MLB: Top 10 Position Players You Would Pay to See
You can learn a lot from looking at stats. Most times, though, the box scores can only tell you so much. Whether it's at the plate or in the field, there are numerous players that you just can't miss in person.
Baseball is not as much of a star-driven league as the NBA. Players do not take over games down the stretch, so it would be hard to justify spending money to see a specific player.
However, there are plenty of great players worth seeing. Some are young, some are old, but you should see the players here to complete your sports bucket list.
Now this is not simply a list of the best position players in baseball; it is a list of the most exciting. To make this list, spectators not only have to be at the game the player is at, but they would wait to use the restroom if that player was on the field.
If you disagree, please feel free to comment below.
10. Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Fans love watching the long ball. Justin Upton may not hit the most home runs, but when he gets a hold of one, it goes a long way.
This season he is leading the majors with four home runs over 450 feet, including one hit 478 feet against the Cardinals in April. For the season, Upton is averaging 424.8 feet per home run hit. Chase Field is a hitters’ paradise, but these shots would be out of any park.
In addition to his towering home runs, Justin Upton is a very good defensive outfielder. He also has a .302 batting average and is seventh in the NL with a .524 slugging percentage.
He is already one of the better all-around players in the league. At only 23 years old, he has the potential to be a star in the league for years to come.
9. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
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Another young star in this league is 26-year-old shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Although he is having a relatively slow year, he is getting right back on pace with a .356/.397/.548 line in the month of June.
Last season, “Tulo” won both the Silver Slugger and the Gold Glove for the shortstop position. These accolades acknowledge him as both the best hitter and fielder at the sport’s most difficult position. He also wrestled those awards from Jimmy Rollins, who seemed to have a stranglehold on them for the past few years.
The biggest hindrance to Troy becoming a household name is the fact that he plays in Colorado. He also will not be leaving anytime soon due to the fact that he recently signed a 10-year extension to stay with the Rockies.
Fortunately, he has the overall skill to keep himself known. As the current leader in votes to start the All-Star game, I think he is getting by just fine.
8. Ivan Rodriguez, Washington Nationals
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Moving quickly from young stars to an old veteran, we look at Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. Although he is a shell of his former self, everyone should take the opportunity to see one of the best players in baseball history while they still have the chance.
Over his 20-year career, Rodriguez has won 13 Gold Glove Awards, seven Silver Sluggers, and one MVP award. His is debatably the best catcher ever to play the game. As of this posting, he is also only 161 hits away from 3,000.
He will be tough to see since he is not getting as many starts as he used to at this point of his career. The Nationals have a good young catcher in Wilson Ramos, who must be getting the best mentoring possible.
But if you have a chance to see the future Hall-of-Famer in action, take advantage of the opportunity.
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7. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox
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When the Red Sox traded for first basemen Adrian Gonzalez this offseason, they knew they were getting a great player. When they signed him to a seven-year, $154 million extension, they knew they were getting a star.
While some players tense up when moving to a large market, Gonzalez has been incredible. He is currently leading the majors with a .353 batting average and 67 RBI. He also leads the majors in ESPN’s Player Rater, taking into account all offensive categories.
Despite his prowess at the plate, he is also an excellent defender. He won the Gold Glove in 2008 and 2009, and it would not be surprising if he won his third this season.
The Red Sox are a great team this season with a lot of great players. Gonzalez leads the group.
6. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
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What would a list of the most exciting position players be without the active home run leader? His 626 home runs are good enough for fifth all time. Steroid allegations aside, he is still one of the best to ever play the game.
Even with those great numbers, A-Rod is not just a home-run hitter. He has over 2,700 hits and will eventually become a member of the 3,000 hit, 500 home run club. This is one of the most exclusive groups in baseball.
This season, he has remained relatively consistent and is still the clean up hitter on the New York Yankees. If you get the chance to make it to a game, you might one day be able to say you saw the all-time home run king hit one out in person.
5. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians
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After all of these great hitters, it would be nice to see some fielders. Few players in 2011 have done as much in the field as Asdrubal Cabrera. Not only is he consistent, with a .983 fielding percentage, but he makes some of the most spectacular plays on the diamond.
Every episode of Baseball Tonight, the crew picks out the top five defensive plays of the day. This season, Cabrera has made that list a major league leading 10 times. He has been no slouch at the plate either. He leads the first place Indians in batting average, home runs, runs batted in, and runs.
A person at the stadium would have no chance to walk away, as they might miss a magnificent play at any moment.
4. Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
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Talk about a come from nowhere story.
In seven years in the league, Bautista played for five different teams and never hit more than 16 home runs in a season until last year. In 2010, Jose re-wrote his story and slugged a major league high 54 home runs.
With many expecting a drop off, Bautista improved his stats in 2011 by hitting 21 home runs to go with a .330 batting average, good for 79 percentage points above his career average. He also hits a home run once every 11 at-bats, the most often of anyone in the majors.
It took him until he turned 30, but Jose Bautista is just now becoming a star in baseball. Many want to look for foul play, but they should take this moment to appreciate greatness in great players.
3. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
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Many say that Howard spent too much time in the minor leagues. But when he finally got his chance, he took the majors by storm.
In 2005, Howard hit 22 home runs in half a season to earn himself the Rookie of the Year award. A year later, he slugged 58 more to earn himself NL MVP in only his first full season.
Since becoming a full time player, few athletes have had a bigger impact on the game. He has been possibly the most dominant power hitter and has led a potent Phillies lineup for years. Howard has led the majors in RBI three times in his seven years in the league.
Few people can command the attention that Ryan Howard has earned. Pitchers will continue to fear him while fans refuse to keep their eyes off of him. He has the chance to change a game with one swing any time he is in the lineup.
There is no such thing as scoring position with him. If he is in the batter’s box, he is already in scoring position.
2. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
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Until the other day, seeing the best player over the past decade would not have been a problem. Pujols is one of four players to have played at least 140 games in each of the last 10 seasons. Unfortunately, a wrist injury has sidelined him for the next 4-6 weeks.
However, when he is in the lineup, there is no better player in baseball. He has been consistently great for over a decade and lead the majors in batting average, home runs and runs batted in during the course of the 2000’s.
Possibly the most amazing part of his consistency is that he has been either first or second in MVP voting seven times in his 10 years in the league. The other times? He finished third, fourth and ninth. He must have been terrible in those years.
When he returns to the field, people should take the every opportunity to see “The Machine” in person. Like Ivan and Alex Rodriguez, being able to see a Cooperstown player in person is priceless.
1. Jose Reyes, New York Mets
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What can be said about Jose Reyes that has not already been said thousands of times this year? He has been the most talked about player in baseball over the last few months due to his trade possibilities, but also because of his outstanding play.
Most of the people on this list are home run hitters, but Reyes can change a game without the ball leaving the yard. Actually, he seems to prefer it. With 12 triples he has almost doubled the next person on the list.
If you have never seen him hit a triple in person, let me tell you it really is a thing of beauty. He can hit the ball in the gap and be running seemingly full speed around first. About halfway towards second, Reyes will hit another level that looks like he pressed the nitrous button like Vin Diesel. Others might beat him in a foot race to first, but I would be shocked if anyone could take him around the bases to third.
His personality and love for the game are refreshing sights to see from a fan. His energy brings the entire team up a level, and if he does leave the Mets, whichever team gets him will be very fortunate.
Jose Reyes might not be the best player in baseball. However, he is playing like one of the best now. If you could watch one player at the plate, on the base paths and in the field, who else could it be besides Jose?
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