MLB 2010: The MVP at Every Position

With two months left in the season, lets take a look at who has been the most valuable at his respective position.

The most valuable player at each position is not necessarily the player with the most home runs or highest batting average, but the player who has meant the most to his team this season.

Hitting, fielding, and team success were all key in determining who has been the most valuable to their teams this season.

First Baseman—Joey Votto

Votto has been the most valuable 1st baseman so far this season.

While emerging as a legitimate contender for NL MVP honors, Votto has been the biggest reason for the Reds resurgence in the NL Central this season.

He leads the club in batting average, home runs, RBI, and on-base percentage. Additionally, the slugger has also been solid in the field with just three errors on the season.

Votto gets the edge over Tigers' first baseman Miguel Cabrera due to his team's first place standing while Cabrera and the Tigers are currently nine games back in the AL Central race.

Cabrera also has 10 errors defensively this season, tying him for second most in all of baseball at the position.

Second Baseman—Robinson Cano

Cano has been the best second baseman in the Majors this season and its not even close.

Cano leads all second baseman in hitting with a .325 average and is third in home runs with 21. Cano also leads all second baseman in RBI with 71, but this number isn't as impressive to me because he does bat in the potent Yankees offense where guys are getting on base at a high rate.

Nonetheless, Cano has been very impressive at the plate this season and in the field where he has only committed two errors all year. Cano has picked up the slack for some of the Yankees who are having down years such as A-Rod.

He has the Yankees feeling good with the best record in baseball.

Shortstop—Troy Tulowitzki

Tulowitzki missed over a month of the season with a broken wrist, but he is still my pick for MVP at the shortstop position so far this season.

Tulowitzki is second in batting average at the position behind the Dodgers Rafael Furcal with a .308 average and also second behind Furcal in on-base percentage at .375.

Tulowitzki and Furcal are very close this season in their batting statistics, but Tulowitzki gets the edge based on his defense with a fielding percentage of .981 while Furcal has been one of the worst fielding shortstops this season with a .957 percentage.

Third Baseman—Placido Polanco

Polanco is the definition of solid as he holds the second-highest batting average of any third baseman and the highest fielding percentage.

Polanco is batting .318 on the season while fielding at .982 rate. Polanco doesn't have the power numbers that are typical of elite third baseman, but he has been a consistent performer over the years and this year is no exception.

Polanco has kept the Phillies in the playoff hunt both at the plate and in the field this season. He deserves the title of most valuable third baseman this season.

Catcher—Joe Mauer

I was very close to making Rockies' catcher Miguel Olivo the choice here, but, in the end the reigning AL MVP is my choice for most valuable catcher so far this season.

Mauer leads all catchers with at least 200 plate appearances in hitting this season with a .316 average and has been steady behind the plate as well.

Miguel Olivo has had a very productive season for the Rockies as well, both offensively and defensively. But, without Mauer, the Twins would be nowhere near first place in the AL Central.

Left Fielder—Josh Hamilton

Hamilton has moved himself into the "elite" hitter category with his production this season.

There are plenty of other guys that have been putting up strong numbers in left field this season, but Hamilton has been a cut above the rest.

Hamilton leads all of baseball with his .357 batting average to go along with his 23 home runs and 75 RBI. Hamilton has also been strong in the field with six assists. Hamilton is in a tight race with Miguel Cabrera for AL MVP and has definitely been the most valuable left fielder this season for the AL West leading Rangers.

Center Fielder—Carlos Gonzalez

Gonzalez has thrust himself into the spotlight this season with his spectacular play.

He is the leader at all three triple crown categories amongst center fielders this season with a .317 batting average, 23 home runs, and 72 RBI. Gonzalez showed that he has a flair for the dramatic with his walk-off home run to complete his cycle last weekend.

Gonzalez has also been solid in the outfield and one of the major reasons why the Rockies have hung around in the NL West this season.

Right Fielder—Nick Swisher

Swisher has one of the most outgoing personalities in baseball and now he is putting together one of the best seasons in baseball.

Swisher hasn't been spectacular in any one category, but he has been very good in all.

Swisher is tied for fifth amongst right fielders in batting average at .296, third in home runs with 22, and fourth in RBI with 66. Swisher has been getting on base often this season and, when he does, he often scores as he is second amongst all left fielders with 69 runs scored.

Swisher has been strong defensively as well with six assists and he is one of the main reasons why, along with Cano, the Yankees have the best record in baseball once again this season.

Starting Pitcher—Mat Latos

Pitching is back this year, there is no doubt about it.

With that said, there are many strong candidates for the most valuable pitcher in baseball this season, but Latos is my pick.

Latos has been the anchor of the Padres staff that has the best ERA in baseball and he is one of the key reasons why the Padres maintain a one game lead on the Giants for first place in the NL West.

Latos has an 11-5 record this season and is fifth in the Majors with a 2.47 ERA. Latos hasn't been overly dominant this year as his 119 strikeouts are good for 29th in baseball, but he has a 0.99 WHIP that ties him for second-best in baseball with A's starter Trevor Cahill.

There has been lots of stellar pitching this season, but Latos has been as important to his team as any pitcher in baseball.

Relief Pitcher—Rafael Soriano

Soriano has been a dominating closer this season with his 1.85 ERA and league-leading 31 saves.

Soriano also has a very good WHIP of 0.89 and only two blown saves on the year. Soriano is one of the main reasons the Rays are only a game back of the Yankees for the best record in baseball and first place in the AL East.

Mariano Rivera has also been spectacular this year, but Soriano gets the nod for leading the league in saves.