MLB Power Rankings: Rating the Fan Favorite Player on Each Team
We all know about the most talented players in the game. All it takes is one look at the statistical leaders to see who is performing at the highest levels. But what about the fan favorites? What about those players that fans can’t help but love for some reason or another?
Maybe it’s because they play harder than anybody else. Maybe you like their off-field personality. Maybe you have an appreciation for their unique skill set. Whatever the reason, fans around the country find different reasons to fawn over their favorite players.
With that in mind, we examine all 30 teams and choose the most popular player.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton
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When you look at the Diamondbacks lineup, there is very little to get excited about. It used to be that fans could tune in just to feel the calming breeze of a Mark Reynolds swing and miss, but with Reynolds taking his Mendoza Line average and 200 strikeouts to Baltimore, that excitement is long gone.
Justin Upton is a 23-year-old outfielder with everything you look for in a player. Strong arm. Great speed. Powerful swing. He defines the term, “five-tool player.” B.J.’s younger brother fell off last season with a .273 average, 17 home runs and 18 steals, but I expect a big bounce back season.
Upton is easily capable of a 30/30 or 40/40 season, meaning GM Kevin Towers should make sure not to give credence to offseason rumors and trade Upton.
Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones
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For years Larry “Chipper” Jones has been the face of the Braves. Since being drafted first overall by the Braves in 1990, Jones has been a productive member of Atlanta’s organization.
He first reached the big leagues in 1993 at only 21-years-old and has been a staple in the offense ever since. Jones has played 2261 games—all with the Braves—batting .306 with 436 home runs.
Jones was a member of the Braves 1995 World Series team and won the 1999 NL MVP after batting .319 with 45 bombs. Jones is beloved by fans in Atlanta and respected all across the country.
Baltimore Orioles: Brian Roberts
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Since being drafted out of South Carolina in 1999, Roberts has been an essential member of the Orioles.
The speedy second baseman is the teams longest tenured player and has produced all-star caliber numbers since the start of the 2005 season. Roberts plays the game hard, takes pitches and has a wealth of speed.
Roberts has averaged 27 steals per season over his 10-year career, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he played 75 games or fewer in three of those seasons.
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Boston Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
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Who doesn’t love a dirt dog? Dustin Pedroia is the unlikeliest of superstars and one of the hardest workers in the game.
Listed at 5’9", Pedroia would need to wear heels to reach his program height, yet in only four full seasons, Dusty has won the rookie of the year award, a gold glove, a silver slugger and the 2008 AL MVP.
Blessed with ungodly hand-eye coordination, Pedroia has to put every ounce of energy he has into any home run swing, yet little caballito has managed one home run every 15 at bats on his career.
The Fenway faithful go crazy for Pedroia and so do the majority of baseball fans.
Chicago White Sox: Paul Konerko
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Although Konerko is technically a free agent, it’s tough for me to imagine him leaving Chicago. Ever since coming to the White Sox in 1999, Konerko has been synonymous with the team.
The 6’2" first baseman has hit 358 homers in his 12 seasons in Chicago including back-to-back seasons of at least 40 (2004 and 2005).
A four-time all-star, Konerko helped lead the Sox to a World Series victory in 2005—their first since 1917. One of the games silent stars, Konerko quietly takes care of business and lets his playing to the talking.
Chicago Cubs: Tyler Colvin
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Let’s be honest, the Cubs aren’t a very likable team right now. Fukudome is huge in Japan, but fans at Wrigley are tired of watching him consistently go opposite field.
Aramis Ramirez looks to have put his best years behind him while Carlos Zambrano has seen his skills decline as his anger issues continue to plague the team. With that said, maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that the team’s fan favorite is rookie Tyler Colvin.
Last season, the Clemson product batted only .254 but stroked 20 home runs in only 358 at bats. He’s a tremendous power hitter, but that’s not my favorite part. A few years back, Colvin didn’t figure to make the major league team but picked something up in Ryan Dempster’s delivery.
Instead of keeping it to himself in case he would up being traded, Colvin told his future teammate resulting in Dempster’s odd delivery that you see today.
In fact, after being relegated to the bullpen, Dempster has revitalized his career with three terrific seasons (ERA’s of 2.96, 3.65 and 3.85 respectively). He plays hard and helps his teammates. What more can you want?
Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto
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Think fans in Cincinnati like Joey Votto? After a 15-year playoff absence, Votto’s MVP season (.324, 37 HR, 113 RBI) led the Big Red Machine back to the promised land.
The 6’3" lefty was amongst the league’s most underrated players coming into the season, but my guess is that Votto made himself a lot of fans around baseball last season.
Cleveland Indians: Grady Sizemore
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The Indians have seen a lot of turnover on their roster with star pitchers like C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee being shipped out of town in the past few years. One player who has remained with the club? That would be centerfielder Grady Sizemore.
The 28-year-old lefty missed most of last season after having micro fracture surgery on his left knee after struggling in 2009, but the fans of Cleveland still love this man...especially the women.
Despite being a member of the 30/30 club, a group affectionately known as “Grady’s Ladies” show up to Jacobs Field less to enjoy the game and more to swoon over their favorite stud. He’s a popular guy, and I wish him the best of luck through rehab.
Colorado Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki
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There was a time when Todd Helton was the face of the franchise. Now, the aging first basemen with declining bat speed has passed off his title to shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
The talented 26-year-old recently signed a seven-year, $134 extension with the Rockies ensuring that Tulo follow the lead of his hero Cal Ripken and remain with one team for his entire career.
You can argue whether the Rockies overpaid to retain Tulowitzki, but you have to appreciate their values.
It’s not often that a star player stays with one team for the duration of their career, so Tulo’s signing should be a welcome sight to fans everywhere.
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
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Miggy has only been a member of the Tigers for three seasons but already stands head and shoulders above his fellow teammates. Despite many accounts that paint Cabrera as a nasty guy off the field, his on-field production has been marvelous.
Only 27-years-old, MC holds a .313 career batting average with 247 round trippers. With Manny Ramirez on the decline, he may be the best pure hitter in baseball and is worth the price of admission.
Florida Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
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Such a tough call because I love Josh Johnson and feel he doesn’t get nearly enough recognition, but that’s the point isn’t it? If this is a list about fan favorites, the players mentioned need to have name recognition. That’s what makes Hanley Ramirez the obvious choice.
The 6’3" shortstop may make some questionable decisions like sitting out late season games to maintain his .342 batting average or failing to chase down a kicked ball, but his talents are undeniable. In only five professional seasons, Han-Ram has batted .313 with 124 home runs and 196 steals.
Hanley is unequivocally the best shortstop in the game and has an unbelievable combination of hand-eye coordination, speed and power. You may not love the player, but you damn sure better love the game.
Houston Astros: Michael Bourn
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Yikes, what has happened to the Houston Astros? In a single season we saw the steep fall of Carlos Lee, the exodus of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman and a 76-86 record. Really the only exciting thing about seeing an Astros game is checking out the talent on the other team…and I guess Michael Bourn.
The speedy centerfielder has stolen 154 bases in the past three seasons since coming over from Philadelphia including a league leading 61 in 2009 (Bourn also led the league last season with 52 thefts). Bourn is a mediocre hitter, but his unearthly speed make him a pleasure to watch on the base paths.
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke
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Tough choice between Greinke and first baseman Billy Butler, but Greinke gets the nod. The 2009 Cy Young winner struggled at times last season and saw his ERA rise just over two full points, but the 27-year-old righty remains one of the league’s fan favorites.
Early in his career, Greinke battled with depression and social anxiety disorder, but not only was he able to come back and play baseball at a professional level, he was able to compete like never before. Greinke went 16-8 in 2009 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 K’s.
The former first round pick mixes in a 94 mile per hour fastball with a sick slider to make him one of the toughest pitchers in baseball. He’s enjoyable to watch, and his story of overcoming adversity gives him one of the games more heart warming stories.
Los Angeles Angels: Torii Hunter
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Although Hunter spent most of his career with the Twins, he very quickly endeared himself to the fans of Los Angeles. In three seasons since signing as a free agent, Hunter has smashed 66 dingers with a .285 average while being one of the outspoken clubhouse leaders.
Hunter has been in constant contact with Rays free agent outfielder Carl Crawford, serving as one of the team’s most ambitious and hard-working diplomats. Hunter’s defense speaks volumes on the field while his mouth does likewise off-field.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Andre Ethier
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Since breaking into the league back in 2006, Andre Ethier has been of tremendous value to the Dodgers.
Despite playing in a very pitcher-friendly ball park, Ethier has batted .291 with 98 round trippers in 719 games. Ethier has great range as an outfielder and carries a big stick when he comes up to the plate.
On a team that lacks long-tenured players, Ethier may just be the fan-favorite.
Milwaukee Brewers: Prince Fielder
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Another tough call as outfielder Ryan Braun has established himself as one of Wisconsin’s most popular men, but this honor goes to the big fellas.
Fielder is listed at 270 pounds, although I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he tips the scale at over three hundo. Yet despite this gargantuan frame, Fielder not only has quick hands but also quick feet.
Fielder has already hit two inside the park home runs in his short career—both of which are immensely entertaining to watch. My own qualm with Fielder? After smacking an astounding 50 long shots in 2007, Fielder became a vegetarian after a book by the title of “Skinny Bitch.”
I want my oversized first baseman stockpiling protein—not avoiding it. The next season he belted only 34.
Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer
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When Joe Mauer was in high school, he was both a star baseball player and football player. Mauer received dozens of offers from prestigious college programs begging him to play quarterback for them.
Florida State’s Bobby Bowden went so far as to offer him an open-ended scholarship meaning that if Mauer ever changed his mind for any reason—the door was open. As good as he was at football, he’s even better at baseball.
The top pick in the 2001 draft, Mauer has already accrued 1011 hits and boasts a lifetime average of .327. Mauer takes punishment every day as a catcher, but unlike most backstops, Mauer spends his days off serving as the DH.
With great fan giveaways like “Joe Mauer Sideburns Night” and hilarious appearances on PlayStation 3 commercials, you would be hard pressed to find a Joe Mauer detractor.
New York Mets: David Wright
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Wright has a great bat, plus speed and is tremendous defensively but more importantly than any of those things is the fact that he plays 100 percent night in, night out.
After only six-and-a-half seasons, Wright owns the Mets career record for doubles and is a member of the exclusive 30/30 club.
A five-time all-star with two golden gloves to his name, Wright is more than just a great player. In 2005, Wright began the David Wright Foundation—a charitable organization that seeks to raise money for multiple sclerosis.
It’s always uplifting to see a player try to make a difference outside of baseball, and I applaud Wright for all of his efforts.
New York Yankees: Derek Jeter
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Living in Boston, I hear the same thing about Derek Jeter over and over again. Whenever Jeter is brought up, you’re bound to hear somebody say, “I hate the Yankees, but I respect Derek Jeter.”
Maybe it’s from seeing him dive headfirst into the crowd to make a catch. Maybe it’s his incredible knowledge of the game. Maybe it’s just his loyalty. Whatever the case, Jeter seems to be loved in New York and respected everywhere else.
And while he can’t quite handle a glove or hit like he used to (and yes I know he won the Gold Glove this season), he’s still one of the top shortstops in the game. After breaking Lou Gehrig’s Yankee record for hits in September of 2009, Jeter will become the first player in team history to eclipse the 3,000-hit mark.
He’s a living legend, a generous and tireless charity worker and a future Hall-of-Famer.
Oakland Athletics: Dallas Braden
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The A’s roster from year to year undertakes more construction than Heidi Montag which makes this selection extremely difficult.
Veteran third baseman Eric Chavez, the unequivocal clubhouse leader, did not have his option picked up by the team and will most likely retire.
Their offense struggled all season long as their batting average leader hit only .284 (the new Blue Jay, Rajai Davis) while their home run king couldn’t top 20 dingers (that would be Kevin Kouzmanoff with 16).
Taking that information into account, perhaps the perfect pick is the man who threw a perfect game. Braden endeared himself to fans everywhere when he pitched a perfect game on Mother’s Day and dedicated it to his grandmother who raised him after the passing of his own mother.
Last season, Braden was wonderful, posting career lows with a 3.5 ERA and 1.16 WHIP showing that Braden has heart both on the mound as well as off it.
Philadelphia Phillies: Roy Halladay
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To this day I have never found anyone who dislikes Doc. For years, he went under the radar in Toronto, never receiving his proper due despite posting gaudy numbers year in and year out.
Halladay is a work horse and has thrown 58 complete games in just 320 career starts. In his first season pitching in the NL, Halladay broke records and shattered expectations.
Before winning the Cy Young Award on the strength of a 2.44 ERA, Halladay threw a perfect game against the Marlins and tossed a no-hitter in his first career postseason start (there has been only one previous postseason no-no by Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series).
You wouldn’t call Halladay’s stuff overpowering, but sure as schnitzel, it’s tough to hit. The tall righty mixes in a disgusting cutter with a plus change up and killer curveball, all while painting the corners.
He’s easily worth the price of admission and could be the most valuable pitcher in all of baseball.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
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We’re lucky that McCutchen is a member of the Pirates otherwise I’d be at a loss for words. I mean who else on the Pirates is even in the conversation for fan-favorite? Garrett Jones? Ronny Cedeno? Paul Maholm? These are players that wouldn’t make the 40-man roster for many teams.
Last year in his first full season, McCutchen batted .286 with 16 HR and 33 SB. The crazy part? He’s barely scratched the surface of his potential.
Despite a small frame (5’10", 175 lbs), ACC has surprisingly good power to combine with elite speed. He doesn’t get quite the jump that some of the elite base stealers do, but when he does, he will be a 50 SB threat every season.
On a team of castoffs and unproven young prospects, McCutchen is an easy choice for fan favorite.
San Diego Padres: Mat Latos
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If this article had been written only a few days ago, the answer to this question would have been obvious. Adrian Gonzalez had been the lone offensive bright spot in an otherwise inept lineup for the past few years. His 71 home runs the past two years? That’s like hitting 90 in a normal ball park.
Unfortunately (for San Diego fans, not my fellow Bostonians), Gonzalez was traded for a handful of top prospects leaving the fan favorite up in the air.
Given the incompetence of the Padres offense, you knew the selection had to be a pitcher, and San Diego has no greater pitcher than Mat Latos.
In his first full season, the 6’6", 23-year-old went 14-10 with an impressive 2.92 ERA. Latos struck out better than a batter per inning with 189 K’s in 184.2 innings, establishing himself as one of the game’s best young arms in the process.
San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum
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Not only was Tim Lincecum tremendous in the hit movie Dazed and Confused, but he’s also one hell of a pitcher.
Despite lacking ideal size, Lincecum creates enough torque to hurl the ball up to 97 mph. Factor in a filthy splitter (that for some reason the entire baseball world continues to call a change-up) and unorthodox delivery and it’s easy to see why people love watching Timmy pitch.
The long-haired righty has sent down 907 batters via the punch-out in only 811 innings, cementing his place at this generations most over-powering pitcher.
While I would have loved to given this award to rookie catcher Buster Posey for the calm, collected and mature way he carries himself, there’s no arguing with Lincecum’s popularity.
Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki
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As if there was any doubt. Ichiro slapped 214 hits last season giving him at least 200 in all 10 seasons with the Mariners. His jersey is constantly amongst the league’s top sellers and his at-bats are constantly televised on Japanese television.
In fact, there are specialty tour packages that allow Japanese fans to visit the States and watch Suzuki’s games. Perhaps it was his agent that best described Ichiro’s cult-like status overseas saying, "When you mail Ichiro something from the States, you only have to use that name on the address and he gets it [in Japan]. He's that big."
Ichiro is routinely one of the first players in the batting cages and one of the last players to leave the facilities. He is a tireless worker and deserves every shred of popularity he receives.
St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols
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It would seem obvious that the best player’s are the most popular, but that’s not always the case. In New York, A-Rod isn’t close to being on par with Jeter and outside New York he is loathed.
However, despite Pujols political affiliations, he is both respected and well liked by players and fans alike. The former 14th round pick from Maple Woods Community College came from out of nowhere to take baseball by storm.
Since entering the league in 2001 as a 21-year-old, Pujols has finished lower than fourth in MVP voting only once. His worst season in that time included a .327 batting average and 32 home runs.
He’s one of the league’s most unlikely superstars and could one day be viewed as the greatest of all time.
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria
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Some people like him because his name resembles that of Tony Parker’s former beauty. Others like him because he can flat out rake.
The 25-year-old third baseman is already a two-time Golden Glove winner with great power and tremendous upside. Longoria has looked like a natural in his few commercial appearances and should continue to be one of the league’s most popular players for years to come.
Fans always love the underdog, and with 19 games per season against the juggernauts known as the Red Sox and Yankees, Longoria and the Rays have a chance to play David to their opponents Goliath.
Texas Rangers: Michael Young
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While Josh Hamilton’s transformation from heroin-addicted minor leaguer to AL MVP on the pennant-winning Rangers has inspired many fans, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Michael Young.
Originally a second baseman, Michael Young moved to short when the Rangers traded Alex Rodriguez for second baseman Alfonso Soriano.
Just a few years later, a hot prospect named Elvis Andrus kept climbing through the system so the Rangers asked Young to play third. He did so without so much as blinking.
At each of these infield positions, Young quickly adapted to play above average defense, while posting a career .300 average.
Now at age 33, Young is the longest tenured player on the team and has built a devoted fan base around Arlington. If only fans recognized Young more on the national level.
Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Bautista
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Halladay was traded before last season. Alex Rios was put on waivers. Vernon Wells is there but underperforming his gaudy contract. Even last year’s ace Shaun Marcum was dealt for prospects this offseason. That makes the selection of Jose Bautista even easier.
Last season, the veteran journeyman shocked the baseball world by launching a league-best 54 home runs. Now I realize that a lot of you out there immediately want to tarnish what appears to be a statistical anomaly and credit his achievements Performance Enhancing Drugs, but that seems unfair. Toronto employed a free-swinging approach, and Bautista, somehow, put up the season of a lifetime.
It’s the type of improbable feel-good story that should be celebrated and should earn Bautista the title of fan favorite.
Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg
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Although Strasburg will miss the entirety of the 2011 season, his fan base dwarfs that of anybody on the Washington Nationals. Need proof? Just watch the game after a Strasburg start.
When 2008’s first overall pick was pitching, Nationals Park was rocking. As Strasburg was breaking off nasty curveballs and painting the corners with his three-digit fastball, the stadium was filled to capacity and the fans were going berserk. The next game? You’d be lucky to get half the fans from the previous night.
Strasburg was like a spectacle that I had never seen. Despite a lack of experience, he had the poise and confidence of a 10-year veteran and the type of stuff you only see in video games. Fans around baseball are praying for a speedy recovery as we all await chapter two of the Strasburg Saga.
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