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9.
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CF Rocco Baldelli
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21
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Devil Rays
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Right
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Only Templeton, Santiago, Dunston and Soriano hit .300 with 5/1 K/BB ratio. Rock's on deck.
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STARTING ROTATION
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Player
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Age
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Team
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1.
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LH Barry Zito
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25
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Athletics
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Only pitcher to hold both A-Rod and Rafael Palmeiro to a career BA under .200 (min.: 15 ABs).
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2.
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RH Mark Prior
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22
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Cubs
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His 10.3 K's per 9 IPs will rise even higher once he masters a changeup to complement his gas.
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3.
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LH Mark Mulder
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25
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Athletics
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Had 55 W's in his first 100 starts; since 1961, only Gooden (59) and Clemens (56) won more.
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4.
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RH Roy Oswalt
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25
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Astros
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Says getting zapped while adjusting spark plugs in '99 fixed his shoulder and saved his career.
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5.
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LH Dontrelle Willis
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21
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Marlins
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Rookie single-handedly kick-starting interest in Fish; when he pitches, local TV ratings spike.
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CLOSER
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Player
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Age
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Team
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1.
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RH Eric Gagne
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27
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Dodgers
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Montreal native aspired to be an NHL goon but became LA's enforcer: 95.3 percent save conversion rate.
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