Photo courtesy: Keith Allison
1. Mike Trout
Is there really any question to why Mike Trout tops this list? At 25-years-old, Mike Trout has established himself as the most dominant player who performs at a high level on a consistent basis. Not only has he won the AL MVP in 2014 and 2016, but he was also runner up in 2012, 2013, and 2015. If not for Miguel Cabrera winning the Triple Crown in 2012, Trout would have had won MVP that year as well. Trout is a rare player. He won five Silver Sluggers. He is a five-time All Star and two-time All Star Game MVP. His career average of .306 is already at Hall of Fame level. He hits for plenty of pop with 169 career home runs in just five full seasons in the MLB. Trout is also quite the burner on the base paths with 143 stolen bases in his career. If not for his tremendous pop, Trout would have even more stolen bases. He is also known for his home-run-robbing and game-saving catches in Center Field. Trout is a class act on and off of the field which makes him one of the most beloved players in baseball and in sports. Many people want to see him on another team so they can see him play under the bright lights of October. I don’t know if he will ever leave LA, but I know he will be a very exciting player to watch in a nail biter playoff game. Trout, a South Jersey native, even received a ball from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz after a touchdown last season. Is there anything this guy can’t do?
2. Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is simply the most dominant pitcher on the planet. He is a no-hitter waiting to happen. Kershaw has wipeout pitches that give his team a tremendous chance to win every time he is on the mound. If he was out on the field every game instead of once every five, he could be number one on this list. The six-time All Star proves every year why he is the most feared pitcher in the MLB. He is a three-time NL Cy Young Winner, and led the league in ERA four times. He is also the rare pitcher to win the MVP award, when he did so in 2014. Winning MVP as a pitcher is very hard to do, so that itself says enough about how good he truly is. With an insane career ERA of 2.36, it is no wonder Kershaw is so high on this list. Many experts have him down around the ten spot for his ranking because he doesn’t play every day, but someone this dominant needs to be higher up on the list. Kershaw is also criticized for having poor playoff performances. While he is not his usual self in the playoffs, he has proven he can be dominant. There have been games in the playoffs where he held the opposing teams to just a few runs yet he earned the loss because his team failed to produce offensively. He has also had instances where he had the lead when he left the game and he had to sit on the bench while he watched his team blow the lead and his chance in competing for a World Series. Kershaw is also a competitor that every team wants to have. In the 2016 playoffs, Kershaw got a win for his team in Game 1 vs. the Nationals. Then in Game 4, he got a no decision after he was left in too long, but his team lived to play another day. The game after, with his team up one in the 9th and their playoff hopes on the line, Kershaw came out of the bullpen in Game 5 after starting the game before to close the game out. There are not too many guys in the league that would be able to go out in that role, especially since he had never done it before, but that shows the competitor he is as well as how much his team and coaches trust and believe in him.
3. Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant comes in at third on the list for more reasons than people may think. Kris Bryant is known for his good hitting numbers. He is another young player at just 25 years old that shines under the bright lights of the MLB. He has made back to back All Star appearances in 2015 and 2016. Bryant was NL Rookie of the Year in 2015 showing that he belonged up in the majors. He won the NL Hank Aaron Award in 2016 with his incredible stats of a .292 AVG with 39 HR, 102 RBI, and 121 runs. He has had the highest WAR in the MLB over the last two seasons. Most importantly, Bryant led the Cubs to a long awaited World Series Championship in 2016. While many people think Bryant is just a good hitter, he is way more than that. Bryant’s main position is 3B, but he is extremely athletic for a bigger guy. He can play both corner outfield positions as well as 1B. This makes him a dream player for coaches because he can be used in several positions which makes it easier on them. If one game Joe Maddon needs a LF, Kris Bryant is someone he can call on to go out there, and he can make other changes in the infield. Bryant can play all of these different positions at a high level which is part of why he is so high on the list. Bryant is a good all-around player and is known for being extremely intelligent at the plate which makes him into the hitter that he is. With last year being his best year at 25 years old, it is hard to think that Bryant won’t keep getting better in the next few years.
4. Jose Altuve
Jose Altuve is one of the most exciting players to watch in any sport. At 5’6” he is the shortest active player in the MLB. Altuve does not let his height effect his success on the field, though. At 26 years old he keeps proving that he is not a fluke and that he can play with the big boys. He is a four-time All Star, with those All Star appearances coming in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016. He won the Gold Glove award for second basemen in 2015. He is a three-time Silver Slugger, all coming in the last three seasons. Altuve was also the AL Batting Champion in 2014, and 2016. He has proven to be extremely consistent by getting 200+ hits in three straight seasons. Not only can he hit, but Altuve is also quite the burner on the base paths. He is a two-time AL stolen base leader which sets up his teammates for great success. He is an opposing team’s nightmare. He can beat you in so many ways that it is impossible to defend. In 2016, Altuve hit .338 with 24 HR, 96 RBI, and 108 runs. Reading these stats, nothing is more eye opening than his 24 HR. He is only 5’6”, yet he hit 24 HR and hits third for the Houston Astros, who have a star studded lineup with great hitters. Altuve has proven to have good pop, while hitting for average, which is a pain if you are on the opposing team. With Altuve being a good base stealer, it makes it difficult on pitchers. If someone puts up the hitting stats that Altuve does, pitchers would usually want to pitch around them or be extra careful. They can’t do this with Altuve, though. If a pitcher is too careful and doesn’t give him anything to hit, he may get walked. Now, to most good hitters, that is not a bad thing. But by walking Altuve, the pitcher may have just thrown a double because he may be off and running stealing second before the pitcher knows what happened. In the World Baseball Classic, Altuve proved he can also put a bunt down if needed to. He put down a push bunt to 1st and was safe, with an insane home to first time of 3.41 seconds. It’s truly incredible for someone to be as good of a hitter as him and still be that fast. Altuve very well could have won the AL MVP in 2016, but Trout beat him out for it. The Astros have a very good chance to make a World Series run in 2017, with Jose Altuve leading the way.
5. Bryce Harper
Harper truly is the definition of a phenom. At just 16 years old, Bryce hit home runs that traveled over 500 feet. This is impressive for Major Leaguers to do so it’s no surprise that he has become one of the best players in the league at just 24-years-old. When Harper first came into the league, he was playing a little out of control and trying to do too much. He has made some adjustments mentally and at the plate that have transformed him into one of the top players in the game today. If he didn’t have nagging injuries in previous years, he would be top three on this list. Even in years where he played the majority of the games, he dealt with small injuries. Besides his rookie year, the one year Harper was completely healthy was 2015 when he won the NL MVP. He was simply the most dominant player that year. People started saying that he would become a better player than Trout, but after having a nagging wrist injury in 2016, Trout stayed at the top of the lists for best players in baseball. Harper is a four-time All Star and owns a Silver Slugger for NL Outfielders. In his five seasons in the MLB, Harper has 122 Home runs which is very impressive for a guy who played his first season at 19 years old. He also has 58 stolen bases over those five seasons. Like Trout, if Harper didn’t have such good power numbers, he would have more stolen bases. Harper’s injuries just keep him from reaching his full potential. Some may say that they aren’t big injuries so he should perform better, and they are right that they aren’t big injuries—but those small injuries add up for a guy that plays as hard as Harper. His extraordinary effort is part of what makes him so fun to watch. He swings extremely hard all the time which is why he has such great power. The physicality he plays with is why he has gotten injured. He goes all out after every ball in the outfield and he does a full power slide head first into bases whenever there is a chance for a close play. You may love him or you may hate him, but one thing we should all agree on is that if Bryce Harper can cut down on these injuries and tap into his full potential, he may be at the top of this list in the near future.
6. Manny Machado
Manny Machado is a 24-year-old highlight reel. He is a three-time All Star with those appearances being in 2013, 2015, and 2016. He is a two-time Gold Glove winner at third base, and I am sure there will be many more Gold Gloves coming his way. In 2016, Machado hit .294 with 37 HR, 96 RBI, and 105 runs. These solid offensive numbers make him one of the most feared hitters in the game. He had very raw talent that stands out over almost everyone. Machado is one of the best all-around players in the game, and his offensive numbers speak for themselves. He hits for a good average with very good pop. Despite being such a good hitter, his fielding is where he proves to be the best in the game. Machado makes Web Gem plays like they are routine. He has incredible hands, but his arm makes him the incredible fielder that he is–it seems like he is on ESPN making an incredible play every day. While he is a good fielder and a good hitter, his athleticism is what separates him from other third basemen. He can hit anywhere between 1st and 4th in his lineup. He can hit leadoff and set the table for the power guys in the O’s lineup, but he can also be a power guy in the Orioles lineup and drive in the table setters. Machado is a rare player in the MLB. He was a shortstop coming up, but he moved to 3rd. He is very comparable to a young Alex Rodriguez. Even though his is a third basemen, he has at times slid over to shortstop and been incredible there as well. This makes it easy on his coaches to be able to mix and match the lineup depending on who is hot and who is cold. However, like Harper, Machado also battles nagging injuries. He tends to get hurt from time to time, so if he can stay healthy, the O’s have a lot to be excited about because they have one of the best talents in baseball.
7. Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts is one of the newer names in baseball when it comes to talking about the best players in the game. He is just 24 years old, so he is definitely going to be talked about more in the coming years. 2016 was just his second full season with the Red Sox. He was named to his first All-Star game in 2016 as well as winning the Gold Glove. Betts also received the 2016 Silver Slugger award. Now with two full seasons under his belt, Betts is definitely progressing into one of the top players in the game. Just like Jose Altuve, Betts very easily could have won AL MVP in 2016, but Mike Trout took home the trophy. Betts actually finished 2nd in one of the closest and toughest MVP awards given out recently. In 2016, Betts hit .318 with 31 HR, 113 RBI, and 122 runs. To go along with his good numbers at the plate, Betts stole 26 bases. He is in the same category as Altuve when it comes to being an opposing team’s nightmare. If a pitcher pitches around him, they run the risk of walking him and he very well could steal second base. This is a problem since the Red Sox have a lot of guys who can drive him in so it puts the pitchers in a tough situation. He is not only good at the plate, but he is also a very quality outfielder. He makes catches that not too many people can make. Since he just finished his 2nd full season, it is hard to think that his best days are not ahead. If he progresses more, watch out because the Red Sox will be a big time contender in the AL.
8. Corey Seager
Coming off his tremendous rookie season, Corey Seager is one of the most talked about players in all of baseball at just 22 years old. In his Rookie season in 2016, Seager posted incredible numbers. His .308 AVG, 26 HR, 72 RBI, and 105 runs got him selected to the 2016 All-Star Game. These stats also won him 2016 Silver Slugger and the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year. Last season, he also became the youngest Dodgers player in history to hit a postseason HR. He won ROY unanimously, which is not surprising after the season he had. Corey Seager is just a flat out pure hitter. As a youngster, he showed that he can be one of the best left handed hitters in the game. He is a very mature hitter for someone his age, which is part of why he hit for a .308 AVG last season. He is not just a good hitter, but he also plays very solid defense for Clayton Kershaw and the rest of the Dodgers pitching staff. Corey Seager is a very interesting player. With his 6’4” lean stature, he seems to have plenty of room to grow into a more dangerous player. He has a very long-looking body which helps him generate leverage at the plate and in the field. Since he is just 22 years old, it is very possible that he puts on some size and becomes a real force to be reckon with. Coming into the league, Bryce Harper was big for his age but he had not filled out yet. Now, Harper has grown into his body more and is one of the most feared players in the game. The same thing may happen for Seager. He could fill out and become a serious power threat from the left side of the plate. Even if he doesn’t fill out more, Seager has proven that he can play with the best of them and the best days are ahead for the young Dodger’s shortstop.
9. Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner is one of just two pitchers to make the top 10 list. Bumgarner is a four-time All-Star–they all came in consecutive years starting in 2013 and going through the 2016 season. In 2016, he had a 15-9 record with a 2.74 ERA, a WHIP of 1.03, and 251 K’s. Bumgarner is already a three-time World Series Champion. He led the Giants to a World Series Championship in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Bumgarner truly dominates in the postseason. He won the NLCS and World Series MVP awards in 2014. Bumgarner set postseason records for the World Series by posting a mind-blowing 0.25 ERA and a 0.50 total postseason ERA while also tying the record for most scoreless postseason starts, with six. Bumgarner dominates the postseason which is why I have him higher in the rankings than most people do. Most people have him as a top three pitcher, but his success in the postseason is what separates him from other pitchers. He gets locked in another zone in the playoffs and is basically unhittable. Bumgarner does is in more ways than one, though. At the plate, Bumgarner is known to be a very good hitter. He won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers in 2014 and 2015. He is no slouch up there. In his opening day start in this 2017 season, he hit two home runs as well as walking in another at bat. This makes the Giants offense even better when he is in the lineup. On days he starts, the Giants lineup basically has a DH. Now while many people were disappointed that the Giants didn’t keep their streak alive of winning the World Series every other year, I am sure Bumgarner is going to give his team a chance to compete for one in 2017 as long as he gets some help from the rest of his team.
10. Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt is possibly the most overlooked player in all of baseball. The four-time All Star has proven that he belongs in the discussion for best players in the game. He has been an All Star every year from 2013-2016 and there is no reason to think that streak will come to an end this year. He is a two-time Gold Glover as well as a two-time Silver Slugger. with those awards coming in 2013 and 2015. In 2013. he also won the Hank Aaron Award as well as leading the NL in home runs and RBI. In 2016, Goldy put up another solid season hitting for a .297 AVG. To go along with the high average, he had a .411 OBP, 24 HR, 95 RBI, and 106 runs. He already started of 2017 in a good way by winning the World Baseball Classic with Team USA. Paul Goldschmidt is excellent at the plate and one of the top defensive first basemen in the league. However, what separates him from just about any first basemen the league has seen is his amazing speed. He swiped 32 bags last year. Goldschmidt is extremely athletic and quick for a guy his size. He like so many others on this list is an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers. While Goldy is a great player, it is tough to watch him play for the Diamondbacks. Many people thought they would have a good year in 2016, but they fell apart and never made a real run at the postseason. If the Diamondbacks can make a run into the postseason, it would be very fun to watch Goldschmidt play. If not, many fans are hoping he signs with another team in the future so that way he can be on a more relevant team and have a chance to make a real impact.