MLB Position-by-Position 2016 Player Rankings, April Edition
Our position-by-position MLB player rankings will once again be a monthly staple throughout the upcoming season, and it's time for our first update roughly three weeks removed from Opening Day.
The preseason edition of these rankings was published March 4, and that will serve as a jumping-off point for our first update.
Similar to the way expectations still play a major role in our weekly team power rankings early in the year, an individual player's track record and past success are still weighted heavily in the following rankings.
Simply basing these rankings off what guys have done so far in 2016 would not paint an accurate picture of who the 10 best players currently are at that position, and that was the ultimate goal.
With that in mind, it was much tougher for a player to push his way into the top 10 with three strong weeks than it was for a player to drop out of the top 10 as a result of a slow start.
Positional depth also played a role, as it was easier to climb into the shortstop rankings than it was to earn a place among the top first basemen.
There's obviously some level of subjectivity with an exercise like this, and chances are no one will agree entirely with these rankings, but hopefully this can provide an overview of where things currently stand at each spot on the diamond.
Catchers
1 of 12
Top 10 Catchers
| 1. Buster Posey, SF | .255 | .720 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 |
| 2. Salvador Perez, KC | .304 | .970 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0.9 | 3 |
| 3. Yadier Molina, STL | .345 | .873 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0.4 | 5 |
| 4. Brian McCann, NYY | .289 | .874 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0.5 | 4 |
| 5. J. Saltalamacchia, DET | .313 | 1.280 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 1.0 | NR |
| 6. Francisco Cervelli, PIT | .333 | .878 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0.3 | 8 |
| 7. Wilson Ramos, WAS | .313 | .813 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.3 | NR |
| 8. Jonathan Lucroy, MIL | .294 | .730 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0.2 | 6 |
| 9. Stephen Vogt, OAK | .277 | .782 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.3 | NR |
| 10. Chris Iannetta, SEA | .222 | .738 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.2 | NR |
No Longer Ranked: Russell Martin (2), Travis d'Arnaud (7), Derek Norris (9), Yasmani Grandal (10)
Position Overview
It hasn't exactly been a red-hot start for Buster Posey, but the gap between him and the rest of the league's catchers heading into the season was wide enough that he's still an easy choice for the No. 1 spot.
A career .318/.381/.490 hitter in the second half, he generally plays his best baseball in the summer, but he's been productive nonetheless.
The veteran trio of Salvador Perez, Yadier Molina and Brian McCann are right where they were expected to be, and Molina has enjoyed a nice offensive resurgence so far after hitting .270 with a .660 OPS last season.
The biggest surprise at the position by far has been Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is being paid just $507,500 by the Tigers this season while the Miami Marlins shell out the rest of his $8 million salary. With James McCann slowed by an ankle sprain, the 30-year-old has made the most of his opportunity.
Francisco Cervelli is off to a nice start in proving his offensive breakout last season wasn't a fluke, while Jonathan Lucroy still has work to do to rebuild his value after a disappointing 2015.
The trio of Wilson Ramos, Chris Iannetta and Stephen Vogt round out the list, and all three were in the mix for a spot heading into the season, so their jump into the rankings isn't necessarily a huge move.
Vogt was the major unknown there after he hit .287/.374/.498 in the first half last year but followed it up with a .217/.280/.349 line after the All-Star break. If he can settle somewhere in the middle, he has a chance to be a top-10 guy all season.
The biggest dropper was Russell Martin, whose .136/.204/.136 start and 19 strikeouts were impossible to ignore. It would be a surprise if he's off the list for good this year, but he's off to perhaps the worst start of any player around the league, so he had to drop for now.
Top Rookies
- Trevor Brown, SF
- Tony Wolters, COL
- Cameron Rupp, PHI
First Basemen
2 of 12
Top 10 First Basemen
| 1. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI | .218 | .799 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 |
| 2. Chris Davis, BAL | .213 | .894 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 0.6 | 5 |
| 3. Anthony Rizzo, CHC | .189 | .801 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 0.0 | 2 |
| 4. Miguel Cabrera, DET | .250 | .704 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0.2 | 3 |
| 5. Adrian Gonzalez, LAD | .328 | .885 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0.4 | 7 |
| 6. Brandon Belt, SF | .281 | .860 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 7. Eric Hosmer, KC | .304 | .785 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0.4 | 8 |
| 8. Joe Mauer, MIN | .340 | .934 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.8 | NR |
| 9. Jose Abreu, CWS | .204 | .690 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0.2 | 6 |
| 10. Joey Votto, CIN | .182 | .524 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -0.8 | 4 |
No Longer Ranked: Freddie Freeman (9)
Position Overview
Despite his .218 batting average, Paul Goldschmidt remains at the top of the heap among first basemen due in large part to slow starts from the rest of the elite guys as well.
Even with the low average, Goldy still has a .362 on-base percentage and .436 slugging percentage, and after his monster numbers a year ago he's earned the benefit of the doubt for now.
Chris Davis has once again been a "three true outcomes" guy here in the early going. Of his 58 plate appearances, 33 have resulted in a home run (five), strikeout (17) or walk (11).
Davis jumps ahead of Miguel Cabrera and Anthony Rizzo for now as both stars are still trying to find their groove, but there's no reason to think both can't challenge for the No. 1 overall spot here before the season is over.
Brandon Belt and Eric Hosmer remain two of the better young players at the position and integral pieces of their respective lineups, while few players in baseball are as consistent as Adrian Gonzalez, who is off to another nice start for the Dodgers.
Once offseason acquisition Todd Frazier gets going, Jose Abreu should be in for another strong season thanks to improved protection in the White Sox lineup.
Joe Mauer is off to his best start in years despite the fact that no one else is hitting in the Twins lineup, while Joey Votto is off the worst start of his career but still earns a place in the top 10 on track record and specifically on his insane second-half numbers last year, when he batted .362/.535/.617.
Rookie Tyler White needs to prove himself a bit longer to push his way onto this list, but his .340/.404/.720 line with five home runs and 12 RBI has opened some eyes.
Top Rookies
- Tyler White, HOU
- Dae-Ho Lee, SEA
Second Basemen
3 of 12
Top 10 Second Basemen
| 1. Jose Altuve, HOU | .310 | 1.050 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 2. Ian Kinsler, DET | .356 | .974 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 3. Robinson Cano, SEA | .214 | .797 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1.1 | 3 |
| 4. Daniel Murphy, WAS | .429 | 1.214 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0.8 | NR |
| 5. Jean Segura, ARI | .317 | .898 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0.5 | NR |
| 6. Jason Kipnis, CLE | .273 | .765 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0.1 | 5 |
| 7. Dee Gordon, MIA | .279 | .679 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0.3 | 4 |
| 8. DJ LeMahieu, COL | .320 | .890 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0.2 | NR |
| 9. Starlin Castro, NYY | .280 | .813 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0.4 | NR |
| 10. Joe Panik, SF | .254 | .799 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0.3 | 9 |
No Longer Ranked: Brian Dozier (6), Rougned Odor (7), Logan Forsythe (8), Ben Zobrist (10)
Position Overview
Go ahead and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back if you had Jose Altuve ranked second in the AL in home runs three weeks into the season.
The pint-sized second baseman showed a significant bump in his power last year when he launched 15 home runs after hitting just 21 total over his first four years. Given his mix of speed and contact ability, another step forward in the power department would make him truly elite offensively.
Veterans Ian Kinsler and Robinson Cano are also off to good starts as they maintain the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively, behind Altuve, but things get fairly shaken up from there.
Daniel Murphy just missed the cut for a spot in our preseason rankings, but with an MLB-best .429 average he pushes his way into the top five ahead of some lesser performers.
The other big riser is Jean Segura, who has benefited so far from a change of scenery after moving from the Brewers to the Diamondbacks in the offseason. He's struggled at the plate the past two seasons, but this guy was an All-Star in 2013 and is still just 26 years old.
Jason Kipnis has picked up right where he left off last season for the Indians, while Dee Gordon is once again providing batting average and speed but little in the way of pop.
The bottom of this position was tough to sort out in our preseason rankings, as there were a handful of guys right on the fringe who had a strong case to be included. DJ LeMahieu and Starlin Castro were among those who just missed the cut, so it didn't take much to propel them into the top 10.
Joe Panik gets the No. 10 spot for now, but expect the No. 4-10 spots on this list to look different the next time we update these rankings, as that second tier of guys at the position is awfully crowded.
Top Rookies
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Third Basemen
4 of 12
Top 10 Third Basemen
| 1. Manny Machado, BAL | .407 | 1.263 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 1.3 | 3 |
| 2. Josh Donaldson, TOR | .286 | 1.033 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 1.1 | 1 |
| 3. Nolan Arenado, COL | .267 | .940 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 4. Adrian Beltre, TEX | .304 | .873 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1.1 | 5 |
| 5. Matt Carpenter, STL | .236 | .837 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0.6 | 7 |
| 6. Kris Bryant, CHC | .233 | .686 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 |
| 7. Mike Moustakas, KC | .236 | .797 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.8 | 9 |
| 8. Travis Shaw, BOS | .333 | .923 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1.2 | NR |
| 9. Eugenio Suarez, CIN | .291 | .866 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0.1 | NR |
| 10. Yunel Escobar, LAA | .274 | .767 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0.6 | NR |
No Longer Ranked: Todd Frazier (6), Kyle Seager (8), Maikel Franco (10)
Position Overview
The only player to claim the No. 1 spot at his position without ranking there in the preseason edition, Manny Machado is off to as hot a start as any player in baseball.
It was already razor-thin between Machado and the equally talented duo of Josh Donaldson and Nolan Arenado, so those three simply wound up ordered by who is off to the best start. It should be a battle all year to see who comes out as the No. 1 third baseman by season's end.
After being slowed by a thumb injury for much of last season, Adrian Beltre is healthy once again, and the 37-year-old just secured a two-year, $36 million extension with the Rangers.
Matt Carpenter is still trying to figure out exactly where to go with his offensive game, as he sacrificed some batting average for improved power numbers last year. Regardless, he's among the game's elite leadoff hitters atop the Cardinals lineup.
It's been a slow start for reigning NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant as he looks to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump, but a significantly improved strikeout rate (30.6 to 19.7 percent) has been a positive takeaway.
Mike Moustakas finally put it altogether last season offensively, and he'll be an important piece of the puzzle hitting out of the No. 2 spot in the Royals lineup as they look to defend their World Series title.
Eugenio Suarez has done a nice job of making Reds fans forget about Todd Frazier so far. Travis Shaw deservedly won the Red Sox starting third base job this spring and has run with the opportunity. Yunel Escobar has been one of the few productive bats in the Angels lineup after joining the team in an offseason trade.
Top Rookies
None
Shortstops
5 of 12
Top 10 Shortstops
| 1. Carlos Correa, HOU | .269 | .845 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 |
| 2. Brandon Crawford, SF | .216 | .703 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.5 | 3 |
| 3. Francisco Lindor, CLE | .319 | .807 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0.4 | 5 |
| 4. Zack Cozart, CIN | .432 | .993 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0.6 | NR |
| 5. Elvis Andrus, TEX | .364 | .840 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0.5 | NR |
| 6. Jose Iglesias, DET | .326 | .757 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0.7 | NR |
| 7. J.J. Hardy, BAL | .256 | .810 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0.7 | NR |
| 8. Aledmys Diaz, STL | .385 | 1.172 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1.2 | NR |
| 9. Trevor Story, COL | .274 | 1.071 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 0.8 | NR |
| 10. X. Bogaerts, BOS | .228 | .618 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0.3 | 2 |
No Longer Ranked: Troy Tulowitzki (4), Corey Seager (6), Andrelton Simmons (7), Addison Russell (8), Ketel Marte (9), Jhonny Peralta (10)
Position Overview
Still 21 years old until Sept. 22, Carlos Correa put together a special rookie season and is off to a strong start once again to cement himself in the No. 1 spot at a thin position.
Considering he didn't debut until June 8 last season and still finished with 22 home runs and 68 RBI, a 30-homer, 100-RBI performance in his first full campaign is not out of the question.
The other standout rookie at shortstop last year was Francisco Lindor, and while he looked like a potential regression candidate after putting surprising offensive numbers relative to his minor league stats, he's just continued to hit.
Brandon Crawford put together the best offensive season of his career last year and also walked away with Gold Glove honors. He'll never be much of a batting average threat, but his combination of power, run production ability and defense is rare at the position.
Xander Bogaerts is the only other player from our preseason edition to hold on to a spot inside the top 10, and he does it almost solely on what he accomplished a year ago when he hit .320 and put up a 4.6 WAR.
Elvis Andrus and Zack Cozart are both off to unsustainable starts at the plate, but considering both are plus defenders and have been capable of at least making an impact with the bat in the past, they move into the rankings for now.
The same goes for veteran J.J. Hardy, who has hit .247 with a .630 OPS the past two seasons but was the Silver Slugger winner in 2013. His resurgence is surprising, but a top-10 season at the position isn't impossible.
Jose Iglesias remains a solid average hitter and plus defender, but his value will always be somewhat limited as a singles hitter with limited speed.
That leaves us with the rookies who have forced their way into the rankings with hot starts at the plate but come with some flaws.
Trevor Story was homering at a historic pace, but he's also struck out 25 times in 67 plate appearances. Aledmys Diaz has also been raking offensively, but he's been shaky defensively to say the least and still isn't the everyday guy in St. Louis.
This is another position where things could look completely different a month from now.
Top Rookies
- Aledmys Diaz, STL
- Trevor Story, COL
- Corey Seager, LAD
Left Fielders
6 of 12
Top 10 Left Fielders
| 1. Starling Marte, PIT | .322 | .900 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0.8 | 1 |
| 2. Christian Yelich, MIA | .372 | 1.029 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0.5 | 7 |
| 3. Ryan Braun, MIL | .340 | .981 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0.9 | 4 |
| 4. M. Conforto, NYM | .279 | .927 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0.5 | 8 |
| 5. Colby Rasmus, HOU | .286 | .994 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1.1 | NR |
| 6. Brett Gardner, NYY | .308 | .873 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0.6 | 10 |
| 7. Angel Pagan, SF | .351 | .921 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 0.8 | NR |
| 8. Matt Holliday, STL | .231 | .810 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 0 | -0.1 | 9 |
| 9. Alex Gordon, KC | .245 | .686 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0.3 | 5 |
| 10. Justin Upton, DET | .241 | .624 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | -0.1 | 3 |
No Longer Ranked: Michael Brantley (2), Kyle Schwarber (6)
Position Overview
Few players in baseball bring the combination of power, speed and defense that Starling Marte provides for the Pirates, and with Yoenis Cespedes' move to center field, Marte continues to make a compelling case as the top left fielder in the game.
Now that he's moved into the cleanup spot in the batting order, Marte becomes an even more integral part of Pittsburgh's playoff hopes.
Christian Yelich quietly hit .300 with a .782 OPS last season, and a breakout season could be in the making for the 24-year-old under the tutelage of new hitting coach Barry Bonds.
Veterans Ryan Braun and Matt Holliday remain dangerous hitters capable of crushing a mistake, while fellow established stars Alex Gordon and Justin Upton cling to spots at the bottom of the rankings largely on the strength of their prior success.
Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner also has a strong track record, but after hitting .206/.300/.292 in the second half last year, he was a question mark entering the season. So far, he's convincingly answered those questions with a strong start.
Michael Conforto could be the key to the Mets offense this season after posting an .841 OPS with 14 doubles and nine home runs in 194 plate appearances last year, and he's lived up to the hype so far.
After accepting his qualifying offer in the offseason, Colby Rasmus is back hitting in the middle of the Astros lineup, and so far he's almost been a bargain of sorts on that one-year, $15.8 million deal.
The biggest surprise here is Angel Pagan, who was pushed to left field when the Giants signed Denard Span in the offseason. He's struggled to stay on the field in recent years but is again looking like the impact player who played such a key role in 2012 and 2014.
Top Rookies
- Scott Schebler, CIN
Center Fielders
7 of 12
Top 10 Center Fielders
| 1. Mike Trout, LAA | .259 | .730 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 |
| 2. A. McCutchen, PIT | .237 | .755 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 3. Yoenis Cespedes, NYM | .291 | 1.007 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0.6 | 4 |
| 4. Dexter Fowler, CHC | .392 | 1.229 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1.5 | NR |
| 5. Delino DeShields, TEX | .294 | .791 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0.3 | NR |
| 6. Joc Pederson, LAD | .262 | .802 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0.3 | NR |
| 7. Odubel Herrera, PHI | .255 | .797 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0.5 | NR |
| 8. Lorenzo Cain, KC | .216 | .655 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0.4 | 5 |
| 9. Kevin Pillar, TOR | .238 | .585 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0.5 | 8 |
| 10. Adam Jones, BAL | .200 | .559 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | -0.2 | 7 |
No Longer Ranked: A.J. Pollock (3), Kevin Kiermaier (6), Charlie Blackmon (9), Carlos Gomez (10)
Position Overview
He's not off to a good start by any means, but track record and the expectation of better things to come are enough to keep Mike Trout in the No. 1 spot among center fielders.
With that being said, a lack of protection in the Angels lineup could be an issue for him this season, so he'll need to right the ship soon or risk slipping in the next rankings.
The same goes for Andrew McCutchen. He doesn't necessarily have the numbers of some of the guys ranked below him, but on track record alone he sticks in the No. 2 spot for the time being. It remains to be seen if his move to the No. 2 spot in the lineup will pay dividends for the Pirates.
Slugger Yoenis Cespedes is the other top-tier player at the position right now, though he does still see time in left field against left-handed pitching. He's going to have a hard time living up to what he accomplished in two months with the Mets last year, but he's as important to that team's success as anyone.
Jumping up to No. 4 after just missing the cut in the preseason is Dexter Fowler. He's been perhaps the steal of the offseason on a one-year, $13 million deal that brought him back to the Cubs, as his .523 on-base percentage leads all qualified hitters.
Those four veterans are followed by a trio of youngsters in Delino DeShields (23), Joc Pederson (24) and Odubel Herrera (24) who have stepped into prominent roles on their respective teams and climbed into the rankings in the process.
Lorenzo Cain holds on to a spot after finishing third in AL MVP voting a year ago, but the Royals need the closest thing they have to a superstar to get things going.
The final two spots go to Kevin Pillar for his well-rounded game and Adam Jones for his consistent track record of success since joining the Orioles.
Top Rookies
- Jeremy Hazelbaker, STL
- Joey Rickard, BAL
- Byron Buxton, MIN
Right Fielders
8 of 12
Top 10 Right Fielders
| 1. Bryce Harper, WAS | .327 | 1.253 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 0.9 | 1 |
| 2. Jose Bautista, TOR | .291 | 1.017 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0.9 | 4 |
| 3. Carlos Gonzalez, COL | .367 | 1.099 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0.8 | 8 |
| 4. J.D. Martinez, DET | .347 | .962 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 6 |
| 5. G. Stanton, MIA | .224 | .756 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 |
| 6. Yasiel Puig, LAD | .315 | .856 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0.8 | NR |
| 7. Gregory Polanco, PIT | .292 | .852 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0.8 | NR |
| 8. Mark Trumbo, BAL | .373 | 1.094 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0.6 | NR |
| 9. Nick Markakis, ATL | .308 | .900 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0.7 | NR |
| 10. Mookie Betts, BOS | .230 | .675 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0.4 | 3 |
No Longer Ranked: Jason Heyward (5), George Springer (7), Curtis Granderson (9), Miguel Sano (10)
Position Overview
Bryce Harper currently has more home runs (seven) than strikeouts (six), and he's legitimately off to a better start than his MVP performance a year ago.
David Schoenfield of ESPN.com thought out loud, "As Harper terrorizes opposing pitchers while Mike Trout gets off to a slow start, I wonder: Is Harper surpassing Trout as the unquestioned best player in the game?"
It's a tough call, but he's an easy choice for the No. 1 spot among right fielders.
Headlining the second tier are sluggers Jose Bautista, Carlos Gonzalez and J.D. Martinez, who have all picked up right where they left off after turning in big 2015 performances.
He may not challenge Harper for the top spot, but if there's one player who can join him in that top tier, it's a healthy Giancarlo Stanton. There's still no one in the game with more raw power, and he has a decent supporting cast in Miami. It's just a matter of finding his groove.
The biggest surprise to some will be Yasiel Puig, not because his performance hasn't merited a spot in the top 10, but because more than a few people had written him off after a rough 2015 season. The Dodgers appear to have made the right decision by retaining him this winter.
Gregory Polanco is an emerging star for the Pirates who has more walks (13) than strikeouts (eight), and he's looking to take that next step after signing a five-year, $35 million extension earlier this month.
Mark Trumbo could put together a 40-homer season while playing in a hitter's park, while Nick Markakis might be boosting his trade value as one of the few veterans on the rebuilding Braves.
The final spot goes to Mookie Betts, who was a 6.0 WAR player a year ago. The 23-year-old is too talented to continue struggling like he has, but we still have to drop him for his glacial start.
Top Rookies
- Nomar Mazara, TEX
- Reymond Fuentes, KC
Designated Hitters
9 of 12
Top 5 Designated Hitters
| 1. David Ortiz, BOS | .295 | 1.074 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0.7 | 4 |
| 2. Nelson Cruz, SEA | .259 | .826 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 3. E. Encarnacion, TOR | .313 | .791 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0.2 | 1 |
| 4. Victor Martinez, DET | .263 | .849 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0.2 | NR |
| 5. Prince Fielder, TEX | .179 | .532 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 0 | -0.4 | 3 |
No Longer Ranked: Kendrys Morales (5)
Position Overview
In what will be his final MLB season, David Ortiz remains one of the most feared hitters in the game, and he'll be looking to put one more 30-homer, 100-RBI season on a resume that already includes nine of them.
Nelson Cruz has actually played more right field than designated hitter in the early going, and if that continues, we'll move him to the right field rankings in May. For now, though, he earns the No. 2 spot here as he looks to match his power production from the past two seasons.
Part of the three-headed monster in the middle of the Blue Jays lineup, Edwin Encarnacion is off to a solid start at the plate once again, and you can expect that .791 OPS to climb as the season progresses.
Victor Martinez was one of the most disappointing players in baseball last year as he followed up a brilliant 2014 season (.335 BA, .974 OPS, 32 HR, 103 RBI) with an absolute stinker last year (.245 BA, .667 OPS, 11 HR, 64 RBI). Even if he can land somewhere in the middle, which is where he's been so far this year, he'd provide a significant boost to the Detroit lineup.
The final spot goes to Prince Fielder on the strength of his past success and the fact that he's continued to drive in runs even with his limited production. He'll be pushed for that spot if he doesn't get things going, though.
Top Rookies
- Byung Ho Park, MIN
Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
10 of 12
Top 10 Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
| 1. Jake Arrieta, CHC | 3-0 | 1.23 | 0.773 | .195 | 20 | 0.9 | 1 |
| 2. Noah Syndergaard, NYM | 2-0 | 0.90 | 0.950 | .205 | 29 | 1.3 | NR |
| 3. Felix Hernandez, SEA | 1-1 | 1.00 | 1.222 | .138 | 20 | 0.5 | 8 |
| 4. Stephen Strasburg, WAS | 3-0 | 1.25 | 0.923 | .183 | 21 | 1.1 | NR |
| 5. Max Scherzer, WAS | 2-0 | 3.15 | 1.000 | .197 | 20 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 6. Sonny Gray, OAK | 2-1 | 2.33 | 1.241 | .225 | 17 | 0.6 | 6 |
| 7. Jordan Zimmermann, DET | 3-0 | 0.00 | 1.086 | .211 | 15 | 1.3 | NR |
| 8. Jose Fernandez, MIA | 1-1 | 3.78 | 1.140 | .190 | 27 | 0.2 | 3 |
| 9. Danny Salazar, CLE | 2-1 | 1.47 | 0.927 | .129 | 23 | 0.9 | NR |
| 10. Gerrit Cole, PIT | 0-2 | 4.22 | 1.219 | .237 | 9 | 0.0 | 4 |
No Longer Ranked: Jacob deGrom (5), Matt Harvey (7), Zack Greinke (9), Corey Kluber (10)
Position Overview
With so many great right-handed starters around the league, a rocky first few weeks were a lot more detrimental here than at most positions simply because there were so many players right on the fringe of the original top 10 looking to claw their way into the rankings.
As a result you see four great pitchers drop off the list, as Jacob deGrom has been slowed by injury and Matt Harvey (5.71 ERA), Zack Greinke (5.25 ERA) and Corey Kluber (6.16 ERA) have all been hit hard.
It wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see any or all of those guys back on the list come May, but for now there are more deserving candidates.
Jake Arrieta keeps the No. 1 spot as he continues to dominate for the Cubs, but he could be pushed by Noah Syndergaard, who has quickly emerged as the best pitcher on that vaunted Mets staff and subjectively the nastiest pitcher in baseball.
It's been more of the same from Felix Hernandez, Sonny Gray and Max Scherzer as they comfortably hold on to their spots inside the top 10, while Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole both drop several spots but also stick around thanks to their peripheral numbers and past success.
Stephen Strasburg has been dominant so far in his contract year, and as long as he can stay healthy this could finally be the true breakout season we've been waiting for since he was taken No. 1 overall in 2009.
He's picking up where he left off last year, when he went 6-2 with a 1.90 ERA over his final 10 starts.
Jordan Zimmermann has outperformed the rest of the 2015 starting pitcher free-agent class so far after joining the Tigers on a five-year, $110 million deal, and Danny Salazar is making his case as the top pitcher on an Indians staff with three ace-caliber arms.
Tip of the cap to Mat Latos (3-0, 0.49 ERA), Joe Ross (2-0, 0.54 ERA), Kenta Maeda (2-0, 0.47 ERA) and Vincent Velasquez (2-1, 0.93 ERA), who could all challenge for a spot here in May if they keep it going.
Top Rookies
- Kenta Maeda, LAD
- Ross Stripling, LAD
- Colin Rea, SD
Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
11 of 12
Top 10 Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
| 1. Clayton Kershaw, LAD | 2-0 | 1.64 | 0.545 | .130 | 20 | 0.8 | 1 |
| 2. Chris Sale, CWS | 4-0 | 1.80 | 0.667 | .162 | 26 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 3. Dallas Keuchel, HOU | 2-1 | 2.18 | 1.210 | .192 | 17 | 0.6 | 5 |
| 4. Jon Lester, CHC | 1-1 | 2.21 | 0.836 | .183 | 19 | 0.5 | 6 |
| 5. Cole Hamels, TEX | 3-0 | 2.52 | 1.240 | .227 | 23 | 0.8 | 7 |
| 6. David Price, BOS | 2-0 | 4.50 | 1.111 | .235 | 27 | 0.1 | 4 |
| 7. Jose Quintana, CWS | 1-1 | 2.55 | 1.189 | .261 | 18 | 0.2 | 9 |
| 8. Gio Gonzalez, WAS | 0-0 | 0.69 | 0.769 | .156 | 12 | 0.8 | 10 |
| 9. Madison Bumgarner, SF | 1-2 | 3.91 | 1.391 | .258 | 29 | 0.1 | 3 |
| 10. J.A. Happ, TOR | 2-0 | 1.89 | 1.211 | .257 | 12 | 0.6 | NR |
No Longer Ranked: Francisco Liriano (8)
Position Overview
While there was a good deal of shuffling among right-handed starting pitchers, things more or less stayed the same among the southpaws.
Clayton Kershaw is still an easy choice for the No. 1 spot here, and his pristine 0.545 WHIP leads all of baseball. He may have taken a backseat to Zack Greinke and Jake Arrieta last year, but he's still the best pitcher in the game.
As for the best pitcher in the American League, that may go to Chris Sale of the White Sox, who twirled the second shutout of his career earlier this month and should be in for a better all-around year with an improved defense behind him.
Dallas Keuchel now has to live up to the pressure of being the reigning AL Cy Young winner, but as long as he keeps throwing ground balls, that shouldn't be a problem.
Jon Lester and Cole Hamels both jump up a couple of spots in the rankings, as they move ahead of David Price and Madison Bumgarner, who haven't been dominant early but still have the track record to remain inside the top 10.
The title for most underrated pitcher in baseball may still belong to Jose Quintana, who joins Sale as part of what has been a surprisingly good rotation for the White Sox so far.
Gio Gonzalez suffered through some tough luck last year with an MLB-high .341 BABIP, and this year he hasn't found any run support. He's winless through two starts despite allowing just seven hits and one run over 13 innings.
The lone newcomer is J.A. Happ, who went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts after being traded to the Pirates last season and has continued to impress after joining the Blue Jays on a three-year, $36 million deal.
Top Rookies
- Steven Matz, NYM
Relief Pitchers
12 of 12
Top 10 Relievers
| 1. Wade Davis, KC | 7 | 6/0 | 0.00 | 0.900 | 10.8 | 0.5 | 1 (CL) |
| 2. Kenley Jansen, LAD | 6 | 6/0 | 0.00 | 0.353 | 9.5 | 0.4 | 2 (CL) |
| 3. Andrew Miller, NYY | 6 | 3/0 | 0.00 | 0.333 | 19.5 | 0.5 | 2 (NC) |
| 4. Roberto Osuna, TOR | 7 | 5/0 | 2.45 | 0.545 | 11.0 | 0.1 | 5 (NC) |
| 5. Dellin Betances, NYY | 7 | 0/3 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 21.9 | 0.1 | 1 (NC) |
| 6. Mark Melancon, PIT | 6 | 3/0 | 1.69 | 0.750 | 8.4 | 0.2 | 5 (CL) |
| 7. Trevor Rosenthal, STL | 6 | 4/0 | 3.00 | 1.000 | 21.0 | -0.1 | 6 (CL) |
| 8. Craig Kimbrel, BOS | 8 | 4/0 | 3.52 | 1.043 | 16.4 | 0.1 | 3 (CL) |
| 9. David Robertson, CWS | 6 | 6/0 | 0.00 | 0.474 | 8.5 | 0.5 | NR |
| 10. Kelvin Herrera, KC | 8 | 0/4 | 0.00 | 1.091 | 12.3 | 0.5 | 6 (NC) |
Position Overview
Once we get a bit deeper into the season, relievers will once again be divided by closer and non-closer, but here in April when there are still a ton of guys sporting a 0.00 ERA, we'll just stick with naming the top 10 relievers in general.
Wade Davis is entering his first full season as the Royals closer, but he's been brilliant in a setup role the past few seasons and looked right at home in the ninth inning after taking over for Greg Holland last year.
He's joined by Kenley Jansen and Andrew Miller as elite closers who have yet to surrender an earned run this season and back that with terrific peripheral numbers.
Miller will return to a setup role once Aroldis Chapman returns from suspension, joining Dellin Betances, who will be his biggest competition for the title of best setup man in baseball.
Mark Melancon and Trevor Rosenthal both set their respective franchise records for saves in a single season last year, and both should see plenty of opportunities once again as they anchor the relief corps of contending clubs.
The Red Sox gave up a lot to acquire Craig Kimbrel this offseason, and in terms of pure stuff and track record of success, he's still as good as any closer in the game.
The only player to earn a spot who didn't appear on either preseason list is David Robertson, who leads what has been the best bullpen in baseball, as the White Sox sport a 1.52 relievers' ERA.
Robertson blew seven saves and pitched to a 3.41 ERA in the first year of a four-year, $46 million deal last year, but he's once again looked like a dominant arm this season.
The final spot goes to hard-throwing Kelvin Herrera, who is the primary setup man for Davis in Kansas City and was an All-Star for the first time last season.
Top Rookies
- Alex Colome, TB
- Johnny Barbato, NYY
- Seung Hwan Oh, STL
All standard stats and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while advanced stats come via FanGraphs.
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