30. Robbie Ray
2021 Stats: 13-7, 2.84 ERA, 248 SO, 1.045 WHIP
Those who have followed Robbie Ray’s career closely may have expected the left-handed hurler to cool down at some point last year. The drop-off never happened as Ray lit up opponents all throughout the season. Ray’s career year culminated in a deserved Cy Young award thanks to a league-leading 248 strikeouts. Ray has always had impressive stuff, but consistency has been an issue for the 29-year-old. However, he seems to have found himself with nearly 193 career starts under his belt. Ray signed a massive deal with the Seattle Mariners in the offseason which will pay $115 million over the next five years.
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29. Liam Hendriks
2021 Stats: 8-3, 2.54 ERA, 113 SO, 38 SV, 0.732 WHIP
While two Milwaukee relivers (Josh Hader and Devin Williams) are certainly in the conversation, we’ll give the nod to White Sox closer Liam Hendriks as the current top bullpen arm. After back-to-back career seasons with Oakland, Hendriks signed with the White Sox prior to the ’21 season. He wasted no time getting acclimated to his new club and was immediately named the team’s closer. Hendriks led the league in saves last season (38) and also set a career-high in strikeouts-per-nine. The Aussie-born reliever has finished in the top-10 in American League Cy Young voting two years in a row.
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28. Brandon Crawford
2021 Stats: 24 HR, 90 RBI, 144 H, .298/.373/.522
The 2021 Giants as a whole were greater than the sum of its parts. On paper, the Giants didn’t boast the makeup of a team that would end up with the best record in the NL. Gabe Kapler did a masterful job of managing platoons and exploiting matchups en route to winning 107 regular season games. However, if we were to single out one Giant it would have to be shortstop Brandon Crawford who enjoyed a truly remarkable season. At 34 years old, Crawford set career-highs as a hitter across the board while providing his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense. He stepped up countless times for a San Francisco team which routinely won close games (31-17 in games decided by one run).
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27. Salvador Perez
2021 Stats: 48 HR, 121 RBI, 169 H, .273/.316/.544
While some around baseball would argue a catcher’s value lies with his defensive ability, it doesn’t hurt to have a backstop who can rake, as well. Salvador Perez is unquestionably the best slugging catcher following a monstrous 48-homer campaign. Perez has always been able to generate power thanks to a 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame, but he took it to an entirely new level. Prior to last season, Perez’s career-high in homers was 27. He had already clobbered that many by the first week of August in ’21. Perez led the AL in RBI despite playing for a Kansas City team that wasn’t particularly adept at producing runs.
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26. Jose Abreu
2021 Stats: 30 HR, 117 RBI, 148 H, .261/.351/.481
The Chicago White Sox offense is littered with excellent hitters. Tim Anderson is a former Batting Champion who has hit over .300 three years in a row. Grandal would have led all catchers in OPS (.939) after slugging 23 homers in 93 games. Not to mention Eloy Jimenez, who may hit 50 homers at some point in his career. However, Abreu is a former MVP and the most consistent of the bunch. There aren’t many hitters in the league who have been as consistently good as Abreu since he debuted in ’14. Over eight seasons, Abreu has produced six 100-RBI campaigns while maintaining a career slash-line of .290/.350/.515.
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25. Zack Wheeler
2021 Stats: 14-10, 2.78 ERA, 247 SO, 1.008 WHIP
Zach Wheeler built upon a strong 2020 year by being even better in ’21. The 31-year-old was named to his first All-Star team and finished second in Cy Young voting. The former first-round pick unleashed his strikeout potential by fanning 10.4 batters per nine innings (up from 6.7 the previous year). Wheeler notched seven double-digit strikeout performances after finishing with zero such efforts during 2020’s 60-game sprint. He has quietly become one of the best pitchers in baseball, making the Phillies look smart for inking him to a massive deal back in 2019.
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24. Xander Bogaerts
2021 Stats: 23 HR, 79 RBI, 156 H, .295/.370/.493
Playing the most glamourous position for one of the most popular teams in baseball, it still seems like Xander Bogaerts goes a bit under the radar. The Red Sox shortstop has a list of accolades that can matchup with any elite shortstop. At just 29 years old, Bogaerts has already won four Silver Sluggers and has been a member of two World Series winning clubs. Since 2018, Bogaerts leads all shortstops in weighted runs created — used to measure a player’s total offensive value.
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23. Manny Machado
2021 Stats: 28 HR, 106 RBI, 157 H, .278/.347/.489
Following a rough stint with the Dodgers and a rocky first-year with the Padres, some were doubting Machado’s ability to produce outside of the hitter-friendly confines of Camden Yards. Machado has answered those concerns over the last two seasons in which he’s set the league ablaze. The former Oriole draft pick finished third in MVP voting in 2020, and followed it up with an All-Star campaign in ’21. Equipped with exceptionally fast hands and one of the strongest infield arms, Machado has shown the ability to play elite defense at either spot on the left side. Still just 29 years old, it feels like Machado can hit an even higher gear as he enters his prime.
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22. Shane Bieber
2021 Stats: 7-4, 3.17 ERA, 134 SO, 1.210 WHIP
The Guardians will need a big year out of their former Cy Young winner in ’22. Shane Bieber put together one of the greatest years for any starting pitcher during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. En route to finishing fourth in AL MVP voting, Bieber led the American League in ERA (1.63) and SO9 (14.2). His collection of off-speed pitchers coupled with a deceptive fastball made it nearly impossible for hitters to get the better of Bieber. Injuries kept him out for the majority of last season, but he looks to be healthy and ready for a bounce-back year. Bieber is just getting started.
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21. Nolan Arenado
2021 Stats: 34 HR, 105 RBI, 151 H, .255/.312/.494
Though his offensive numbers might not be as gaudy as they were during his days in Colorado, Nolan Arenado remains one of the most well-rounded players in all of baseball. He is widely considered to be the best defensive infielder in the sport — indicated by his five Platinum Glove awards (given to each league’s best defender). Nothing is safe down the third base line when Arenado sets up shop. His rocket-powered arm has thrown out several hitters at first who thought they had a base knock. While his overall offensive numbers have dipped, Arenado’s OPS+ (weighted for park factors) last season was identical to his career mark of 121.
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20. Corbin Burnes
2021 Stats: 11-5, 2.43 ERA, 234 SO, 0.940 WHIP
2021 was the Corbin Burnes breakout party. Burnes kicked off the season with one of the most dominant April’s in recent memory. In his first five starts, Burnes struck out 49 batters while issuing zero walks. Burnes would go on to extend his streak to a record-breaking 58 punch outs before allowing his first walk of the season. Burnes has an absolutely electric arsenal of pitches which includes an upper 90s fastball which can break in a multitude of directions. Alongside fellow All-Stars Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta, the Brewers boast some of the best arms in the entire league.
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19. Marcus Semien
2021 Stats: 45 HR, 102 RBI, 173 H, .265/.334/.538
The Rangers went out and acquired a pair of star middle infielders this offseason. A team that has loitered towards the bottom of the AL over the past few years, the Rangers finally decided to splurge in free agency. Versatile infielder Marcus Semien was the beneficiary of Texas’ shopping spree, inking a seven-year/$175 million contract. You have to be happy for Semien who turned down multi-year deals in the ’21 offseason to sign a one-year contract with the Blue Jays.
Semien, who has finished third in AL MVP voting two of the last three seasons, finished first in WAR among position players last season. He’s proven capable of playing 2B or SS, and has flashed elite hitting tools in each of his last two (full) seasons.
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18. Aaron Judge
2021 Stats: 39 HR, 98 RBI, 158 H, .287/.373/.544
When Aaron Judge is healthy, he is undoubtedly one of the best players in baseball. The numbers don’t lie. Judge is a extra-base hitting machine who exhibits great patience at the plate. Since his official rookie season in 2017, Judge has never posted an OPS below .891. He hits homers at a near 45-homer pace every season and is more than capable defensively (as long as he’s in RF). Staying on the field will always be the biggest issue with Judge. However, he did appear in 148 games for the Yankees last year — his most games played since ’17.
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17. Trea Turner
2021 Stats: 28 HR, 77 RBI, 195 H, 32 SB, .328/.375/.536
Trea Turner is among the league’s best power-speed threats. The speed is undeniable. Turner has swiped over 200 bags in his career, and was tied for the fastest sprint speed in ’21 according to BaseballSavant (Tim Locastro). Turner’s power is a more recent development — the 28-year-old hit a career-high 28 homers last season. He showcased that raw power while leading all of baseball with a .328 batting average. Though Turner did come up short in his first playoff appearance with the Dodgers, he might feel more at home now that he’s returning to his natural defensive position of shortstop.
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16. Carlos Correa
2021 Stats: 26 HR, 92 RBI, 155 H, .279/.366/.485
When the MLB lockout was officially lifted, Carlos Correa stunned everyone when he opted to sign a short-term contract — 3-year/$105.3 million — with the Minnesota Twins. After injuries riddled parts of 2018-20 for the Houston shortstop, Correa put together one of his best overall campaigns in a contract year. The 27-year-old Astro notched a .850 OPS while launching 26 homers and recording 92 RBI. Correa earned his first All-Star nod since 2017 and finished fifth in MVP voting. He’s arguably the best defender at shortstop in the league (AL Platinum Glove recipient) and boasts a cannon for an arm.
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15. Corey Seager
2021 Stats: 16 HR, 57 RBI, 108 H, .306/.394/.521
The Rangers have a superstar. After spending the first seven years of his career with the Dodgers, Corey Seager opted to sign a massive 10-year/$325 million contract with the Rangers before the lockout. One of the best pure hitters in baseball, Seager should absolutely thrive in Texas. He is a career .297 hitter, and is hitting .306 over the past two years. When healthy, perhaps only Fernando Tatis Jr. puts up better numbers than Seager. Oh, and Seager has history at his new home ballpark. During the 2020 postseason, Seager slashed .350/.444/.767 with seven homers and 19 RBI while playing in the Texas bubble. If Seager remains healthy for the entire 2022 season, he should finish with 30+ HR and push for a top-5 MVP finish.
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14. Walker Buehler
2021 Stats: 16-4, 2.47 ERA, 212 SO, 0.968 WHIP
Dating back to Walker Buehler’s rookie season in 2018, pundits and fans alike have been anointing Buehler as a future Cy Young winner. Last season, Buehler lived up to the hype and finished fourth for the National League Cy Young. Boasting an electric fastball and filthy off-speed pitches (slider, curve), Buehler often makes hitters look silly. In 2021, Buehler made a career-high 33 starts and finished with a career-best 2.47 ERA — the third-best mark in the NL, trailing Corbin Burnes (2.43) and Max Scherzer (2.47). At 27 years old, the Dodgers’ ace is just entering his prime.
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13. Max Scherzer
2021 Stats: 15-4, 2.46 ERA, 236 SO, 0.864 WHIP
Max Scherzer may have ended last season on a low note — as he was unable to start Game 6 of the NLCS for the Dodgers — but he remains one of the best players in baseball. Scherzer was fantastic yet again in 2021. At the age of 36, Mad Max finished third for the National League Cy Young. He led baseball with a 0.864 WHIP and 6.0 H9. His 1.8 BB9 was the best in the NL. In 11 regular season starts with the Dodgers, Scherzer went 7-0 and averaged 11.13 SO/W. As the future Hall of Famer enters his first season with the Mets, he is once again a favorite to capture a fourth Cy Young. To this point, Scherzer has held Father Time at bay.
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12. Jose Ramirez
2021 Stats: 36 HR, 103 RBI, 147 H, 27 SB, .266/.355/.538
Ramirez has solidified his place among the top position players in the sport. The 5-foot-9 infielder generates immense power in his compact frame (having already slugged 163 home runs in his short career). There have been slumps in the past, but Ramirez’s hot streaks are unlike any other player.
After starting off the shortened 2020 slow, Ramirez was the best hitter in the league over the last half of the season. He posted a .358 batting average with a 1.240 OPS over his last 29 games. Last season, JoRam saw his average dip to .266 — but he paced Cleveland with 36 dingers and 103 RBI. With Francisco Lindor now in New York, Ramirez may finally receive the admiration he deserves. Since 2017, JoRam has four top-6 finishes for the AL MVP — 3rd in ’17 and ’18, 2nd in ’20, and 6th in ’21.
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11. Freddie Freeman
2021 Stats: 31 HR, 83 RBI, 180 H, .300/.393/.503
Freddie Freeman has been a star his entire career. As a rookie in 2011, Freeman launched 21 homers and was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. The sensational first baseman has taken his game to another level the past two seasons. In the shortened 2020 season, Freeman slashed .341/.462/.640 with 13 HR en route to winning the National League MVP. Last year, Freeman slugged 31 HR, hit .300, and led the Braves to a World Series title. Now 32, Freeman remains one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball — furthering his immense value. Freeman will now look to continue to excel as he begins his first year with the Dodgers.
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10. Ronald Acuna Jr.
2021 Stats: 24 HR, 52 RBI, 84 H, 17 SB, .283/.394/.596
With Freddie Freeman now in Los Angeles, Ronald Acuna Jr. must be considered the team’s best player. At 24 years old, Acuna has established himself as one of the top stars in the game. He is blessed with the ability to hit for both average and power. Before going down with a torn ACL last season, Acuna was well on his way to competing for the National League MVP. In 82 games, the young superstar slugged 24 homers, stole 17 bases, and slashed .283/.394/.596. Acuna is going to be an MVP contender for the foreseeable future. Let’s hope he can take the field soon.
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9. Gerrit Cole
2021 Stats: 16-8, 3.23 ERA, 243 SO, 1.059 WHIP
At worst, Cole is one of the five best pitchers in baseball. The recipient of a $324 million contract in 2020, Cole projects as a high-end pitcher for at least the next five years. Blessed with immense power, devastating breaking pitches and good control, Cole fanned an MLB-best 326 batters in 2019. In his first year pitching for the Yankees, Cole finished fourth for the Cy Young and posted his third-straight sub-3.00 ERA season. This past season, Cole put together another stellar season. En route to finishing second for the Cy, Cole generated 243 punch outs and led the American League with 16 wins. If the Yankees want to return to the top of baseball, Cole will need to lead the charge.
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8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2021 Stats: 48 HR, 111 RBI, 188 H, .311/.401/.601
If the marvel that is Shohei Ohtani didn’t play in the American League last season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would have an MVP to his name. After two underwhelming seasons — compared to the hype — to start his career, Vladdy Jr. exploded in 2021. Junior entered the season in much better shape compared to his first two years, and his improved physique paid off big time. Guerrero led baseball with 48 HR and 123 runs, and paced the American League in OBP (.401), SLG (.601), and OPS (1.002) — all while hitting .311. If Vladdy Jr. continues to play at that level, he may be considered the league’s best player by this time next year.
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7. Bryce Harper
2021 Stats: 35 HR, 84 RBI, 151 H, .309/.429/.615
Touted as a future Hall of Famer while he was still in high school, Bryce Harper hasn’t disappointed many since arriving in the Big Leagues. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the billing as being the best player in the world that many expected him to be, Harper won an MVP at the age of 22 — and won his second MVP last season.
During his MVP season in 2021, Harper hit .309 and led the league in doubles (42), SLG (.615), and OPS (1.044). It was far and away Harper’s best season since 2017, and his best since his first MVP season in ’15. Let’s see if Philadelphia’s superstar can put together back-to-back MVP caliber seasons.
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6. Mookie Betts
2021 Stats: 23 HR, 58 RBI, 123 H, .264/.367/.487
Los Angeles has numerous stars on its roster, but Mookie Betts is inarguably the best player. Betts battled a painful hip injury for most of the 2021 season. As a result, his numbers were down a bit from where they typically are. He hit .264 — his lowest average since ’16 — and appeared in just 122 games. However, Betts still flashed brilliance at times during the season. With his mix of power, speed on the basepaths and elite fielding, Betts is one of baseball’s most gifted talents. Said to be healthy entering the ’22 season, expect Betts to push for the National League MVP.
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5. Fernando Tatis Jr.
2021 Stats: 42 HR, 97 RBI, 135 H, 25 SB, .282/.364/.611
At 23 years old and just 273 games into his MLB career, Fernando Tatis Jr. has established himself as a top-5 player and arguably the face of the sport. He can do it all on the field. His fielding ability, arm strength, speed, and hitting are all elite. He has shown so much skill through his first 273 games that the Padres inked him to a 14-year/$340 million deal. Through his age 22 season, Tatis has two top-4 MVP finishes. There is a lot of high-end young-talent in the league, but Tatis plays at a higher level than almost everyone else.
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4. Jacob deGrom
2021 Stats: 7-2, 1.08 ERA, 146 SO, 0.554 WHIP
His record doesn’t show it, but Jacob deGrom is baseball’s best pitcher — and has been amongst the league’s elite since his debut in 2014. New York’s ace will turn 34 during the 2022 season (June 19). If anything were to keep him from reaching the Hall at this point, it would be time.
But in eight seasons, deGrom has solidified his spot in history. The righty can touch 100 MPH with his fastball, and features a head-spinning mix of pitches that he dominates hitters with. The Mets’ hurler captured back-to-back NL Cy Youngs in 2018-19 on the strength of a cumulative 2.05 ERA, 0.941 WHIP, and 524 SO versus just 90 walks. If those numbers don’t impress you, deGrom finished the ’20 season with an NL-best 13.8 SO9 rate. The only concern is deGrom’s health — he made just 15 starts last season.
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3. Shohei Ohtani
2021 Stats: 46 HR, 100 RBI, 138 H, 26 SB, .257/.372/.592 — 9-2, 3.18 ERA, 156 SO, 1.090 WHIP
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani blessed us with a truly historic season. In his fourth season with the Angels, Ohtani put it all together. The Japanese superstar garnered all 30 first place MVP votes to capture the American League’s top individual award. Ohtani was unstoppable at the plate and was fantastic on the mound. As a hitter, Ohtani smashed 46 HR, led baseball with eight triples, stole 26 bases, and drove in 100 runs.
On the hill, Ohtani made a career-high 23 starts and finished with a 9-2 record. His 3.18 ERA was better than Gerrit Cole’s (3.23) and Nathan Eovaldi’s (3.75) — the runner-up (Cole) and 4th place finishers for the AL Cy Young. Ohtani would have been an MVP contender last year if you only considered his work at the plate. A star in the box and on the rubber…Ohtani is a transcendent talent.
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2. Juan Soto
2021 Stats: 29 HR, 95 RBI, 157 H, .313/.465/.534
At 23 years old, Juan Soto is already drawing comparisons to some of the greatest players of all-time (including Ted Williams). In 464 career games, Washington’s star has drawn 373 walks versus 352 strikeouts. Soto’s patience at the plate is matched by his ridiculous ability to hit the ball hard.
The young superstar has smashed 98 homers and 91 doubles. In 2021, Soto walked an MLB-best 145 times and was fanned only 93 times. Soto has led baseball in OBP two years in a row — checking in at .465 last season. Soto is baseball’s best hitter — and will be for quite some time.
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1. Mike Trout
2021 Stats: 8 HR, 18 RBI, 39 H, .333/.466/.624
The Angels feature two former MVPs — Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. The undisputed best player in the game, Trout is well on his way to becoming a top-5 player in MLB history. Aside from his gaudy numbers, Trout — who is just 30 years old — has won three MVPs and has finished as the runner-up four times. He can hit, run, and field his position. A true G.O.A.T. in his prime.
When healthy, Trout’s status as the game’s top player is undebatable. Unfortunately, the star appeared in just 36 games in 2021 before a calf injury cost him the rest of the season. In those 36 games, Trout appeared to be on his way to yet another MVP. If Trout and Ohtani stay on the field throughout the ’22 campaign, look out.
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