Williams loved to talk hitting, and through the last years of his life, he developed friendships with the likes of Tony Gwynn. Mike Trout was born on Aug. 7, 1991, and every so often, it's worth a few moments to consider the start to his career, to remind yourself that you are watching a historic peer of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth. But the best of the best can fire lasers directly at their targets, from any position. The future of Florida's pitching staff is incredibly bright. I think we'll see him hunt early in counts against next season.". One of the most exciting defensive plays in baseball occurs when there is going to be a play at the plate. Nate Eaton is making a case for sticking on . Now it's time to finalize those rankings while expanding the list out to the 25 best at each position on the diamond, which means each position is going to get its own article. The ultra-versatile Taylor was an All-Star for the first time in 2021, posting a 110 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 20 home runs, 73 RBI, 92 runs scored and 13 steals in 148 games. As a matter of fact, the consensus top two outfielders Mike Trout and Mookie Betts also are considered the two best overall players in MLB. Backup catcher Curt Casali (180 PA, 97 OPS+, 5 HR, 23 RBI) has also been solid at the plate, and the pitching staff has a fantastic 2.63 ERA with him in the crouch. Among the four outfielders with a perfect 99 fielding rating is Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton. "I'll take a guess that there hasn't been enough impetus for young players to be patient only until recently. Rather than ranking individual players, we set out to name the best multi-player units in baseball. He also had one of the strongest arms that baseball has ever seen. But given his offensive production and impact at the top of the lineup, that's more than enough to make him an extremely valuable all-around player. Buxton, Taylor and Gallo are such great, award-winning fielders that it's easy to forget about Kepler, who would be the best defensive outfielder on many teams. Kelenic had a rough rookie year for. The outfield will be the foundation of many fantasy teams in 2021. His 26 home runs trail only Salvador Perez among all backstops. Gallo, Soler, Lewis, Yastrzemski, Happ, Rosario and Mountcastle can provide it. His nickname is Laser Ramn, so you already knew hed have to make this list. Two seasons into his 13-year deal with the Phillies, his production has been excellent -- a .385 on-base percentage, an OPS+ of 134, 139 runs in 215 games. Statcast Statistics Player Batting 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | All In 2019, it was all about arm strength for Laureano. Whitaker was ranked the #37 prospect by MLB. But Verdugo ingratiated himself with teammates and staff with his passion and play, and he seemed to earn the early respect of socially distant Red Sox fans. With big-name, big-money free agents, there is usually a question of how the player will respond in big games, big moments. From first-time All-Star Andrew Kittredge (44 G, 1.41 ERA) to reclamation project Collin McHugh (27 G, 1.30 ERA) to 31-year-old rookie Louis Head (20 G, 3.16 ERA), they continue to plug and play better than any organization in baseball when it comes to building a bullpen. As a 28-year-old rookie, Garcia posted a 101 OPS+ with 31 home runs, 90 RBI and 16 steals, and he was a surprise All-Star for the rebuilding Rangers. There are many questions surrounding Barry Bonds' arms, but none of them are about his ability to throw a baseball. Major League Baseball is loaded with talent in 2021, and the outfield is where you'll find some of the game's biggest stars. The Yankees re-signed Brett Gardner, but they may finally give Frazier a chance to play every day. The regimented preparation that had worked for Yelich in the past was simply not available to him, and he may have suffered for it. His shoulder first began giving him problems in . He made more consistent contact while maintaining his usual elite average exit velocity and hard-hit rate metrics. With George Springer, Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert all missing considerable time and Cody Bellinger struggling through a down year, the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers narrowly missed the cut for the title of MLB's best outfield unit in 2021. He also improved dramatically on defense, recording +2 Outs Above Average after finishing at -13 in just 53 games in the field in 2019, so his glove is no longer a reason to keep him out of the lineup. The damage he did in the playoffs and World Series, against some of the best pitchers in the world, was absolutely staggering. Previous picks: Anthony Rendon (hit), Mike Trout (power), Byron Buxton (run), Simmons (defense), Ramn Laureano, CF, AsKey stat: 321-foot assist on Aug. 11, 2018. He hit .271 with a .349 on-base percentage, tallying 34 extra-base hits, 30 steals and 3.2 WAR, and he was also a Gold Glove finalist in center field. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Toronto Blue Jays. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. How could a man who nicknamed his right arm "El Canon" not make this list? 8. His swing rate on all pitches dipped to 35% (in '20), which ranked 141st among 142 qualified hitters. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? Jackson had 183 outfield assists during his 13 year career. Buster Olney's top 10s for 2021: Ranking MLB's . 9. The safe bet is that he'll bounce back and do a ton of damage in the summer ahead. Runners were hesitant to try to take an extra base when the ball was hit to right in Coors Field between 1995 and 2003. What is particularly impressive about Mantiply, though, is that literally every single . Realmuto, C, PhilliesKey stat: 46.7 percent caught stealing rate in 2019. March 1, 2023 5:25 pm ET. He has 19 homers in 63 postseason games, and only three players have more: Manny Ramirez (29), Bernie Williams (22) and Derek Jeter (20). His 5.7 WAR was second on the AL West champions roster, behind only Carlos Correa. Mays had 195 career outfield assists and he won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves. He hit .328/.376/.624 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 32 homers, 92 RBI, 108 runs and 36 steals across three . But with several intriguing free-agent outfielders available this winter, Chaim Bloom and Co. could look to add some depth at the position. Each writer provided anywhere from 80-100+ outfielders so we could create our consensus top-80. Cedric Mullins hit .225/.290/.342 with seven home runs and 10 steals in 115 games scattered across his first three big league seasons. O'Neill finished with a 150 OPS+ and 34 home runs while hitting alongside Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado in the middle of the lineup. Bellinger has made some spectacular throws, like his 268-foot laser from right field to third base to bail the Dodgers out of a late-inning bases-loaded jam against the Mets last May 27 (his second outfield assist of that game). Accuracy matters, too. Mar 22, 2021. Abreu's strong arm helped him win his only Gold Glove in 2005. Buxton, Myers, Pham, Laureano, Moore and Carlson could be double-digit homer and steal guys. Edmonds had phenomenal range while he was younger, and there are many instances in which he scaled the outfield wall to retrieve would-be home runs. 2021 Topps series 1,Rookie Monte Harrison #126 Miami marlins outfield baseball. In his first 303 games in the big leagues, he has a .380 OBP and an .859 OPS. Among players with at least 200 plate appearances last season, the 23-year-old had the fourth-highest chase rate, the third-highest whiff rate and the sixth-highest strikeout rate, making him a high-risk, high-reward pick in the early rounds. After a terrific finish to the 2019 season with the Chicago Cubs, Nick Castellanos signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds in free agency. Buck Showalter, Mets. . Here are the players who just missed the cut, listed alphabetically: 25. On the back of plus-plus speed, Kiermaier shows off tremendous instincts for the position. Other choices were more complicated, particularly by the question of who might be more suited to be ranked among the designated hitters. Davis looking to get back on track this spring. Cobb is also remembered for his feisty attitude and his aggressive playing style. You could argue that so long as his arm is healthy, there's none more valuable. ESPN's Paul Hembekides sent this along: "I think his issues in 2020 stem from a lack of confidence -- he just stopped swinging. Through Soto's age 21 season, he has played 313 regular-season games -- two full seasons, basically -- and has 228 walks, 69 homers among 146 extra-base hits, and an OPS of .972. Below, we're focusing on fantasy baseball outfield sleepers. A 2021 20th-round pick . Ichiro has won a Gold Glove all 10 years that he has been in the major leagues. Juan Soto hit .348/.525/.639 after the All-Star break. 8 prospect in the game. He also has a career-high 16 steals in 18 attempts and provides Gold Glove-caliber defense. Soto, in my opinion, has that. He failed to maintain a red-hot start in his first season with the team, but he put together the best year of his career in 2021, hitting .309/.362/.576 for a 136 OPS+ with 38 doubles, 34 home runs and 100 RBI for a career-high 3.2 WAR. The 23-year-old had more walks (145) than strikeouts (93) on his way to an MLB-best .465 on-base percentage. He immediately impressed both his manager and scouts with his impressive throwing arm. He's clearly taken pride in his plate discipline from an early age and been rewarded with performance and -- I would also guess -- supportive coaching. he Boston Red Sox outfield exceeded expectations in 2021. Part I: Hit toolPart II: Power toolPart III: Run toolPart IV: Fielding tool. He also played a solid defensive center field in a 5.7 WAR season. Larry Walker is considered one of the best Rockies ever in the team's short existence. Statcast Leaders Baseball Savant Top Prospect Stats. Mantle earned one Gold Glove in his career and threw out 117 base runners from the outfield. There has been industry speculation that he was still dealing with the aftereffect of the fractured right kneecap he suffered at the end of the 2019 season. The towering right fielder posted a 149 OPS+ with 39 home runs and a career-low 25.0 percent strikeout rate. Unfortunately for Valentine, he was only able to play 10 seasons in the majors. Wil Myers, San Diego Padres; Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros; Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies; Nicholas Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds, Buster Olney's top 10s for 2021: Ranking MLB's best outfielders, NBA investigating after Morant shows gun in video, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Edey leads Wooden finalists; Bama's Miller off list, Chase Elliott out indefinitely after tibia surgery, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Nearly every player on this list has been an All-Star, and all the rest have a chance to make their first Midsummer Classic this season. His shoulder first began giving him problems in 2021. His middling defense (-6 DRS, -4.8 UZR/150) and the time he missed kept him from ranking any higher. Guerrero has the second best arm of any player in baseball today. With club control through the 2025 season, he is a long-term building block for the O's. He tallied a career-high 42 doubles along with 35 home runs, 84 RBI and 101 runs scored in a 5.9 WAR season. but if he regresses to 2017 or 2021 levels no one should complain. The longtime utility man split his time between center field (93 games) and second base (47 games), and he posted a 107 OPS+ with 58 extra-base hits in a career-high 585 plate appearances. There's still a chance we'll see him in the Majors before the end of April, however, so he's someone to keep in mind in the latter half of fantasy drafts. Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman, 505 PA, .235/.309/.504, 56 XBH (31 HR), 76 RBI, 75 R, 4.3 WAR. But Bellinger is one of only three outfielders with a tracked throw over 101 mph last season -- Hunter Renfroe and Aristides Aquino are the others -- and that wasn't the first time he hit triple-digit velo on a throw from the outfield (he also did it once during the 2018 postseason). Tom Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 (63.6 WAR) Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. The 24-year-old hit .251 with 10 homers, 10 steals and 42 runs in 59 games for the Padres last year. Mancini is back after missing 2020 because of Stage 3 colon cancer. Throughout the year, we released monthly updates to our position-by-position power rankings, selecting the top 10 players at each spot. My guess, after talking with folks who know him: Yelich was among the players affected by how dramatically the COVID-19 protocol changed processes. 2023 Fantasy Baseball: Outfielders Rankings, Consensus Preseason Rankings for OF | FantasyPros 2023 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Expert Consensus Ranking (32 of 36 Experts) - Feb 28, 2023 Pick. Then theres Stanton, who might be the biggest boom-or-bust pick in fantasy. Let's keep our 2021 MLB Player Rankings series rolling with a look at the top 25 outfielders. The 27-year-old already has career-highs in OPS+ (109), hits (126), doubles (29), home runs (25) and RBI (75). To qualify for inclusion, a player had to have at least 200 plate appearances. Here's everything we know, The paths of KD and Kyrie: How one month changed three franchises and two superstar legacies, From bubble struggles to NCAA seed improvement, why these final weekend games matter, Foden's return to form helps mask De Bruyne's troubles, Nelson sends Arsenal into euphoria with last-gasp winner over Bournemouth. The outfield will be the foundation of many fantasy teams in 2021. Bobby Abreu has had one of the strongest and most accurate arms in baseball in recent years. In Trout's only three games in the postseason, as the Angels were swept by the Royals in a 2014 division series, he went 1-for-12 with a solo home run and three walks. Lagares easily has the most rARM per 1,000 innings over the last three seasons. The well-rounded Betts is our second-ranked outfielder and No. All told, he hit .333 with 17 homers and a 1.158 OPS over 43 games in 2020. After back-to-back 20-plus-homer seasons in 2018 and 2019, Teoscar Hernandez showcased a more well-rounded offensive game last year, hitting .289/.340/.579 for a 146 OPS+ in 50 games to finish 11th in AL MVP voting and win a Silver Slugger Award. The wild card in this tier is Kelenic, MLB Pipelines No. This tier includes a number of power-speed options, led by Tucker and Robert, who both went 30/30 in the Minors in 2019 and continued to contribute on multiple fronts in '20. Over the past two seasons, he has a .393 on-base percentage, and an OPS+ of 140. Martinez, Charlie Blackmon, Teoscar Hernndez, Austin Meadows, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Furillo also has the distinction of having needed just one more hit in his career to have a .300 average, while he instead finished at .299. MLB Tonight: Outfield Arm. Despite only having played 15 seasons, Abreu is second on the active list for outfield assists with 132. The best player at the position was Ronald Acuna (.280 with 127 runs, 41 home runs, 101 RBI, and 37 steals . Ozuna, meanwhile, is back with the Braves after signing a four-year contract. Its certainly not about skill, and combined with Simmons fundamentals and defensive savvy, look out. Honorable Mention:Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals. The aisle of youth had two of the best young arms in Cuba but Raisel Iglesias and Yoan Lopez now represent two of the best Cuban arms in the Majors. Previous picks: Mookie Betts (hit), Joey Gallo (power), Christian Yelich (run), Harrison Bader (defense), Cody Bellinger, CF, DodgersKey stat: 101.1 mph max arm strength. Ken Griffey Jr. may have been the greatest player in baseball history had injuries not plagued him during his career. Speaker was mentioned in Bill James' Baseball Abstract of having the best arm of anyone who played between 1910-1919. After playing in just over 63 percent of the New York Yankees' games during the three-year stretch prior to this season, Aaron Judge finally stayed healthy and turned in an MVP-caliber campaign. He had just 18 swings and misses at in-zone pitches in the entire regular season. He was ranked the 40th-best free agent this offseason, per Giants Baseball Insider's rankings. Tagged: 2023 MLB Draft, MLB Draft, Dylan Crews, Jacob Gonzalez, Max Clark, Brock Wilken, Walker Jenkins, Christian Little, Patrick Reilly, Dylan Cupp, Thomas White, Enrique Bradfield, Tanner Witt, Jaxon Wiggins, Teddy McGraw, Carson Montgomery, TJ Nichols, Drew Bowser, Jackson Baumeister, Will Sanders, Blake Mitchell, Tre' Morgan, Tommy Troy, As the anchor of the Dodgers' package for Betts, Verdugo was the centerpiece in perhaps the most unpopular Boston baseball deal since Babe Ruth was shipped off to the Yankees, and he joined the Red Sox with a well-publicized reputation as a less-than-ideal teammate. Fantasy managers can still find some starting-caliber outfielders in this tier. The precision is there (nine errors across nearly 1,140 innings last year), and so is the power and reaction time. The speedy Straw was an everyday player for the first time in 2021, first replacing George Springer in center field in Houston before the Astros traded him to Cleveland at the deadline. Yelich is 29 years old. He threw a ball 445 feet and 10 inches in 1957 while he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A team. Before he retired in the middle the 2010 season, Junior was the active leader in outfield assists with 154. In a down year by his standards, Betts was still a 4.2 WAR player. Or his 92 mph rocket from right to nail Stephen Strasburg at first base and preserve a Hyun-Jin Ryu no-hit bid on May 12. He is, by any measure, the best outfielder and player of his generation.