Best Current Baseball Players by Uniform Number 1-10

2009 Season: .291 AVG, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 44 R, .355 OBP%, .457 SLUG%

Career (1045 Games): .284 AVG, 68 HR, 398 RBI, 670 R , .355 OBP%, .419 SLUG%

One of the better second basemen in the game, Brian Roberts has seen his share of ups and downs as a Baltimore Oriole.

He has been an All-Star who has been the best player the Orioles have had since the retirement of Cal Ripken and has been a solid force in what has been a long rebuilding process in the Charm City.

A solid player who is a constant threat at the top of the lineup, Roberts has been able to create havoc with his power and his speed. A solid .290 to .300 hitter, Roberts has been able to make the numbers of Adam Jones and Aubrey Huff look better and better by getting on in front of them and having them drive him in.

I have to admit that Brian Roberts has been a prominent name in the Steroids scandal that has hit baseball, and yet Roberts admitted what he did, the fans forgave him and he has continued to produce none the less.

Brian Roberts is the best current ballplayer wearing Number One.

2009 Season: .328 AVG, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 42 R, .397 OBP%, .518 SLUG%

Career (534 Games): .310 AVG, 88 HR, 243 RBI, 411 R, .381 OBP%, .526 SLUG%

If I had done this article five years ago, then its not even an argument, Derek Jeter is the choice here.

Except it's not five years ago and Florida SS Phenom Hanley Ramirez is starting to put his stamp on the Major Leagues in a big way.

Traded to the Marlins from the Red Sox in the Josh Beckett deal, Hanley Ramirez has quickly become one the best, if not the best player in the history of the Florida Marlins.

His fielding leaves something to be desired and yet his amazing hitting ability and his speed on the basepaths have helped people forget his defensive shortcomings and with a new contract, will be a force to be reckoned with in South FLA for a long time coming.

Hanley Ramirez is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Two.

2009 Season: .309 AVG, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 45 R, .392 OBP%, .594 SLUG%

(Career 189 Games) .286 AVG, 43 HR, 146 RBI, 112 R, .361 OBP%, .554 SLUG%

Just a bit further north in Florida is the next young phenom hitter to take the league by storm and help lead another down-trodden franchise into a bright future.

Evan Longoria, the already superstar 3rd Baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays has done more in his one year plus in Tampa then anyone could have imagined in the 10 years prior to his arrival on the scene.

Already with an AL Pennant on his resume, an All-Star appearance where he had the game tying hit in the 8th inning and an AL Rookie of the Year award. Longoria has not suffered from the fabled sophomore slump, as he is in the top 10 in most offensive categories in the American League.

Evan Longoria is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Three.

2009 Season: .279 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 33 R, .350 OBP%, .502 SLUG%

Career (645 Games): .264 AVG, 85 HR, 332 RBI, 328 R, .312 OBP%, .432 SLUG%

Once part of one of the most lop sided trades in the history of baseball, Bartolo Colon goes to Montreal from Cleveland for Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Phillips, and then cut by the team that had acquired him, Brandon Phillips looked more and more like the bad piece of a great deal.

That was until he resurfaced in the Queen City and became the infield anchor to replace Barry Larkin and try to bring the Reds out of their decade long funk.

An All-Star player with both plenty of power and a glove that is now golden at second base, Brandon Phillips is part of a youth movement in Cincinnati that could make the Reds a force for years to come.

The resurrection of Brandon Phillips is helping to lead the resurrection of the Cincinnati Reds Franchise.

Brandon Phillips is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Four.

2009 Season: .328 AVG, 26 HR, 68 RBI, 57 R, .445 OBP%, .718 SLUG%

Career (1309 Games): .334 AVG, 345 HR, 1,045 RBI, 1004 R, .426 OBP%, .629 SLUG%

When reading the accomplishments of Albert Pujols, it's almost scary to think how much more baseball this man has left in him.

2 Time MVP, a Gold Glove, 7 All-Stars, 4 Silver Sluggers at 3 different positions, a Rookie of the Year and of course, a World Series Ring in 2006.

Plus....he's only 29 years old.

Pujols has been the rock in the middle of the St. Louis lineup ever since Mark McGwire and his needles went off into Retirement. A threat unlike any other player since the days of Willie Stargell in terms of just sheer power, Phat Albert is a player who seems to be playing on a level that very few players ever reach.

Where superstar after superstar have been falling due to the Steroid scandal in baseball, Albert Pujols is the light at the end of the tunnel. The man whom everyone wants to show the world that great hitting can still be natural as it was before the Steroid era.

In this person's opinion, Phat Albert is simply the Best in Baseball today.

Albert Pujols is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Five.

2009 Season: .257 AVG, 20 HR, 54 RBI, 43 R, .332 OBP%, .558 SLUG%

Career (638 Games): .277 AVG, 197 HR, 553 RBI, 403 R, .375 OBP%, .586 SLUG%

The P on his hat stands for Philadelphia but I think that it really stands for Power and that's what Ryan Howard is all about.

One the most feared left handed hitters in all of baseball, Ryan Howard has been a force in the middle of a Phillies lineup that is one of the best in all of baseball and was a key piece in helping Philadelphia win the 2008 World Series.

The 2006 NL MVP, An All-Star, Rookie of the Year and 2 time NL Home Run Champion, Howard has become a better defensive first baseman and although the K numbers are high and his batting average is always around .250, the name of the game with Howard is Power.

Citizens Bank Park is a small ballpark and Ryan Howard is the one player that can make it look smaller.

Ryan Howard is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Six.

2009 Season: .407 AVG, 14 HR, 42 RBI, 40 R, .475 OBP%, .727 SLUG%

Career (607 Games): .324 AVG, 58 HR, 343 RBI, 365 R, .405 OBP%, .478 SLUG%

When the Twins took Joe Mauer, a local kid from St. Paul, Minnesota, much was expected of the hometown kid to help bring the Twins back from the brink of extinction.

After 2 All-Star selections, a Gold Glove Award, 2 Silver Slugger Awards and, 2 AL Batting Championships. I would say that Joe Mauer is helping to fulfill his expectations.

The first Catcher ever to lead all of MLB in hitting when he did in 2006 and the first AL Catcher to win a batting title that same year, Joe Mauer is a hitting machine.

He was hurt in the early part of this season with a lower back injury, and all he has done since coming back is hit over .400 and continue to handle a young and talented Minnesota pitching staff.

Red Sox and Yankee Fans are waiting till 2011 when he becomes a Free Agent and their battle to sign him can begin...I just hope he stays home in Minnesota and helps fill the new Target Field for years to come.

Joe Mauer is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Seven.

2009 Season: .320 AVG. 15 HR, 50 RBI, 52 R, .411 OBP%, .573 SLUG%

Career (331 Games): .305 AVG. 86 HR, 253 RBI, 235 R, .362 OBP%, .585 SLUG%

It was the biggest at-bat in the past 26 seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the Brewers trying to clinch a spot in the playoffs as the NL Wild Card Champions on the final day of the 2008 season and tied 1-1 with the Cubs in the Bottom of the 8th inning, Ryan Braun, the best player since Robin Yount to wear the brew crew uniform came to bat.

With a thunderous swing of his bat, he sent a fastball deep to left center field and out for what turned out to be the Wild Card clinching homer, giving the Brewers and their long suffering fans a return to the playoffs.

A player who is already a fan favorite, just look at the All-Star Voting, and already a player with a consistent .300 avg and about 25-30 HR per season, this former NL Rookie of the Year has shown that he can be a force in the middle of a very good Brewers lineup.

Ryan Braun has come onto the scene with a bang and has helped to put the Brewers back on the map for the first time since the days of Harvey's Wallbangers. Combined with other young stars like Prince Fielder and Yovanni Gallardo, he has been part of an uprising for years to come in Wisconsin.

Ryan Braun is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Eight.

2009 Season: .323 AVG, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 50 R, .399 OBP%, 22 SB

Career (845 Games): .293 AVG, 27 HR, 306 RBI, .359 OBP%, 532 R, 260 SB

When someone thinks of the kind of player that Chone Figgins has been for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the first thing that comes to mind is speed and the second is versatility.

The type of player that is the apple of Manager Mike Scioscia eye, Figgins has been someone who has been all about hustle, with already over 250 steals in 7 seasons and a solid .290 hitter, Figgins has been able to set up the bigger hitters in the Angels lineups over the years like Vladimir Guerrero and Garrett Anderson.

Whether its playing in the Outfield or at 3rd or 2nd base, Figgins has been able to flash the leather at all those positions and with his ability to set the table at the top of the Angels lineup and create runs with stealing bases and always going 1st to 3rd on hits, Figgins is a wonderful all around player.

Chone Figgins is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Nine.

2009 Season: .312 Avg, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 38 R, .359 OBP%, .506 SLUG%

Career (1281 Games): .301 Avg, 125 HR, 679 RBI, 781 R, .347 OBP%, .445 SLUG%

You don't hear too much about him, his stats are so consistent that you assume that they will come out that way, and since they always do, nobody worries about a drop off.

Michael Young just continues to hit, play good defense and be the consummate team player that has helped the Texas Rangers continue to be a great offensive ball club.

Playing Gold Glove caliber defense at 2nd Base, Shortstop and now at 3rd Base along with having one the best bats in the American League, Young has been raking from day one. Always over .300 with 20-25 homers per season, Young has made the most of playing in the Texas heat and has also come up big when the world was watching.

An All-Star in both 2006 and 2008 for Texas, Young ended up with the GW Triple in 06 and the GW Sac Fly in 2008 to help keep the American League dominance over the National League alive and make himself a household name, if only for a few days.

Michael Young is the best current ballplayer wearing Number Ten.