Ranking MLB's Top 50 Players at the Three-Quarter Pole of the Season

With the season three quarters of the way over, it has already been a great year, with a number of players stepping forward and proving they belong among the best in the game.

On the other side of things, there are just as many veteran stars who have underperformed this season and put up numbers well below what has come to be expected of them.

So without taking into account previous reputation and production entering this season, here are the top 50 players in baseball, based solely on performance in 2012.

50. LF Jason Kubel, Arizona Diamondbacks

Stats

.277/.348/.546, 25 HR, 77 RBI, 62 R, 2.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Eyebrows were raised this past offseason when the Diamondbacks signed Kubel to a two-year, $16 million contract, as the team already had a young Gold Glove winner in Gerardo Parra patrolling left field.

The move has proven to be a great one, though, as he has led the team's offense and Parra has moved into a starting role anyway with Chris Young struggling.

49. SP Matt Harrison, Texas Rangers

Stats

22 GS, 13-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 89 Ks, 153 IP, 3.0 WAR

Why He's Top 50

With C.J. Wilson gone and a number of pitchers battling injury, Harrison has emerged as the Rangers' most reliable starter, and he earned an All-Star nod as a result.

After going 14-9 with a 3.39 ERA last season, he is in a great position to set a number of career highs, and still just 26, he should continue to climb these rankings in the years to come.

48. CF Alex Rios, Chicago White Sox

Stats

.311/.341/.528, 18 HR, 67 RBI, 69 R, 17 SB, 3.4 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The White Sox made a bold move to say the least back in 2009 when they claimed Rios off waivers with five years and $60.7 million remaining on his contract.

That move looked like a huge mistake last season when he hit just .227 BA, 13 HR, 44 RBI over 537 at-bats, but he has bounced back with a fantastic season this year and is a relative bargain at $12 million. 

47. 1B Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

Stats

.316/.388/.504, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 49 R, 2.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Konerko is shelved with the aftereffects of a concussion right now, and he has hit just .275 BA, 4 HR, 12 RBI in the second half after ranking among the top hitters in baseball during the first half.

Still, his veteran leadership and contributions when he's been healthy earn him a place on this list, as he is a big reason why the White Sox are postseason contenders.

46. DH David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Stats

.316/.414/.609, 23 HR, 58 RBI, 65 R, 2.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Ortiz falls down the list a bit as a result of playing in just 89 games, as he is currently shelved with an Achilles' tendon injury.

However, the numbers he has been able to put up over 320 at-bats are still among the best in the league, as his 1.024 OPS ranks second in baseball.

45. RP Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays

Stats

57 G, 37-of-39 Sv, 0.81 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 54 Ks, 55.2 IP, 1.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Signed off of the scrap heap to a one-year, $2 million deal this past offseason, Rodney quickly moved from a setup role to closing after Kyle Farnsworth went down with an injury.

He's been among the best signings of the offseason, as he leads all of baseball in saves and has been as stingy as any reliever this season.

44. SP Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks

Stats

20 GS, 12-8, 3.02 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 99 Ks, 137 IP, 3.3 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Miley opened the season as the Diamondbacks No. 8 prospect, and he managed to win a roster spot as a lefty out of the bullpen when the team broke camp.

Early struggles by Josh Collmenter pushed him into the rotation, and he has been a revelation, as he was the team's All-Star representative and has been its most consistent starter all season.

43. C Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

Stats

.318/.415/.437, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 66 R, 3.7 WAR

Why He's Top 50

After battling injury and playing just 82 games last season, Mauer has come back strong this year proving he is still among the best pure hitters in the game.

His power will never be elite, as his offensive game is relatively one-dimensional, but he nonetheless ranks among the best hitters in the game with a .318 batting average.

42. DH Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals

Stats

.300/.367/.514, 24 HR, 74 RBI, 49 R, 2.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Since breaking into the league as a 20-year-old back in 2007, Butler has quietly been one of the most consistent offensive producers in all of baseball.

Power was the biggest thing lacking from his repertoire, as he entered the season with a career high of 21 home runs. But he has found his power stroke this season, making him even more dangerous.

41. SP A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates

Stats

21 GS, 14-4, 3.32 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 119 Ks, 138.1 IP, 2.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Looking to add a veteran presence to their rotation, the Pirates acquired Burnett from the Yankees in the offseason for virtually nothing aside from taking on $13 million of the $33 million he was still owed over the next two seasons.

He's bounced back from a rough stretch in New York with the best season of his career, and if you take away one disastrous start back in May when he allowed 12 earned runs over 2.2 innings of work, his ERA is 2.59.

40. C Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats

.312/.364/.499, 16 HR, 54 RBI, 46 R, 4.7 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Already the premier defensive catcher in baseball, Molina set career highs across the board last season with a .305 BA, 14 HR, 55 RBI season.

He has looked even better at the plate this season and should have no problem surpassing last year's numbers. 

39. CF Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

Stats

.296/.343/.526, 24 HR, 58 RBI, 73 R, 3.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Since being acquired from the Mariners in the Erik Bedard trade back in 2008, Jones has gotten progressively better each season, and this year he has emerged as a bona fide star.

The Orioles rewarded the face of their franchise with a six-year, $85.5 million extension, and he will be at the center of a young, competitive Orioles team moving forward.

38. SP Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

Stats

23 GS, 13-6, 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 158 Ks, 163.2 IP, 3.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

After a rough first half in which they were without a number of their superstars, the Phillies blew things up at the deadline and Hamels was among the most-rumored names to be on the move.

In the end, the team opted to keep him and inked him to a six-year, $144 million extension. He will be the centerpiece of what looks to be an imminent rebuild in Philadelphia.

37. C A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

Stats

.298/.348/.553, 23 HR, 67 RBI, 51 R, 3.5 WAR

Why He's Top 50

It's not often that anyone, let alone a catcher, puts together a career year at the age of 35, but that is exactly what Pierzynski has done this season.

Always good for a solid average as a career .285 hitter, Pierzynski has shown unprecedented power this season and is at the heart of a surprise season on the South Side.

36. CF Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers

Stats

.314/.400/.515, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 75 R, 4.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Over the past two seasons, Jackson has hit atop the Tigers lineup but has not fit the bill as a leadoff man with 351 strikeouts and a meager .331 on-base percentage over that span.

He's taken a huge step forward this season, though, and while he missed significant time with an injury in late May, he still has put together one of the best seasons for any leadoff man this year.

35. C Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies

Stats

.335/.399/.559, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 47 R, 5.0 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Currently on the DL with plantar fasciitis, Ruiz has been one of the breakout stars of 2012, as the 33-year-old has already set a number of career highs offensively.

With Chase Utley and Ryan Howard shelved in the first half, Ruiz carried the offensive load in Philadelphia, and his .959 OPS is tops among all catchers this season.

34. SP Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats

24 GS, 12-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 96 Ks, 155.1 IP, 2.6 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The Cardinals have battled injuries all season, but none was bigger than losing workhorse ace Chris Carpenter for the year before the season even started.

Lohse got the Opening Day nod in his absence and has looked every bit the part of staff ace this season.

33. SP Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants

Stats

22 GS, 10-6, 2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 110 Ks, 145.2 IP, 2.3 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Vogelsong was one of the out-of-nowhere stories of 2011, as he went 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA after having not pitched in the majors since 2006.

He has proven that was no fluke with similar numbers across the board, and alongside Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, the Giants have as good a rotation as any in baseball. 

32. LF Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels

Stats

.287/.340/.559, 29 HR, 74 RBI, 55 R, 2.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Forced into the lineup last season following a season-ending injury to Kendrys Morales, Trumbo enjoyed a solid rookie season as he hit .254 BA, 29 HR, 87 RBI to finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

There was a question of where he would play this season following the signing of Albert Pujols and return of Morales, and after a failed attempt at third base, he has settled in as an All-Star left fielder.

31. SP Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

Stats

24 GS, 13-7, 2.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 150 Ks, 163.2 IP, 3.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Thrust into a pennant race at the age of 20 back in 2009, Bumgarner has progressed nicely over the past few seasons and now at 23 he is one of baseball’s best.

He’s been leaned on heavily with Tim Lincecum struggling this season, but he has responded and provided the Giants elite pitching alongside Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong.

30. LF Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

Stats

.321/.390/.549, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 75 R, 3.4 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Car-Go battled through an injury-plagued season last year and hit just .295 BA, 26 HR, 92 RBI after putting up a monster season in 2010.

He still has some troubling home/road splits, but it is hard to look past his elite numbers regardless of where he is playing.

29. SP Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

Stats

24 GS, 15-6, 3.29 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 158 Ks, 147.2 IP, 4.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

It cost four top prospects to acquire Gonzalez from the A’s this past offseason, but given the opportunity to do it all over again, I’m sure the Nationals wouldn’t think twice.

The scary thing is that while he is one of the best pitchers in baseball this season he is only the third-best starter on his own team, as the Nationals rotation is absolutely stacked.

28. RF Josh Willingham, Minnesota Twins

Stats

.264/.376/.550, 30 HR, 88 RBI, 70 R, 3.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The Twins signed Willingham to a three-year, $21 million deal this offseason to help replace the lost production of free agents Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel.

That has proven to be one of the steals of the offseason, as he has been one of the few reasons for excitement in Minnesota this season.

The team was wise to hold onto him at the deadline. He is among the most valuable players in baseball given his salary over the next two years.

27. RP Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

Stats

44 GS, 31-of-33 Sv, 1.23 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 77 Ks, 44 IP, 2.4 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The 2011 NL Rookie of the Year, Kimbrel set the rookie record last season when he saved 46 games.

He blew a big one on the season’s final day, but he has shaken that off. With his video-game strikeout numbers, he has a legitimate case as the best closer in baseball.

26. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats

24 GS, 10-6, 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 157 Ks, 162.2 IP, 3.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Last year’s NL Cy Young winner, Kershaw is a bona fide ace and it is scary to think he is still only 24 years old and could conceivably get better in the years to come.

The Dodgers rotation has some question marks for their stretch run, but Kershaw is not one of them. He will be leaned on heavily in September.

25. 1B Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers

Stats

.304/.397/.504, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 63 R, 2.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

When the Tigers signed Prince Fielder, he teamed with Miguel Cabrera to immediately form the most feared 1-2 punch in all of baseball, at least on paper.

It took a while for the Tigers to get going, but Fielder is right where he was expected to be, near the AL leaders in most run-production categories.

24. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

Stats

24 GS, 10-5, 2.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 162 Ks, 171 IP, 4.4 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Hernandez continues to put up dominant numbers as the ace of the Seattle staff, and it is hard to believe he is still only 26 years old.

His numbers are very similar to Justin Verlander's across the board, as both pitchers are workhorses who are a near-lock for a quality start. 

23. RP Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

Stats

53 G, 28-of-32 Sv, 1.26 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 106 Ks, 57 IP, 3.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The flame-throwing Chapman served as a terrific setup man for the Reds in 2011 and was slated to remain in that role until an injury to Ryan Madson and ineffectiveness by Sean Marshall forced him into the closer's role.

He's been lights-out ever since, as batters simply don't stand a chance against his stuff. 

22. RF Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats

.281/.351/.540, 28 HR, 83 RBI, 67 R, 3.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

After losing Albert Pujols, the Cardinals signed Beltran to a two-year, $26 million deal in hopes he could replace some of the lost production.

He's done that and more to this point, as he has better numbers across the board than Pujols (.278/.341/.516, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 64 R).

21. SP Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

Stats

23 GS, 11-5, 2.99 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 148 Ks, 159.2 IP, 2.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

An argument could have been made before the season started that Cain had passed Tim Lincecum as the team's ace, and now there is no question who the top dog in San Francisco is.

Highlighted by a perfect game against the Astros on June 13 and an All-Star Game start, and capped by a five-year, $112.5 million extension, it has been a good year to be Matt Cain.

20. 2B Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

Stats

.311/.372/.551, 25 HR, 68 RBI, 74 R, 5.4 WAR

Why He's Top 50

All due respect to guys like Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler and Brandon Phillips, but Robinson Cano is far and away the best second baseman in baseball as the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 is bigger than at any other position in baseball.

With the Yankees stars aging around him, Cano has become the force that drives New York's potent offense.

19. DH Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays

Stats

.294/.388/.566, 30 HR, 80 RBI, 71 R, 3.7 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Slugger Jose Bautista has battled injuries all season, and while the Blue Jays have no doubt missed his bat in the lineup, Encarnacion has stepped up nicely in his absence.

The former Reds top prospect is still only 29 years old and seems to have finally figured things out, earning himself a three-year, $27 million extension in the process.

18. SP David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

Stats

23 GS, 15-4, 2.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 151 Ks, 155 IP, 3.5 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Price continues to get better, as he is undoubtedly in the upper echelon of starters in the majors and has anchored a terrific Rays rotation since 2010.

The big left-hander is currently working on a stretch of 10 straight quality starts, as he's gone 7-0 with a 1.89 ERA over that stretch, making a second-half push for the AL Cy Young.

17. SP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

Stats

24 GS, 15-6, 2.45 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 127 Ks, 161.2 IP, 4.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Cueto showed flashes of being a front-line starter last season, when he went 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA over 24 starts.

He has built off of that success this year and indeed emerged as the ace of the Reds staff. The 26-year-old is tied for the MLB lead with 15 wins and will put up career highs across the board this year. 

16. LF Melky Cabrera, San Francisco Giants

Stats

.346/.390/.516, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 84 R, 13 SB, 4.5 WAR

Why He's Top 50

When the Royals dealt Cabrera to the Giants for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, it was viewed as a smart trade that filled a need for both teams and was a win-win.

Nine months later, the Giants look like geniuses as Cabrera leads all of baseball with 157 hits and has 10 triples to go along with the rest of his impressive stat line. 

After today's report that Cabrera was suspended 50 games for a positive drug test, he'll likely drop out of the year-end rankings entirely.

15. SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

Stats

20 GS, 14-3, 2.60 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 132 Ks, 138.2 IP, 4.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

After spending two seasons as a dominant setup man in the White Sox bullpen, Sale joined the rotation this season and has emerged as the staff ace of a surprise White Sox team.

He was shut down for a 10-day stretch after two shaky starts in late July, and he's bounced back well and looks ready to lead the team down the stretch.

14. LF Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats

.315/.395/.544, 23 HR, 81 RBI, 75 R, 4.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The Cardinals have had to deal with a number of injuries to key players this season, but Holliday has remained a constant throughout it all.

He has already matched his home run total and surpassed his RBI total from last season, and he will be a crucial part of the Cardinals' late-season push.

13. SP Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

Stats

24 GS, 9-7, 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 114 Ks, 151 IP, 3.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The Nationals shut down Zimmermann after 26 starts last season, as he was in a similar position as Stephen Strasburg is this year in returning from Tommy John surgery.

He looked great last year before his season was over, going 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA, and he's been even better this year with the best ERA in the NL. 

12. C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Stats

.331/.407/.544, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 50 R, 5.0 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Losing Posey last season was a major blow to the Giants offense, and he has shown just how valuable he can be this year with phenomenal numbers across the board.

With Brian McCann having a down year and Joe Mauer not the player he once was, Posey can now stake claim to being the top offensive catcher in the game.

11. SP R.A. Dickey, New York Mets

Stats

23 GS, 15-3, 2.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 166 Ks, 162.1 IP, 4.1 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Dickey reinvented himself as a knuckleball pitcher, and finally enjoyed his first real big league success in 2010 at the age of 35.

After going 19-22 with a 3.08 ERA over the past two seasons, Dickey has taken his game to another level this season, thanks in large part to a strikeout rate that spiked from 5.8 K/9 to 9.2 K/9.

10. LF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

Stats

.299/.377/.567, 29 HR, 77 RBI, 73 R, 19 SB, 5.3 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Despite all of the offseason controversy, Braun has not missed a beat as he continues produce like few in baseball.

He no longer has the benefit of hitting ahead of Prince Fielder, but that has had little impact on his numbers, and he remains one of the top power/speed threats in baseball.

9. SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Stats

23 GS, 13-5, 2.90 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 166 Ks, 133.1 IP, 3.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

The Nationals appear as though they will stick to their guns and shut Strasburg down for the stretch run once he reaches their predetermined innings limit.

That could make him a non-factor in September, be he has certainly been a factor to this point as his numbers are terrific across the board. He may even be better than his pre-surgery self.

8. 3B David Wright, New York Mets

Stats

.323/.415/.533, 16 HR, 75 RBI, 70 R, 5.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Wright had as good a first month as anyone in baseball, and while he has slowed a bit in the second half, his numbers remain elite.

As a free-agent-to-be after next season, it will be interesting to see how the Mets proceed with the face of their franchise.

7. 1B Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Stats

.342/.465/.604, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 52 R, 4.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Votto is currently shelved with a knee injury and has been since July 15, but he still manages to rank this high on his performance prior to knee surgery.

His 1.069 OPS leads all of baseball, and while his run-production numbers aren't extraordinary as a result of the players who hit ahead of him, his stat line remains impressive nonetheless.

6. LF Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Stats

.289/.356/.581, 32 HR, 99 RBI, 70 R, 3.8 WAR

Why He's Top 50

There is no ignoring his second-half slump, as he went just 6-for-55 with one home run over the first 13 games of the second half.

Even with that, he's second in baseball in home runs, and he had a .357 BA, 3 HR, 15 RBI line over a 10-game hitting streak that was snapped yesterday.

5. SP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Stats

24 GS, 12-7, 2.46 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 174 Ks, 175.2 IP, 5.2 WAR

Why He's Top 50

He's not going to repeat as AL MVP, and he has some work to do if he wants to win another Cy Young award, but if I had to pick one pitcher to hand the ball to in Game 7 right now, it would be Verlander.

He's an absolute horse, averaging over seven innings per start, and while others have better numbers, he's still the best pitcher in baseball in my opinion.

4. 3B Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

Stats

.326/.388/.581, 29 HR, 101 RBI, 76 R, 4.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Cabrera is in position to post the best numbers of his career, and that is saying something for a guy who has averaged a line of .320 BA, 33 HR, 115 RBI since becoming an everyday player.

Aside from the gaudy offensive numbers, he has also held his own at third base, with just 10 errors and a .966 fielding percentage on the season.

3. SP Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels

Stats

21 GS, 15-2, 2.22 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 106 Ks, 138 IP, 3.0 WAR

Why He's Top 50

After finishing second to Justin Verlander in AL Cy Young voting last year, Weaver has put himself in great position to capture the award this season as he leads all of baseball in wins, ERA and WHIP.

The highlight of his season came on May 2 when he no-hit the Twins.

2. CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Stats

.341/.404/.591, 21 HR, 65 RBI, 91 R, 37 SB, 6.9 WAR

Why He's Top 50

Trout likely could have captured the AL Rookie of the Year award without ever stepping foot on the field in the second half. He's in a great position to win the AL batting title and currently leads all of baseball in steals.

His call-up turned the Angels season around, and if they can make the playoffs, I think he'll edge out Miguel Cabrera for AL MVP.

1. CF Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

Stats

.359/.419/.601, 23 HR, 71 RBI, 81 R, 6.0 WAR

Why He's Top 50

McCutchen single-handedly carried the Pirates offense in the first half, and while he has gotten much more support in the second half, he has not slowed down a bit.

He currently leads the NL in WAR and tops all of baseball in batting average. He has to be the favorite for NL MVP.