MLB Network’s Top 10 Players Right Now at every position

MLB Network kicked off its annual custom of rating the “Top 10 Players Right Now” at every place on Jan. 10 when it rolled out its checklist of the sport’s finest reduction pitchers within the first installment of 10 weeknight specials.

Using rankings based mostly on previous participant efficiency, plenty of offensive and defensive metrics, each superior information and conventional numbers, and evaluation by the MLB Network analysis workforce, “The Shredder” gave us its enter (output?) on which gamers are the ten finest at their positions proper now.

Here’s the complete schedule of when every place rating will probably be unveiled:

Wednesday: Second basemen
Jan. 26: Shortstops
Feb. 1: Starting pitchers
Feb. 2: Catchers

Here’s a have a look at the lists to this point:

This was one of many closest battles for the highest spot, with Manny Machado narrowly edging out José Ramírez, who was No. 1 on final yr’s checklist. Despite dropping out of the highest spot, it was actually nothing Ramírez did (or didn’t do) in 2022. The Guardians celebrity completed fourth in AL MVP voting, marking the fourth time prior to now six seasons he’s cracked the highest 5. Over the previous two seasons, Ramírez averaged 32 homers, 114 RBIs, 24 stolen bases and 38 doubles. But Machado assumes the crown following his NL MVP runner-up end. The six-time All-Star racked up 32 homers, 102 RBIs and a 159 OPS+ final season.

1. Manny Machado, SD (Last yr: 7)
2. José Ramírez, CLE (1)
3. Austin Riley, ATL (NR)
4. Rafael Devers, BOS (2)
5. Nolan Arenado, STL (8)
6. Alex Bregman, HOU (3)
7. Justin Turner, BOS (4)
8. Max Muncy, LAD (No. 4 1B)
9. Yandy Díaz, TB (NR)
10. DJ LeMahieu, NYY (NR)

Fresh off profitable the 2022 NL MVP Award, Paul Goldschmidt leaps Freddie Freeman for the highest general spot at first base. Freeman stays No. 2 on the place, which noticed six of final yr’s top-8 gamers return to the checklist in ’23. That mentioned, there are 4 newcomers rounding out the highest 10 at first base.

1. Paul Goldschmidt, STL (Last yr: 5)
2. Freddie Freeman, LAD (1)
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR (2)
4. Jose Abreu, HOU (8)
5. Pete Alonso, NYM (6)
6. Matt Olson, ATL (3)
7. Ty France, SEA (Not ranked)
8. Nathaniel Lowe, TEX (NR)
9. Luis Arraez, MIN (NR)
10. Rhys Hoskins, PHI (NR)

Mariners phenom Julio Rodríguez wasted no time establishing himself as one of many recreation’s prime gamers — not to mention heart fielders — in his sensational rookie season, however he checks in at No. 3 on this checklist in the interim. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year is one spot behind Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, whereas Angels celebrity Mike Trout maintains his maintain on the No. 1 rating. Buxton continues to flash a exceptional all-around ability set when wholesome, however he is performed in 100 video games simply as soon as in his eight-year profession. Beyond that trio, Brandon Nimmo shifts from being a top-10 left fielder final yr to a top-5 heart fielder this season.

1. Mike Trout, LAA (Last yr: 1)
2. Byron Buxton, MIN (3)
3. Julio Rodríguez, SEA (Not ranked)
4. Brandon Nimmo, NYM (No. 6 LF)
5. Michael Harris II, ATL (NR)
6. Bryan Reynolds, PIT (4)
7. Cedric Mullins, BAL (7)
8. Luis Robert, CWS (5)
9. Mike Yastrzemski, SF (NR)
10. Chas McCormick, HOU (NR)

This is without doubt one of the most stacked place teams — and that’s with final yr’s No. 1 proper fielder (Juan Soto) being moved to left discipline for these functions. Though nothing is official but, MLB Network is projecting the Padres, who signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason, to shift Fernando Tatis Jr. to proper discipline as soon as his suspension is over and slide Soto again to left discipline the place he started his MLB profession. But even with out Soto within the combine, the highest three spots are held by MVP winners: Aaron Judge (2022 AL MVP), Mookie Betts (’18 AL MVP) and Bryce Harper (’15 and ’21 NL MVP).

1. Aaron Judge, NYY (Last yr: 4)
2. Mookie Betts, LAD (5)
3. Bryce Harper, PHI (2)
4. Kyle Tucker, HOU (6)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL (3)
6. George Springer, TOR (No. 2 CF)
7. Starling Marte, NYM (No. 6 CF)
8. Teoscar Hernández, SEA (8)
9. Fernando Tatis Jr., SD (No. 1 SS)
10. Hunter Renfroe, LAA (NR)

As beforehand talked about, these rankings operated underneath the projection that the Padres will shift Soto — final yr’s No. 1 proper fielder in these rankings — to left discipline to make room for Tatis in proper. Yet Soto doesn’t maintain the highest spot in left discipline coming into 2023. That honor as an alternative goes to Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who cut up time final season between left discipline and designated hitter. Whether the results of place switches or breakout seasons, seven of the ten left fielders on this yr’s rankings are newcomers.

1. Yordan Alvarez, HOU (Last yr: Not ranked)
2. Juan Soto, WSH (No. 1 RF)
3. Kyle Schwarber, PHI (5)
4. Taylor Ward, LAA (NR)
5. Randy Arozarena, TB (No. 10 RF)
6. Steven Kwan, CLE (NR)
7. Tyler O’Neill, STL (7)
8. Michael Brantley, HOU (4)
9. Ian Happ, CHC (NR)
10. Eloy Jiménez, CWS (NR)

Edwin Díaz, who hadn’t made the checklist since checking in at No. 4 coming into 2019, not solely returns to the highest 10, however takes excessive spot following his exceptional 2022 marketing campaign. He’s joined by 5 different newcomers, whereas Emmanuel Clase moved up two spots to No. 2.

1. Edwin Díaz, NYM (Last yr: Not ranked)
2. Emmanuel Clase, CLE (4)
3. Devin Williams, MIL (3)
4. Evan Phillips, LAD (NR)
5. Jhoan Duran, MIN (NR)
6. Ryan Pressly, HOU (5)
7. Andrés Muñoz, SEA (NR)
8. Liam Hendriks, CWS (2)
9. Jason Adam, TB (NR)
10. Ryan Helsley, STL (NR)