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MLB TOP 100
The best ballplayer on the planet? Yup—you guessed it. But when SI's baseball experts got together to rank the game's top players—based on past performance, injury history and future predictors— there were many surprises (Bryce Harper barely in the top 20?), plenty of fresh faces (hello, Ronald Acuña) and compelling stories (Shohei Ohtani— the hitter—is still a game changer). With a new season upon us, here is the game's new pecking order ...
Mookie Betts
OF, Red Sox
No, there is no case for anyone except Trout at No. 1—but there is also no case for anyone but Betts at No. 2. In fact, Mookie's 2018 season was, according to WAR (10.9), better than any of Trout's. Betts, 26, became the first player to win the World Series, AL MVP, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove in the same year.
Matt Chapman 3B, A's
Swiveling out of a tight spin move to fire a rope across the diamond? Making a perfectly timed acrobatic leap? Charging in with soft hands to spoil a well-placed bunt? Chapman makes it all look effortless. He took a step forward in 2018 at the plate and is among the best at the hot corner.
Jacob deGrom SP, Mets
Judges (in the Bible) tells the story of Samson, who derives his strength from his locks until they are shorn by his lover, Delilah. After the 2017 season, DeGrom, at the time known just as much for his big hair as his big fastball, asked teammate David Wright to chop it all off. He then had the best season for any pitcher, by Fangraphs WAR, since '04. He won the NL Cy Young, despite the Mets' going 14--18 in his starts. Move over, Richard Dawkins—that's how you rebut Scripture.
Alex Bregman 3B, Astros
The list of the last 12 men to produce 30-homer seasons while walking more than striking out, under 25 years old: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Don Mattingly, Frank Thomas, Gary Sheffield, Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, Alex Bregman. Nice company, huh?
Ronald Acuña Jr. OF, Braves
Acuña's Rookie of the Year season repudiated the notion that baseball forces you to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. It never humbled the 20-year-old, who blasted 26 homers, stole 16 bases and, in just 111 games, posted a 4.1 WAR, which was higher than Giancarlo Stanton's. One can only wonder what comes next for this future superstar.
Shohei Ohtani DH, Angels
Ohtani, who had 22 homers in his rookie season, is rated based on what he is likely to do this year, when he will be a DH only. Still, he's reshaped what was thought possible: Front offices are growing more comfortable with two-way players.
Gleyber Torres 2B, Yankees
Torres made a strong case for Rookie of the Year after slashing .271/.340/.480 with 24 homers in just 123 games, but lost out to Ohtani. He has too much swing-and-miss, but when he connects, the ball goes a long way. At 22, he's still a baby.
Jesús Aguilar
1B, Brewers
Aguilar led Triple A in home runs in 2016, which is a little like being the best student in driver's ed. He finally got a chance at a regular big league job when he was picked up by Milwaukee in 2017, and last year he blasted 35 homers. The 28-year-old also lowered his strikeouts and boosted his walks. He might keep cruising at this level for a while.
Walker Buehler SP, Dodgers
The ace-in-the-making announced his presence with authority in the 2018 playoffs, fanning 29 batters in 232/3 innings and shutting out the Red Sox for seven frames in Game 3 of the World Series. That was the exciting cap on a brilliant season: a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 137 1/3 innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
OF, Blue Jays
Vlad Jr. is coming, and when he arrives he's poised to deliver some serious thunder. Consider what he accomplished at Double A and Triple A last year at 19 years old: .402/.449/.671 at the former; .336/.414/.564 at the latter; and fewer walks (36) than strikeouts (37). The son of a Hall of Famer who was one of the best natural hitters of his era, Vladito promises to be a special player when he gets called up—even if he should have debuted last year.
1. Mike Trout OF, Angels
2. Mookie Betts OF, Red Sox
3. Max Scherzer SP, Nationals
4. Francisco Lindor SS, Indians
5. José Ramírez 3B, Indians
6. Chris Sale SP, Red Sox
7. Jacob deGrom SP, Mets
8. Nolan Arenado 3B, Rockies
9. Corey Kluber SP, Indians
10. Aaron Judge OF, Yankees
11. Justin Verlander SP, Astros
12. Alex Bregman 3B, Astros
13. Manny Machado 3B, Free Agent
14. Christian Yelich OF, Brewers
15. José Altuve 2B, Astros
16. Paul Goldschmidt 1B, Diamondbacks
17. Kris Bryant 3B, Cubs
18. J.D. Martinez OF, Red Sox
19. Freddie Freeman 1B, Braves
20. Bryce Harper OF, Free Agent
21. Matt Chapman 3B, A's
22. Anthony Rendon 3B, Nationals
23. Lorenzo Cain OF, Brewers
24. Aaron Nola SP, Phillies
25. Joey Votto 1B, Reds
26. Carlos Carrasco SP, Indians
27. Clayton Kershaw SP, Dodgers
28. Luis Severino SP, Yankees
29. Giancarlo Stanton OF, Yankees
30. Gerrit Cole SP, Astros
31. Zack Greinke SP, Diamondbacks
32. Anthony Rizzo 1B, Cubs
33. Carlos Correa SS, Astros
34. Ronald Acuña Jr. OF, Braves
35. Trevor Bauer SP, Indians
36. Justin Turner 3B, Dodgers
37. Juan Soto OF, Nationals
38. Eugenio Suárez 3B, Reds
39. Javy Báez SS, Cubs
40. Corey Seager SS, Dodgers
41. Matt Carpenter 1B/3B, Cardinals
42. Stephen Strasburg SP, Nationals
43. J.T. Realmuto C, Phillies
44. Charlie Blackmon OF, Rockies
45. Andrelton Simmons SS, Angels
46. Trevor Story SS, Rockies
47. Blake Snell SP, Rays
48. George Springer OF, Astros
49. Xander Bogaerts SS, Red Sox
50. Noah Syndergaard SP, Mets
51. Gary Sánchez C, Yankees
52. Justin Upton OF, Angels
53. Kyle Hendricks SP, Cubs
54. Whit Merrifield 2B, Royals
55. Cody Bellinger 1B/OF Dodgers
56. James Paxton SP, Yankees
57. Andrew Benintendi OF Red Sox
58. Shohei Ohtani DH, Angels
59. Tommy Pham OF, Rays
60. Yasmani Grandal C, Brewers
61. Rhys Hoskins 1B, Phillies
62. Jean Segura SS, Phillies
63. Patrick Corbin SP, Nationals
64. Travis Shaw 3B/2B/1B, Brewers
65. Nelson Cruz OF, Twins
66. Mitch Haniger OF, Mariners
67. Starling Marté OF, Pirates
68. Josh Donaldson 3B, Braves
69. Marcell Ozuna OF, Cardinals
70. Gleyber Torres 2B, Yankees
71. Brandon Nimmo OF, Mets
72. Walker Buehler SP, Dodgers
73. Mike Clevinger SP, Indians
74. Chris Taylor IF/OF, Dodgers
75. Josh Hader RP, Brewers
76. Jack Flaherty SP, Cardinals
77. Michael Brantley OF, Astros
78. Aaron Hicks OF, Yankees
79. J.A. Happ SP, Yankees
80. Jameson Taillon SP, Pirates
81. Craig Kimbrel RP, Free Agent
82. Robinson Canó 2B, Mets
83. Buster Posey C/1B, Giants
84. Dallas Keuchel SP, Free agent
85. Khris Davis OF, A's
86. Edwin Díaz RP, Mets
87. Kyle Freeland SP, Rockies
88. Blake Treinen RP, A's
89. Scooter Gennett 2B, Reds
90. Carlos Martínez SP, Cardinals
91. German Márquez SP, Rockies
92. Jesús Aguilar 1B, Brewers
93. Miles Mikolas RP, Cardinals
94. David Price SP, Red Sox
95. José Berríos SP, Twins
96. Jackie Bradley Jr. OF, Red Sox
97. Madison Bumgarner SP, Giants
98. Charlie Morton SP, Rays
99. José Abreu 1B, White Sox
100. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. OF, Blue Jays
