MLB Power Rankings: Rating the National League Center Fielders
The current crop of center fielders in the National League, actually the entire MLB, is fairly weak. At least that is what my findings reveal to me. Weak may be a strong term—but with the statistics they are producing right now—let's just call them below average.
A quick gander at the stats supports my claim. As a set, they are batting .269/.341/.423 with 6 HR and 24 RBI. I just don't think that this is enough production, as we are nearing the midway point of the season.
The top four finishers in my formulated analysis separate themselves from the rest.
I compared their averages in OBP, SLG, OPS+, HR, RBI, SB. Pwr/Spd, Fld %. Each player's stats are listed on a table at the end of this show.
16. Jordan Schafer, Atlanta Braves
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With all due respect to Schafer, he has only played 20 games thus far. He is filling in for the ailing Nate McLouth who wasn't exactly knocking the cover off the ball.
Schafer is only 24, and should be a very good center fielder in time.
15. Angel Pagan, New York Mets
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In 2010, Pagan batted .290 with 11 HR and 69 RBI, so there is much promise here. He is probably one of the few Mets who will not be moved somewhere.
14. Carlos Gómez, Milwaukee Brewers
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Gómez is a good defensive player with good power. The Brewers should probably be thinking about bringing in somebody else to stay in pennant contention.
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13. Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins
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Chris Coghlan was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2009 when he batted .321. He only played in 91 games last year and batted .268. He has all of the tools to have an outstanding career.
12. Roger Bernadina, Washington Nationals
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Bernardina is playing in center while Rick Ankiel is on the DL. He is a career .246 hitter and has nearly as many strikeouts as hits.
11. Andrés Torres, San Francisco Giants
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Torres played in 139 games last season, which was a career high. He hit 16 home runs and batted .268. He got a late start in MLB, as he has played only six seasons and is 33 years old.
10. Marlon Byrd, Chicago Cubs
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Byrd was on the 2010 NL All-Star team, although he didn't get to play in the game. In 2009, he batted .283 with 20 home runs.
9. Cameron Maybin, San Diego Padres
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Maybin is a good fielder, but he hasn't had a productive year offensively in his four-year career.
8. Michael Bourn, Houston Astros
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Michael Bourn is the NL's premier base stealer, having led the league the past two seasons. He is also an excellent fielder, winning Gold Gloves in those same seasons.
7. Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals
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Colby Rasmus has perhaps the most potential of all the center fielders on this list. He has power, speed, defense—and is only 24.
6. Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
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Gonzalez was in the running for a triple crown until late in the 2010 season. He was third in MVP voting, behind Joey Votto and Albert Pujols.
5. Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Although just a .242 lifetime hitter, Young has very dangerous power. In 2007, he hit a career high 32 home runs. He was named to the 2010 NL All-Star team.
4. Drew Stubbs, Cincinnati Reds
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In his first full season with the Reds in 2010, Stubbs went deep 22 times and stole 30 bases. He is considered by many to be the fastest player in the National League. He has the potential to be a 30-30, or even a 40-40, player.
3. Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies
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Considered by some to be the best defensive center fielder in the National League. Victorino is a very good hitter as well, as his .296 career average attests. He has won three consecutive Gold Glove awards and was on the 2009 NL All-Star team.
2. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
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McCutchen is probably the most consistent player of this lot, as he has batted .286 in both of his seasons and is right there now. He has surprising power and excellent speed and is only 24 years old. The Pirates traded Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan before handing the job over to McCutchen.
1. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
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This is only the second season Kemp has batted over .300, and he is the current home run leader in the National League. Although he has yet to be voted an All-Star, he has won both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. At 26, Kemp looks to be around for a while.
Here is a list of the center-fielders with their statistics as of June 17, 2010:
| Player | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS+ | HR | RBI | SB | P/S | FLD% |
| Matt Kemp | .335 | .420 | .638 | 196 | 20 | 56 | 16 | 17.8 | .974 |
| Andrew McCutchen | .294 | .397 | .492 | 148 | 10 | 38 | 13 | 11.3 | .980 |
| Shane Victorino | .292 | .359 | .476 | 127 | 6 | 23 | 11 | 7.8 | 1.000 |
| Drew Stubbs | .269 | .345 | .417 | 108 | 9 | 39 | 20 | 12.4 | .994 |
| Chris Young | .256 | .322 | .498 | 120 | 14 | 38 | 8 | 10.2 | .994 |
| Carlos Gonzalez | .277 | .342 | .443 | 101 | 9 | 38 | 10 | 9.5 | 1.000 |
| Colby Rasmus | .258 | .349 | .415 | 115 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 5 | .994 |
| Michael Bourn | .279 | .349 | .384 | 107 | 1 | 22 | 29 | 1.9 | .988 |
| Cameron Maybin | .259 | .322 | .413 | 110 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 5.8 | .993 |
| Marlon Byrd | .308 | .346 | .419 | 102 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 1.5 | .990 |
| Andres Torres | .248 | .345 | .393 | 109 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 3.1 | .989 |
| Roger Bernadina | .267 | .327 | .363 | 91 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 3.3 | 1.000 |
| Chris Coghlan | .230 | .296 | .368 | 81 | 5 | 22 | 7 | 5.8 | 1.000 |
| Carlos Gomez | .220 | .275 | .356 | 72 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 6.3 | 1.000 |
| Angel Pagan | .248 | .321 | .359 | 89 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 3.3 | .972 |
| Jordan Schafer | .256 | .330 | .341 | 86 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | .982 |
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