Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Right Fielder for the 2024 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2024 MLB position rankings series.
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2024 campaign.
Right field is loaded with star power, even with New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge making the full-time shift to center fielder in 2024.
Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Kyle Tucker are the top-tier standouts at the position, while 2023 NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll and postseason hero Adolis García are also knocking on the door for a place in that group.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2024 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track record played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Let the debate begin.
Catch up on the 2024 Position Ranking series: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen, Left Fielders, Center Fielders
30. Sean Bouchard, Colorado Rockies
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The Colorado Rockies entered spring training with a hole to fill in right field, and while Sean Bouchard and Hunter Goodman were the leading in-house candidates, they have gotten a push from non-roster invitee Bradley Zimmer and waiver claim Sam Hilliard.
Bouchard, 27, has hit .304/.429/.563 for a 161 OPS+ with eight doubles, seven home runs, 18 RBI and 1.5 WAR in 48 games over the past two seasons, and he has hit well enough this spring to earn the first crack at the starting job.
Veteran Charlie Blackmon will again serve as the team's primary designated hitter, but he could also see occasional action in right field where he made 28 starts during the 2023 season.
29. Seth Brown, Oakland Athletics
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Seth Brown was quietly one of the few offensive standouts on the Oakland Athletics roster during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
- 2021: 307 PA, 107 OPS+, 34 XBH (20 HR), 48 RBI, 1.5 WAR
- 2022: 555 PA, 117 OPS+, 54 XBH (25 HR), 73 RBI, 1.8 WAR
The 31-year-old was slowed by an oblique injury last year and hit a middling .222/.286/.405 for a 96 OPS+ with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 378 plate appearances when he did take the field.
Brown still has club control through the 2026 season, and a return to his 2022 form could make him an under-the-radar trade chip for contenders looking to add some left-handed pop to the roster.
28. Dominic Fletcher, Chicago White Sox
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The Arizona Diamondbacks gave the Chicago White Sox their pick of Dominic Fletcher or Jake McCarthy in the deal that sent high-ceiling pitching prospect Cristian Mena the other way in February.
The White Sox chose Fletcher, and he immediately became the front-runner for the starting right field job thanks in part to the potential he showed as a rookie last season when he hit .301/.350/.441 for a 115 OPS+ with eight extra-base hits in 102 plate appearances.
The 26-year-old hit .291/.399/.500 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 71 runs scored and a strong 12.6 percent walk rate in 66 games at the Triple-A level.
27. Ramón Laureano, Cleveland Guardians
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Ramón Laureano looked like a rising star for the Oakland Athletics during the 2019 season when he hit .288/.340/.521 for a 129 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 24 home runs, 67 RBI and 13 steals in a 3.5-WAR season.
Injuries have limited him to an average of 96 games over the past three campaigns, though, and the Athletics cut ties ahead of a likely offseason non-tender last August when he was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians.
The 29-year-old had a 103 OPS+ and 0.7 WAR in 41 games after joining Cleveland, and with two more years of club control, he could prove to be a nice bargain addition if he can stay healthy.
26. Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
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Mitch Haniger was one of the most productive sluggers in baseball during the 2021 season, posting a 122 OPS+ with 39 home runs and 100 RBI in a 3.1-WAR season with the Seattle Mariners.
Injuries limited him to 57 games in a contract year the following season, and after signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the San Francisco Giants last winter, he again had trouble staying on the field with a 73 OPS+ and minus-0.3 WAR in 61 games.
The Mariners brought the 33-year-old back in a swap of bad contracts that sent Robbie Ray to the Giants in January, and he will now look to regain his impact form with the team where he posted 15.5 WAR in five seasons.
25. Jesús Sánchez, Miami Marlins
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A top prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays system early in his career, Jesús Sánchez has flashed some intriguing offensive upside over the past three seasons for a Miami Marlins team in need of middle-of-the-order production.
The 26-year-old logged a career-high 402 plate appearances last season and posted a 108 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 14 home runs and 52 RBI in a 1.7-WAR season, and he remains a low-cost source of power in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
Along with fellow corner outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, Sánchez is one of the biggest X-factors in the Miami lineup and is still capable of taking another step forward as the starting right fielder.
24. Hunter Renfroe, Kansas City Royals
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Hunter Renfroe will be playing for his seventh team in the last six seasons after signing a two-year, $13 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, and while he has bounced around a ton, he has also been a steady performer.
The 32-year-old recorded his sixth 20-homer season in 2023, and he has averaged 31 doubles, 34 home runs and 87 RBI per 162 games over the course of his time in the big leagues.
Renfroe also has one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball, and his 65 career outfield assists rank eighth among all active outfielders.
23. Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers selected Garrett Mitchell with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 draft out of UCLA, and he moved quickly through the minors to make his MLB debut down the stretch in 2022.
The 25-year-old hit .311/.373/.459 for a 134 OPS+ with five extra-base hits, eight steals and 0.9 WAR in 28 games in his first taste of the big leagues, and he broke camp last year as the team's starting center fielder.
Unfortunately, what was supposed to be his first full season in the majors was cut short by a left shoulder injury that sidelined him from mid-April until he returned for the final four games of the regular season.
Now he looks like a potential post-hype sleeper who could break out in 2024.
22. Jason Heyward, Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Jason Heyward to a minor league deal last offseason after he was officially released by the Chicago Cubs ahead of the final season of his eight-year, $184 million contract with them, and he played his way onto the Opening Day roster with a strong spring.
The 34-year-old eventually played his way into a semi-regular role in the Dodgers outfield, hitting .269/.340/.473 for a 117 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 40 RBI and 1.9 WAR in 124 games while playing for the prorated league minimum.
That was enough for L.A. to bring him back on a new one-year, $9 million deal in free agency, and with Mookie Betts moving to the infield, the five-time Gold Glove winner will be the team's primary right fielder against right-handed pitching.
21. Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants
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Since turning an out-of-nowhere breakout season in 2019 and then finishing eighth in NL MVP balloting in 2020, Mike Yastrzemski has been roughly a league-average offensive player.
The 33-year-old has hit .223/.314/.430 for a 104 OPS+ while averaging 27 doubles, 19 home runs and 57 RBI over the past three seasons. And after bouncing between right field and center field throughout his career, he can now settle in as the everyday right fielder following the addition of Jung Hoo Lee in center.
Yastrzemski has been at least a 2-WAR player in all five of his big league seasons, and while the late-blooming outfielder is already exiting his prime years, he is still capable of solid production.
20. Mickey Moniak, Los Angeles Angels
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The Philadelphia Phillies selected Mickey Moniak with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and while he initially flashed some major potential, his prospect star quickly faded amid lackluster production as he climbed the minor league ranks.
The 25-year-old was traded to the Los Angeles Angels at the 2022 deadline in the deal that sent Noah Syndergaard to the Phillies, and he turned a major corner with a breakout 2023 campaign.
He hit .280/.307/.495 for a 113 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 45 RBI and 2.2 WAR in 85 games, and while a back issue slowed him down the stretch, he will get the first crack at the everyday right field job in 2024.
19. Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds
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Over the past two seasons since joining the Cincinnati Reds, Jake Fraley has quietly hit .257/.341/.453 for a 113 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 27 home runs, 93 RBI and 25 steals in 179 games.
The 28-year-old is a below-average defender, with minus-10 Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield during his time in Cincinnati, so his value comes almost exclusively from what he does in the batter's box and on the bases.
Fraley was expected to compete with Will Benson for playing time in right field, but with TJ Friedl sidelined due to a fractured wrist, both guys will now likely see everyday action on the grass to start the year.
18. Starling Marte, New York Mets
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Starling Marte had a terrific first season with the New York Mets in 2022 after signing a four-year, $78 million deal. He hit .292/.347/.468 for a 132 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 18 steals and 3.9 WAR and received some down-ballot NL MVP support.
The 35-year-old struggled through a trying 2023 season, with injuries limiting him to 86 games and a poor 73 OPS+ and minus-0.8 WAR when he was able to take the field.
With 37.9 WAR over 12 seasons in the big leagues and a pair of All-Star selections in his career, Marte still gets the benefit of the doubt for now that he is capable of bouncing back with a clean bill of health.
17. Jack Suwinski, Pittsburgh Pirates
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After slugging 19 home runs in 106 games as a rookie in 2022, Jack Suwinski claimed an everyday spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield last season and became one of the team's most productive offensive players.
The 25-year-old posted a 115 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 26 home runs, 74 RBI and 13 steals in a 2.2-WAR season, and he had an .889 OPS with runners in scoring position serving as one of the team's best run producers.
After he was miscast as a center fielder (-10 DRS, -2.3 UZR/150) last season, he is now poised to shift to right field following the addition of Michael A. Taylor on a one-year deal in free agency
16. Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins
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After a down year in 2021 and an injury-plagued season in 2022, Max Kepler put together a strong 2023 campaign and convinced the Minnesota Twins to exercise his $10 million club option for 2024.
The 31-year-old posted a 121 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 24 home runs and 66 RBI for a 2.9-WAR season, and he has averaged 31 doubles, 26 home runs and 3.3 WAR per 162 games over the course of his nine seasons in the big leagues.
With free agency looming next offseason, he has a chance to secure a solid payday with a similarly productive 2024. Otherwise, he could face a tough winter if this year's market for mid-level corner outfielders is any indication.
15. Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies
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Nick Castellanos was a dud in the first season of a five-year, $100 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he rebounded with a strong 2023 season to earn the second All-Star selection of his career.
The 32-year-old hit .272/.311/.476 with 37 doubles, 29 home runs and 106 RBI in 157 games, but his poor defense continues to drag down his overall value, and he was just a 1.5-WAR player on the year.
With Kyle Schwarber slated to be the everyday designated hitter, poor defensive metrics (-9 DRS, -15.0 UZR/150) will continue to take a bite out of Castellanos' value and likely keep him from moving much higher in these rankings.
14. Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
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After failing to stake a claim to the starting center field job in 2022, Jarren Duran put together a breakout season for the Boston Red Sox last year, hitting .295/.346/.482 for a 121 OPS+ with 44 extra-base hits, 24 steals and 2.1 WAR in 102 games.
With top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela making his case to be the Opening Day center fielder, Duran now looks poised to shift to right field, and he will need to prove his solid offensive production is sustainable before climbing any further in these rankings.
His batted-ball metrics raise some questions about his long-term outlook, though an excellent 46.3 percent hard-hit rate does help lend some credibility to his numbers.
13. Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals
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The Washington Nationals acquired Lane Thomas from the St. Louis Cardinals at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for a two-month rental of veteran starter Jon Lester, and that is shaping up to be one of the better deals in recent club history.
After showing an intriguing mix of power and speed in his first season as an everyday player, Thomas was one of baseball's biggest breakout players of 2023, posting a 114 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 28 home runs, 86 RBI and 20 steals in a 3.3-WAR season.
The fact that the Nationals decided to hold onto him at the trade deadline rather than selling high speaks to their belief in his long-term outlook. And with two years of club control remaining, he could emerge as an extension candidate.
12. Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals
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Still only 21 years old, Jordan Walker has only scratched the surface of his vast offensive potential, and he has the tools to be one of baseball's biggest breakout stars during the upcoming season.
He hit .276/.342/.445 for a 114 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 51 RBI and seven steals in 117 games as one of the youngest players in the big leagues during his rookie season, and he did that while learning how to play the outfield on the fly.
Poor defensive metrics (-16 DRS, -15.9 UZR/150) dragged down Walker's overall value in his debut, but he is an elite athlete who moves better than his 6'6", 250-pound suggests, and he could also take a significant step forward in the field in 2024.
11. Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers
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It looked like the Detroit Tigers found their future offensive core when they selected Riley Greene (No. 5 overall in 2019) and Spencer Torkelson (No. 1 overall in 2020) in consecutive drafts, and both players demolished minor league pitching while rising the ranks.
It's taken both guys some time to settle in as big league regulars, but they each took a major step forward in 2023, and the tools are there for significantly more improvement during the 2024 season.
Greene, 23, hit .288/.349/.447 for a 117 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 37 RBI, 51 runs scored and 1.9 WAR in 99 games.
With Parker Meadows set to serve as the team's center fielder, Greene will now shift to right field, which should help take some pressure off his defensive game.
10. Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
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One of the biggest Rule 5 success stories in recent years, Anthony Santander has developed into a bona fide middle-of-the-order slugger for the Baltimore Orioles, ranking 15th in the majors with 61 home runs over the past two seasons.
He posted a 121 OPS+ while leading a 101-win Orioles team with 95 RBI and tying with rookie star Gunnar Henderson for tops on the roster with 28 home runs, logging a career-high 3.0 WAR over 153 games.
The 29-year-old is entering his final year of club control, and with Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers waiting in the wings, there's a good chance the 2024 season will be his last in Baltimore.
9. Josh Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
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Former first-round pick Josh Lowe was the No. 44 prospect in baseball heading into the 2022 season, but he struggled to an 82 OPS+ and 33.3 percent strikeout rate over 198 plate appearances as a rookie.
That left him as something of an afterthought heading into last season, but he broke through as one of Tampa Bay's most productive hitters, batting .292/.335/.500 for a 129 OPS+ with 33 doubles, 20 home runs, 83 RBI and 32 steals in a 3.7-WAR campaign.
The 26-year-old is best served as a platoon option who does not see much action against left-handed pitching, but he is now a key piece of the puzzle for a Tampa Bay squad with title aspirations.
8. Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs signed Seiya Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million deal prior to the 2022 season following a terrific nine-year run in the Japanese League. And while he showed some exciting flashes as a rookie, injuries derailed his stateside debut.
The 29-year-old had a forgettable first half to the 2023 season, but he turned a major corner after the All-Star break, which is a big reason for his top-10 spot in these rankings.
- 1st Half: 298 PA, .259/.342/.405, 22 XBH (7 HR), 28 RBI
- 2nd Half: 285 PA, .313/.372/.566, 35 XBH (13 HR), 46 RBI
If Suzuki can pick up where he left off over the final few months of the 2023 campaign, he could join the top-tier group at the position.
7. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays
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George Springer has been extremely productive over the first three seasons of his six-year, $150 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, including a rock-solid 2023 campaign where he hit .258/.327/.405 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 72 RBI and 20 steals in 154 games.
The 34-year-old is a four-time All-Star and has piled up 36.3 WAR over the course of his 10 seasons in the majors, showing no signs of a drop-off in production as he exits the traditional prime years of his career.
He also has one of the most impressive postseason track records of any active player, with an .875 OPS and 19 home runs in 67 games, winning World Series MVP honors in 2017 with the Houston Astros.
6. Adolis García, Texas Rangers
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The Texas Rangers moved to acquire Adolis García from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations prior to the 2020 season, and the late-blooming outfielder has emerged as a dynamic middle-of-the-order slugger.
The 31-year-old has put together three straight 3-WAR seasons since becoming an everyday player, and he posted a 123 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 39 home runs, 107 RBI and 4.2 WAR last season while also winning AL Gold Glove honors.
On top of that stellar regular-season performance, he also hit .323/.382/.726 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 15 games during the Rangers' postseason run, winning ALCS MVP honors with five home runs and 15 RBI during the seven-game series with the Houston Astros.
5. Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
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The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Corbin Carroll to an eight-year, $111 million extension following an impressive 32-game debut in 2022, and he quickly made that look like a bargain during a brilliant first full season in the majors.
The 23-year-old hit .285/.362/.506 for a 134 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 116 runs scored and 54 steals in 59 attempts, tallying 5.4 WAR to win NL Rookie of the Year honors unanimously and finish fifth in NL MVP balloting.
His good-not-great batted-ball metrics do raise some minor regression question marks, but all signs point to him being the face of the franchise for the D-backs for years to come.
4. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
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With three consecutive 5-WAR seasons under his belt, Kyle Tucker has developed into a bona fide superstar for the Houston Astros, and he finished fifth in AL MVP balloting last year while earning his second straight All-Star selection.
The 27-year-old hit .284/.369/.517 for a 142 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 29 home runs, 30 steals and an AL-leading 112 RBI, and he was a Gold Glove finalist a year after taking home the hardware in 2022.
With two years of club control remaining, Tucker has already been the subject of some extension talks, and his price tag just continues to climb as he stacks up elite seasons for a perennial contender.
3. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
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Fernando Tatis Jr. wasted little time shaking off the rust of an 80-game PED suspension once he returned to the San Diego Padres lineup at the end of April, and he also made a seamless transition to being an everyday outfielder.
The 25-year-old posted a 113 OPS+ with 33 doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBI, 91 runs scored and 29 steals in 141 games, and he was a 5.5-WAR player thanks in part to his elite defensive work in right field.
His elite defensive metrics (29 DRS, 17.2 UZR/150) in right field and 12 outfield assists helped him take home NL Platinum Glove honors, and the massive 14-year, $340 million extension he signed again looks like a wise investment.
2. Juan Soto, New York Yankees
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It's easy to forget Juan Soto is still only 25 years old, and with an ultra-patient approach at the plate and elite power when he does swing the bat, he is unquestionably one of baseball's most impactful hitters.
He batted .275/.410/.519 for a 158 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 35 home runs and 109 RBI for the San Diego Padres last season, and he also led the majors with 132 walks while posting an 18.6 percent walk rate.
It remains to be seen whether he will simply be a one-year hired gun for the New York Yankees before signing elsewhere in free agency, or if he will come to terms on a long-term deal to stay in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
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Ronald Acuña Jr. has been one of baseball's most dynamic players since bursting onto the scene and winning NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2018, but some of that explosiveness was missing when he returned from a torn ACL in 2022.
Any questions about whether he would ever return to his pre-injury form were decisively answered last season when he hit .337/.416/.596 for a 168 OPS+ while tallying 217 hits, 35 doubles, 41 home runs, 106 RBI, 149 runs scored and 73 steals in an 8.2-WAR campaign.
That earned him unanimous NL MVP honors and makes him an easy choice for the No. 1 spot on this list, and there should be plenty more elite-level seasons to come as he is still only 26 years old and just entering the prime of his career.
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