MLB Position-by-Position Player Power Rankings, June Edition
Last season, I wrote a series of articles breaking down my position-by-position power rankings as the season progressed, and that will again be a staple in 2015.
My preseason rankings came out on March 3, with an updated version published on April 14.
While those two sets of rankings were a reflection of previous performance and used to set a baseline, the following rankings will be based solely on 2015 production.
These rankings take into account a player's all-around offensive abilities, their defensive contributions and what they have meant to the success of their respective teams.
Projected future success is not a factor, so hitters with an excessively high BABIP or pitchers with an alarming FIP aren't docked for their expected regression.
Instead, this is meant to serve as an overview of the top 10 players at each position during the first two months of the year.
Also included at each position is the top rookie performer, something different we're trying this season in an effort to shine more light on who may be the future at each position.
Catchers
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Top 10 Catchers
| 1. Stephen Vogt, OAK | .322 | 1.022 | 6 | 11 | 38 | 25 | 2.7 | NR |
| 2. Russell Martin, TOR | .277 | .855 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 28 | 2.0 | 4 |
| 3. Buster Posey, SF | .291 | .819 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 23 | 2.2 | 2 |
| 4. Derek Norris, SD | .283 | .771 | 17 | 4 | 32 | 25 | 1.5 | NR |
| 5. Salvador Perez, KC | .281 | .730 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 14 | 1.2 | 5 |
| 6. Brian McCann, NYY | .247 | .769 | 6 | 8 | 33 | 23 | 1.3 | 7 |
| 7. Nick Hundley, COL | .294 | .794 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 1.0 | NR |
| 8. Yasmani Grandal, LAD | .284 | .883 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 0.5 | NR |
| 9. Francisco Cervelli, PIT | .326 | .804 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 0.6 | NR |
| 10. Miguel Montero, CHC | .248 | .776 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 0.8 | 9 |
Position Overview
Last season, it was Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy who climbed to the top of the catcher rankings with a breakout campaign. This time, it's 30-year-old Stephen Vogt.
After serving in a utility role of sorts last year, Vogt became the Athletics' primary catcher this year after a handful of offseason trades. He's made the most of the opportunity, leading all catchers in home runs (11), RBI (38), OPS (1.022) and WAR (2.7), and all signs point to him earning his first All-Star nod.
Moving forward, expect the gap between Vogt and the rest of the backstops to close as he goes through some inevitable regression, but at this point he's an easy choice for the top spot.
Offensively, the second tier is currently Russell Martin and Buster Posey, while Salvador Perez is known more for his defensive skills and leadership.
Brian McCann struggled in his first year with the Yankees last season, hitting .232 with a .692 OPS, albeit with 23 home runs and 75 RBI. His production is up across the board so far this year, and he's starting to earn that five-year, $85 million deal he signed.
Interestingly enough, six of the 10 catchers who cracked the top 10 in these rankings are playing with a new team in 2015. Derek Norris, Yasmani Grandal, Francisco Cervelli and Miguel Montero were all involved in trades, while Russell Martin and Nick Hundley moved in free agency.
Top Rookie: James McCann, Detroit Tigers
With a knee injury sidelining Alex Avila since the beginning of May, the Detroit Tigers have turned to James McCann as the team's primary catcher.
The 24-year-old is hitting .278/.313/.407 with six doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI in 108 at-bats for a 0.3 WAR, and he earns the nod here over Kevin Plawecki, Blake Swihart, Christian Bethancourt and J.T. Realmuto.
First Basemen
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Top 10 First Basemen
| 1. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI | .351 | 1.130 | 12 | 15 | 43 | 39 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2. Adrian Gonzalez, LAD | .339 | 1.026 | 19 | 10 | 35 | 34 | 2.6 | 5 |
| 3. Miguel Cabrera, DET | .333 | 1.020 | 10 | 11 | 34 | 28 | 2.4 | 1 |
| 4. Anthony Rizzo, CHC | .316 | 1.009 | 14 | 9 | 30 | 27 | 2.7 | 3 |
| 5. Lucas Duda, NYM | .298 | .934 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 31 | 1.9 | 9 |
| 6. Brandon Belt, SF | .305 | .923 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 2.0 | NR |
| 7. Mark Teixeira, NYY | .241 | .924 | 9 | 15 | 39 | 26 | 1.9 | NR |
| 8. Eric Hosmer, KC | .302 | .884 | 12 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 1.5 | NR |
| 9. Joey Votto, CIN | .282 | .875 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 23 | 1.5 | 7 |
| 10. Jose Abreu, CWS | .282 | .821 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 1.3 | 4 |
Position Overview
More so than any other position, first base is absolutely stacked, as a handful of established superstars have been joined by a group of breakout players just entering their respective primes.
Paul Goldschmidt, Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Cabrera were already well established as three of the best players in the game heading into the season, and they have delivered on that reputation with fast starts here in 2015.
Goldschmidt has been the best of the bunch, returning strong from a fractured hand that abruptly ended his season last year to once again put up elite numbers at the dish.
Joining those three in the top tier is Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo, who has quickly developed into one of the game's most disciplined middle-of-the-order threats, and the leader on a young and talented roster.
Lucas Duda and Jose Abreu were perhaps the two biggest breakout stars at the position last year, and they are putting up solid numbers once again.
Then we have the aforementioned group that is breaking out this season, which you could argue is led by Rizzo, who is finally emerging as a bona fide superstar, but also includes Brandon Belt and Eric Hosmer.
Rounding things out are a pair of former superstars who are rebounding nicely from injury-plagued seasons last year in Mark Teixeira and Joey Votto.
Top Rookie: Justin Bour, Miami Marlins
A 25th-round pick back in 2009, Justin Bour finally reached the majors for the first time last season, hitting .284/.361/.365 with 11 RBI over 74 at-bats.
The 27-year-old is not really a prospect at this point, but he's making an impact off the bench for the Miami Marlins. Over 68 at-bats, he's hitting .353/.397/.618 with three doubles, five home runs and 10 RBI.
Second Basemen
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Top 10 Second Basemen
| 1. Jason Kipnis, CLE | .340 | .940 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 37 | 3.4 | NR |
| 2. Dee Gordon, MIA | .370 | .833 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 29 | 2.8 | 8 |
| 3. Kolten Wong, STL | .312 | .836 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 31 | 2.2 | NR |
| 4. Brian Dozier, MIN | .258 | .849 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 41 | 1.9 | 5 |
| 5. Ian Kinsler, DET | .271 | .716 | 12 | 1 | 22 | 29 | 2.2 | 3 |
| 6. Logan Forsythe, TB | .286 | .824 | 13 | 5 | 22 | 20 | 1.8 | NR |
| 7. Joe Panik, SF | .304 | .826 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 8. Devon Travis, TOR | .271 | .839 | 10 | 7 | 26 | 24 | 1.5 | NR |
| 9. Jose Altuve, HOU | .297 | .758 | 10 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 10. DJ LeMahieu, COL | .335 | .827 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 19 | 1.3 | NR |
Position Overview
A legitimate AL MVP candidate during the Cleveland Indians' surprise run to the playoffs in 2013, Jason Kipnis battled through injuries last season to hit just .240/.310/.330 with six home runs and 41 RBI over 500 at-bats.
Now healthy, he is once again leading the charge at the plate for the Indians. His 3.4 WAR is tops among AL position players, and he's coming off an insane month of May in which he hit .429/.511/.706 with 22 extra-base hits and 30 runs scored.
Close behind is Dee Gordon, who has used his elite speed to lead the majors in hits (78) and batting average (.370). His defense has also been terrific, and while his average has slowly started to fall after sitting over .400 for much of May, that takes nothing away from what he's accomplished so far.
The next wave of second base talent appears to have arrived, led by a pair of second-year players in Kolten Wong and Joe Panik and a rookie in Devon Travis. Those three should help bolster a position that has been relatively weak in recent years.
Brian Dozier and Ian Kinsler are once again making a strong case to be part of the All-Star festivities. Jose Altuve has fallen off quite a bit from his 2014 numbers, but he remains a dynamic speed threat for the upstart Houston Astros and is leading the AL with 15 stolen bases.
Logan Forsythe was given an opportunity at everyday playing time with Nick Franklin injured, and he has been the Tampa Bay Rays' best offensive player so far.
Last year's NL Gold Glove winner DJ LeMahieu rounds things out, as he has added some offense to his repertoire this season after hitting .267/.315/.348 a year ago.
Top Rookie: Devon Travis, Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Devon Travis from the Detroit Tigers in the offseason in exchange for Anthony Gose, and he was immediately slotted in as the starting second baseman despite spending all of last season in Double-A.
He's currently dealing with a shoulder injury, but in a wide-open AL Rookie of the Year race, he may still be the front-runner thanks to his big month of April (.325 BA, 1.018 OPS, 6 HR, 19 RBI).
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Third Basemen
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Top 10 Third Basemen
| 1. Josh Donaldson, TOR | .312 | .976 | 14 | 15 | 39 | 43 | 3.2 | 2 |
| 2. Todd Frazier, CIN | .287 | .996 | 11 | 16 | 31 | 34 | 2.8 | 9 |
| 3. Nolan Arenado, COL | .289 | .908 | 11 | 13 | 37 | 26 | 2.6 | 4 |
| 4. Matt Carpenter, STL | .311 | .937 | 17 | 8 | 27 | 34 | 1.9 | 6 |
| 5. Mike Moustakas, KC | .320 | .855 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 28 | 2.4 | NR |
| 6. Kris Bryant, CHC | .280 | .876 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 28 | 1.6 | NR |
| 7. Trevor Plouffe, MIN | .279 | .841 | 10 | 8 | 29 | 22 | 2.2 | NR |
| 8. Kyle Seager, SEA | .277 | .810 | 11 | 9 | 29 | 22 | 2.0 | 3 |
| 9. Manny Machado, BAL | .265 | .787 | 11 | 8 | 22 | 28 | 1.6 | 8 |
| 10. Justin Turner, LAD | .298 | .896 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 16 | 1.6 | NR |
Position Overview
After two seasons starring at the hot corner for the Oakland Athletics, Josh Donaldson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays during the winter. And despite having a new jersey, he still looks very much the part of a legitimate MVP candidate.
His overall numbers received a shot in the arm last week, as he went 11-for-25 with two doubles, six home runs and 11 RBI to win Player of the Week honors.
Behind him is a pair of budding stars in Todd Frazier and Nolan Arenado, who figure to battle it out with Matt Carpenter and rookie Kris Bryant for the starting spot on the NL All-Star team. Carpenter has an early lead in the balloting, with nearly double the votes of anyone else, per MLB.com.
A big postseason performance has carried over into what finally appears to be a breakout season for Mike Moustakas. It's easy to forget he was actually demoted to the minors at one point last season, as he's come a long way in the past year.
Trevor Plouffe and Kyle Seager continue to be two of the more underappreciated players in the American League, while a healthy Manny Machado is making a case to join Donaldson on the AL All-Star roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Justin Turner lands the final spot, as 28 of his 33 games in the field have come at the hot corner, and he is expected to see even more time there following the trade of Juan Uribe.
Top Rookie: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
Kris Bryant entered the 2015 season with as much hype as any position player prospect we've seen since Bryce Harper, and while it took him some time to find his power stroke, he's certainly impressed to this point.
His defense has also been better than expected, and as he continues to settle into life as a big league player, his offensive output should only increase.
Shortstops
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Top 10 Shortstops
| 1. Brandon Crawford, SF | .292 | .858 | 11 | 7 | 34 | 26 | 2.6 | NR |
| 2. Jhonny Peralta, STL | .311 | .891 | 15 | 8 | 30 | 25 | 2.0 | 6 |
| 3. Jose Iglesias, DET | .338 | .822 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 1.4 | NR |
| 4. Andrelton Simmons, ATL | .277 | .734 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 33 | 1.9 | 3 |
| 5. Zack Cozart, CIN | .266 | .767 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 22 | 1.6 | NR |
| 6. Adeiny Hechavarria, MIA | .300 | .724 | 9 | 2 | 20 | 25 | 1.1 | NR |
| 7. Marcus Semien, OAK | .283 | .770 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 26 | 1.1 | NR |
| 8. Jean Segura, MIL | .281 | .722 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 0.9 | NR |
| 9. Freddy Galvis, PHI | .289 | .678 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 21 | 1.0 | NR |
| 10. Jung Ho Kang, PIT | .281 | .773 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 1.3 | NR |
Position Overview
The shortstop position remains by far the weakest in all of baseball, and with Troy Tulowitzki off to a slow start, it's Brandon Crawford who stakes his claim to the top spot in these rankings.
A defensive-minded player when he first broke into the league, the 28-year-old took a step forward at the plate last year, posting a .713 OPS with 20 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs. He's continued to grow offensively this season, and now has a strong case as the best all-around player at his position.
Close behind is Jhonny Peralta, who has continued to make the St. Louis Cardinals look like geniuses for inking him to that four-year, $53 million contract in November 2013.
For as busy as the Detroit Tigers were this past offseason, getting Jose Iglesias back healthy was as big an addition as any they made in trades or free agency. After finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, he was sidelined all of last season with stress fractures in his shins, but he's returned strong and looks to have a decent chance of starting the All-Star Game.
Behind those three it's an interesting collection of elite defenders and young players who have taken a step forward.
Andrelton Simmons and Zack Cozart were the two best defensive shortstops in baseball last season, and they have picked up their offensive production a bit this season to boot.
Adeiny Hechavarria appears to be building off of a strong offensive season last year, while Jean Segura is in the process of bouncing back from a trying 2014.
Marcus Semien has solidified the shortstop position in Oakland after coming over from the White Sox in the Jeff Samardzija trade, while Freddy Galvis has impressed stepping into the everyday role for the Phillies in place of Jimmy Rollins.
Korean import Jung Ho Kang rounds out the list here, though he is still sharing playing time with Jordy Mercer.
Top Rookie: Jung Ho Kang, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jung Ho Kang was perhaps the biggest unknown of the entire MLB offseason, as no position player had ever made the jump from the KBO to MLB, but the Pirates took a chance on him with a four-year, $11 million deal.
After hitting .356/.459/.739 last season with 36 doubles and 40 home runs, he has proved to be a capable big league hitter to this point, and a solid defender at both shortstop and third base.
Left Fielders
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Top 10 Left Fielders
| 1. Justin Upton, SD | .302 | .900 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 33 | 2.0 | 3 |
| 2. Alex Gordon, KC | .273 | .837 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 21 | 1.8 | 2 |
| 3. Matt Holliday, STL | .318 | .875 | 10 | 3 | 24 | 18 | 1.2 | 6 |
| 4. Michael Brantley, CLE | .302 | .853 | 17 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 5. Starling Marte, PIT | .259 | .787 | 11 | 10 | 34 | 26 | 1.1 | 4 |
| 6. Yoenis Cespedes, DET | .283 | .801 | 17 | 7 | 28 | 26 | 1.8 | 8 |
| 7. Brett Gardner, NYY | .273 | .765 | 10 | 4 | 21 | 33 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 8. Nori Aoki, SF | .313 | .789 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 24 | 1.2 | NR |
| 9. Hanley Ramirez, BOS | .261 | .795 | 4 | 12 | 27 | 28 | -0.3 | 5 |
| 10. David DeJesus, TB | .325 | .872 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 16 | 1.5 | NR |
Position Overview
If you are building a team from scratch, a strong case can be made for taking Michael Brantley or Starling Marte as your left fielder, but as far as who is playing the best at the position right now, that has to be Justin Upton.
His power numbers have been unaffected by a move to San Diego and spacious Petco Park, and the free agent-to-be is setting himself up for a huge payday this offseason.
Alex Gordon and Matt Holliday remain rock-solid performers and leaders on their respective teams. Gordon gets the nod for his plus defense, but Holliday is working on an impressive 45-game on-base streak to begin the year.
As expected, Yoenis Cespedes has brought some added pop to an already powerful Tigers lineup, and his production has become even more important with Victor Martinez battling an injury.
Brett Gardner somehow continues to be underrated while playing for the Yankees, while the rival Red Sox have gotten plus offense and dreadful defense from Hanley Ramirez as he makes the transition to the outfield.
Nori Aoki on a one-year, $4.7 million deal ranks as one of the biggest steals of the offseason, and he carried the Giants through the first month of the season when no one else was hitting.
David DeJesus takes the final spot here, though he has seen nearly as much time at designated hitter (18 games) as he has in left field (22 games).
Top Rookie: Alex Guerrero, Los Angeles Dodgers
Something of a forgotten man after Dee Gordon emerged as the everyday second baseman last year, Alex Guerrero has forced his way into semi-regular playing time for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cuban defector signed a four-year, $28 million deal prior to last season, and he's hit .290/.323/.656 with five doubles, nine home runs and 21 RBI in just 93 at-bats. On top of his 15 games in left field, he has also played nine games at third base.
Center Fielders
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Top 10 Center Fielders
| 1. Mike Trout, LAA | .294 | .933 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 39 | 3.3 | 1 |
| 2. Lorenzo Cain, KC | .297 | .765 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 35 | 2.8 | 6 |
| 3. Joc Pederson, LAD | .254 | .931 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 29 | 2.0 | NR |
| 4. A.J. Pollock, ARI | .312 | .824 | 9 | 5 | 19 | 34 | 2.6 | NR |
| 5. Andrew McCutchen, PIT | .278 | .841 | 12 | 7 | 32 | 28 | 1.4 | 2 |
| 6. Adam Jones, BAL | .299 | .791 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 1.2 | 4 |
| 7. Anthony Gose, DET | .314 | .791 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 1.5 | NR |
| 8. Denard Span, WAS | .314 | .859 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 0.8 | NR |
| 9. Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY | .324 | .783 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 1.4 | 7 |
| 10. Kevin Kiermaier, TB | .233 | .660 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 1.8 | NR |
Position Overview
Mike Trout remains the game's top center fielder, and with Andrew McCutchen only recently getting things going after a terrible start, he's by himself in the top tier through two months of the season.
Lorenzo Cain and A.J. Pollock each have the dynamic all-around skill set it takes to thrive in center, and they are joined by rookie Joc Pederson to form a trio of emerging stars at the position.
The aforementioned McCutchen and Adam Jones have been two of the best around for the past several seasons, and when all is said and done, they figure to be right up there with Trout once again.
Denard Span and Jacoby Ellsbury have been terrific when healthy this season, but they are both currently sidelined with injuries. They are the catalysts for their respective offenses and have been missed.
The Tigers' hope when they acquired Anthony Gose from the Toronto Blue Jays was that he could serve as a viable platoon option with Rajai Davis in center field, but he has been that and more in his first year with the team.
Kevin Kiermaier claims the final spot thanks to his glove, as he leads all center fielders with a ridiculous 55.5 UZR/150 and is tied with Cain for first in the majors with 11 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.
Top Rookie: Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers
Blocked by an outfield logjam last season, Joc Pederson hit .303/.435/.582 with 33 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 100 walks for Triple-A Albuquerque.
The Matt Kemp trade opened up an everyday job for Pederson this season, and while his batting average is not where he wants it, the power and terrific on-base skills have both translated to the next level. If the season ended today, he'd probably be your NL Rookie of the Year.
Right Fielders
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Top 10 Right Fielders
| 1. Bryce Harper, WAS | .325 | 1.193 | 9 | 18 | 43 | 42 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2. Nelson Cruz, SEA | .333 | 1.040 | 7 | 18 | 38 | 32 | 2.5 | 3 (DH) |
| 3. Josh Reddick, OAK | .302 | .882 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 22 | 2.0 | NR |
| 4. Ryan Braun, MIL | .258 | .828 | 6 | 12 | 38 | 30 | 1.1 | NR |
| 5. Giancarlo Stanton, MIA | .228 | .826 | 7 | 15 | 44 | 30 | 2.0 | 1 |
| 6. Andre Ethier, LAD | .309 | .946 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 23 | 1.6 | NR |
| 7. Avisail Garcia, CWS | .323 | .805 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 0.7 | NR |
| 8. Steven Souza, TB | .232 | .790 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 25 | 0.5 | NR |
| 9. Mark Trumbo, ARI | .266 | .828 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 23 | 0.9 | NR |
| 10. Torii Hunter, MIN | .279 | .789 | 10 | 7 | 32 | 25 | 0.2 | NR |
Position Overview
To this point of the 2015 season, no one is having a better year than Bryce Harper, and the corner of the baseball world that enjoyed trumpeting how overrated he is has gone noticeably quiet.
It's easy to forget Harper is still just 22 years old, and it appears the breakout season we've been waiting on since he entered the majors as a 19-year-old is finally upon us. He just has to stay healthy the rest of the way.
The Mariners didn't make the same mistake twice, as they jumped at the chance to sign Nelson Cruz this offseason after missing out on him the previous winter. He's played more right field (32 games) than designated hitter (19 games) and his defense is by no means a plus, but it's hard to argue with his production at the plate.
Seemingly one of the last players standing in Oakland after a busy offseason, Josh Reddick has stepped up alongside Stephen Vogt to shoulder the Athletics' offensive load. The 2012 Gold Glove winner remains a plus defender as well.
The .228 average is not pretty, but Giancarlo Stanton remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the game, and his 44 RBI currently lead the majors.
Ryan Braun is close behind with 38 RBI, and while he is still not the dynamic offensive threat he was pre-suspension, a healthy wrist/thumb has helped him to a bounce-back season at the plate.
Andre Ethier has seized the opportunity to once again see regular at-bats with Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig both sidelined, while Torii Hunter is back at home in Minnesota, where he has served as an invaluable leader on the young Twins.
Avisail Garcia has looked the part of breakout star, which many predicted for him last season before he suffered a torn labrum, Steven Souza looks like a potential building block for the Rays and Mark Trumbo is finally producing for the Diamondbacks.
Top Rookie: Steven Souza, Tampa Bay Rays
The key piece heading to Tampa Bay in the trade that sent Wil Myers to the San Diego Padres, Steven Souza is among the AL Rookie of the Year front-runners at this point in the season.
The 26-year-old is tied for the MLB lead with 70 strikeouts, and his .232 batting average is obviously not great, but he has provided some sorely needed power alongside Evan Longoria in the Rays lineup.
Designated Hitters
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Top 5 Designated Hitters
| 1. Prince Fielder, TEX | .359 | .975 | 12 | 10 | 38 | 25 | 1.6 | NR |
| 2. Alex Rodriguez, NYY | .282 | .913 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 29 | 1.3 | NR |
| 3. Kendrys Morales, KC | .304 | .851 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 32 | 1.2 | NR |
| 4. Jimmy Paredes, BAL | .312 | .853 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 1.3 | NR |
| 5. Jose Bautista, TOR | .242 | .863 | 13 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 1.3 | 2 (RF) |
Position Overview
Prince Fielder? Alex Rodriguez? Kendrys Morales? What year is it?
Those three all look like strong candidates for AL Comeback Player of the Year honors right now, and all have been instrumental in the success of their respective offenses.
After playing just 42 games last season before undergoing neck surgery, Fielder has been on an absolute tear of late, hitting .398/.440/.735 over his last 20 games to raise his average to an AL-best .359.
A-Rod has proved he still has plenty to offer at the age of 39, while Morales has been worth every penny of the two-year, $17 million deal the Royals gave him this winter.
Jimmy Paredes entered camp with the Orioles battling for a roster spot, but he has quickly played his way into regular at-bats with a hot start. The 26-year-old's production has gone a long way in helping offset the loss of Nelson Cruz.
Rounding out the list is Jose Bautista, who has seen the bulk of his playing time come at DH as he battles a nagging shoulder injury. The numbers aren't what we're accustomed to seeing, but they're still good enough to land him the No. 5 spot here.
Top Rookie: Joey Butler, Tampa Bay Rays
A 29-year-old journeyman who entered the season with 17 career big league at-bats under his belt, Joey Butler has carved out a spot on the Tampa Bay Rays bench this season.
Over 77 at-bats, he's hitting .338/.370/.532 with six doubles, three home runs and nine RBI. He's finally getting his chance after eight seasons in the minor leagues.
Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
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Top 10 Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
| 1. Zack Greinke, LAD | 5-1 | 1.48 | 0.866 | .184 | 58 | 2.5 | 8 |
| 2. Max Scherzer, WAS | 6-3 | 1.51 | 0.879 | .199 | 85 | 3.1 | 3 |
| 3. Shelby Miller, ATL | 5-2 | 1.48 | 0.881 | .175 | 49 | 2.8 | NR |
| 4. Sonny Gray, OAK | 6-2 | 1.82 | 0.973 | .196 | 66 | 3.1 | 10 |
| 5. A.J. Burnett, PIT | 5-1 | 1.81 | 1.160 | .234 | 59 | 2.3 | NR |
| 6. Felix Hernandez, SEA | 8-2 | 2.63 | 0.982 | .205 | 75 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 7. Chris Archer, TB | 5-4 | 2.12 | 0.985 | .192 | 82 | 2.2 | NR |
| 8. Gerrit Cole, PIT | 8-2 | 1.90 | 1.085 | .235 | 79 | 2.1 | NR |
| 9. Michael Wacha, STL | 7-1 | 2.27 | 1.042 | .209 | 42 | 1.8 | NR |
| 10. Jacob deGrom, NYM | 6-4 | 2.41 | 0.986 | .221 | 71 | 1.8 | NR |
Position Overview
The trio of Zack Greinke, Max Scherzer and Felix Hernandez was expected to be among the game's top tier of right-handed starters, and Sonny Gray was well on his way to joining them last season, but the rest of this list is full of surprises.
Shelby Miller was traded to Atlanta in the offseason in exchange for Jason Heyward, and that's looked like a big win for the Braves so far. He's twirled a pair of shutouts, is tied for the NL ERA lead and tops all of baseball with his batting average against.
The 2014 season was a miserable one for A.J. Burnett as he posted a 4.59 ERA and led the majors with 18 losses. He declined his second-year option with the Phillies and took less money to rejoin the Pirates, and his numbers have bounced back in a big way.
The final four spots in the rankings go to a group of budding stars in Chris Archer, Gerrit Cole, Michael Wacha and Jacob deGrom.
Archer and Cole have steadily improved since breaking into the league in 2012, while Wacha is healthy once again and being leaned on heavily with Adam Wainwright out for the year.
The one to watch is deGrom, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. After a somewhat slow start, he's gone 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA, 0.511 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 29.1 innings over his last four outings.
Top Rookie: Nate Karns, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been forced to piece together a starting rotation this season with Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and Matt Moore all sidelined. While Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi have led the way, the performance of Nate Karns can't be overlooked.
The 27-year-old was acquired from the Nationals for Jose Lobaton prior to last season, and he's gone 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.123 WHIP in 10 starts this year.
Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
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Top 10 Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
| 1. Dallas Keuchel, HOU | 7-1 | 1.76 | 0.906 | .183 | 60 | 3.5 | 7 |
| 2. Hector Santiago, LAA | 4-3 | 2.18 | 1.177 | .212 | 57 | 1.8 | NR |
| 3. Cole Hamels, PHI | 5-4 | 2.91 | 1.090 | .208 | 76 | 2.2 | 5 |
| 4. Madison Bumgarner, SF | 6-2 | 3.12 | 1.111 | .237 | 61 | 1.3 | 3 |
| 5. Francisco Liriano, PIT | 2-4 | 3.47 | 1.089 | .189 | 75 | 0.9 | 8 |
| 6. Chris Sale, CWS | 4-2 | 3.66 | 1.085 | .228 | 66 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 7. David Price, DET | 4-2 | 3.15 | 1.211 | .247 | 63 | 1.0 | 4 |
| 8. Scott Kazmir, OAK | 2-3 | 2.93 | 1.234 | .220 | 57 | 1.1 | NR |
| 9. Clayton Kershaw, LAD | 4-3 | 3.73 | 1.134 | .237 | 90 | 0.6 | 1 |
| 10. Jon Lester, CHC | 4-3 | 3.30 | 1.309 | .263 | 61 | 0.9 | 6 |
Position Overview
To anyone skeptical of Dallas Keuchel after his out-of-nowhere breakout season last year: He is really, really good.
If the season were to end today, he'd be your AL Cy Young Award winner, and he currently leads the majors in innings pitched (81.2) and WAR (3.5) and the league in ERA (1.76) and WHIP (0.906).
While much of this list is made up of familiar players, the biggest surprise is Hector Santiago.
Santiago has enjoyed success in the past, as he entered the year with a 3.53 career ERA, but he has taken his game to another level for the Angels this season.
The Pirates moved quickly to re-sign Francisco Liriano to a three-year, $39 million deal in the offseason, and that is already looking like a steal. He's resurrected his career in Pittsburgh, and that's allowed Gerrit Cole to ease into the role of staff ace.
A number of guys on this list are in the process of recovering from rough starts to the season and have been pitching much better in May.
Madison Bumgarner (4-1, 2.61 ERA), Chris Sale (2-1, 2.68 ERA) and Jon Lester (4-1, 1.76 ERA) all threw the ball better in May than their overall numbers suggest, while Clayton Kershaw is also in the process of turning things around.
Meanwhile, the trio of Cole Hamels, David Price and Scott Kazmir will continue to be closely monitored as Hamels remains perhaps the top trade chip on the market and Price and Kazmir are headed for free agency.
Top Rookie: Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
After starting out in the bullpen, Carlos Rodon quickly joined the Chicago White Sox rotation, where he figures to stay for the foreseeable future.
The No. 3 overall pick last June, Rodon has gone 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts, and it's fair to assume the best is yet to come from the 22-year-old.
Non-Closer Relievers
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Top 10 Non-Closer Relievers
| 1. Dellin Betances, NYY | 25 | 4-0 | 10 | 0.00 | 0.741 | 14.9 | 1.7 | NR |
| 2. Tony Watson, PIT | 26 | 1-1 | 12 | 1.55 | 0.724 | 8.4 | 1.1 | 9 |
| 3. Carson Smith, SEA | 23 | 1-2 | 10 | 1.23 | 0.773 | 10.6 | 1.0 | NR |
| 4. Darren O'Day, BAL | 20 | 1-0 | 6 | 0.95 | 0.737 | 9.5 | 0.6 | 3 |
| 5. Will Harris, HOU | 20 | 2-0 | 2 | 0.35 | 0.468 | 10.9 | 1.4 | NR |
| 6. Roberto Osuna, TOR | 22 | 1-2 | 6 | 1.75 | 0.896 | 8.8 | 0.8 | NR |
| 7. Junichi Tazawa, BOS | 24 | 0-1 | 9 | 1.64 | 0.909 | 8.2 | 1.0 | NR |
| 8. Michael Blazek, MIL | 21 | 4-1 | 0 | 1.27 | 0.918 | 8.3 | 0.8 | NR |
| 9. Keone Kela, TEX | 25 | 4-1 | 5 | 1.90 | 1.268 | 8.0 | 0.8 | NR |
| 10. Blaine Boyer, MIN | 25 | 1-1 | 10 | 2.10 | 1.169 | 3.9 | 1.0 | NR |
Position Overview
At any given time there are about 180 non-closer relievers active around MLB, so there is no shortage of options to fill these 10 slots.
That being said, the top four guys on this list are no-brainers, as Dellin Betances, Tony Watson, Carson Smith and Darren O'Day all have strong cases to be on their league's respective All-Star teams this season.
Betances and Watson actually earned spots on the All-Star rosters last summer, while the side-winding O'Day remains as consistent as they come. The one to watch here will be the rookie Smith, as it may not be long before he's closing games in Seattle.
Two other rookies in Roberto Osuna of the Blue Jays and Keone Kela of the Rangers also earn a spot in these rankings after emerging as unexpected contributors this spring.
Will Harris, who was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks, has played as big a role as anyone in the Astros' vastly improved bullpen.
Junichi Tazawa has been a rock-solid eighth-inning guy for the Red Sox the past several seasons, while Michael Blazek has found a home in Milwaukee after being sent there by the Cardinals in exchange for John Axford.
Blaine Boyer claims the final spot, and while there are probably at least a few guys with better all-around numbers, the 33-year-old has been huge for the Twins in shoring up the eighth inning and bridging the gap to All-Star closer Glen Perkins
Top Rookie: Carson Smith, Seattle Mariners
After a dominant season in Double-A in 2013, Carson Smith entered this year as the No. 10 prospect in the Mariners system, according to Baseball America.
The 25-year-old had 15 saves with a 1.80 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 12.8 K/9 in 44 appearances in 2013, and after starting the season in the minors last year, he earned a call-up and quickly emerged as one of the best late-inning arms in all of baseball.
Closers
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Top 10 Closers
| 1. Andrew Miller, NYY | 22 | 0-1 | 15/15 | 0.81 | 0.627 | 14.1 | 1.4 | NR |
| 2. Wade Davis, KC | 22 | 2-0 | 7/7 | 0.00 | 0.682 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 1 (RP) |
| 3. Drew Storen, WAS | 22 | 1-0 | 16/17 | 0.84 | 0.797 | 11.4 | 1.3 | NR |
| 4. Glen Perkins, MIN | 25 | 0-1 | 19/19 | 1.88 | 1.083 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 5. Joakim Soria, DET | 22 | 2-0 | 15/16 | 1.27 | 0.750 | 7.2 | 1.1 | NR |
| 6. Jeurys Familia, NYM | 24 | 1-0 | 15/16 | 1.44 | 0.800 | 10.8 | 1.0 | NR |
| 7. T. Rosenthal, STL | 23 | 1-0 | 15/16 | 0.74 | 1.027 | 9.6 | 1.4 | NR |
| 8. J. Papelbon, PHI | 20 | 0-0 | 11/11 | 1.35 | 0.900 | 11.3 | 0.9 | NR |
| 9. F. Rodriguez, MIL | 19 | 0-2 | 9/9 | 1.42 | 0.895 | 10.4 | 1.0 | NR |
| 10. A.J. Ramos, MIA | 24 | 0-0 | 4/6 | 1.07 | 0.750 | 11.4 | 1.2 | NR |
Position Overview
No position in baseball is more volatile than closer, so it should come as no big surprise that the No. 1 spot on this list is occupied by a pitcher who entered the season with just one career save in Andrew Miller.
The Yankees paid big bucks to sign him, giving the 30-year-old a four-year, $36 million deal, but he's been worth it while teaming with Dellin Betances to form the best bullpen tandem in baseball.
With Greg Holland back healthy, Wade Davis has returned to his eighth-inning role, but he spent enough time closing games over the first two months that we'll lump him in with the closers for now.
Glen Perkins, Joakim Soria, Jonathan Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez continue to be lockdown options in the ninth inning as they enter the latter part of their respective careers.
On the other side of the spectrum, guys like Drew Storen and Trevor Rosenthal are finally establishing themselves as elite options (or establishing themselves again in the case of Storen).
Jeurys Familia has also broken out in the closer's role after setting up Jenrry Mejia last season, and there's a good chance the job is now his long-term.
A.J. Ramos earns the final spot on the list, as he's gone 4-for-4 on save chances with a 1.08 ERA, 0.600 WHIP and .138 BAA since replacing Steve Cishek as the Marlins closer.
Top Rookie: Miguel Castro, Toronto Blue Jays
Only one rookie has seen time in the closer's role so far this year, and that's 20-year-old Miguel Castro of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The big 6'5" right-hander is 4-of-6 on save chances with a 4.38 ERA, 1.703 WHIP and 8.8 K/9, and while those numbers are not as good as he or the team may have hoped, his future remains incredibly bright.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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