LBB’s 2021 Midseason Top 150 MLB Players
Photo Via: Sean M. Haffey — Getty ImagesEarlier this year, Lunch Break Baseball unveiled the inaugural Preseason Top 150 MLB Players list, along with a promise to update the rankings at midseason and postseason checkpoints. Well, here we are in the middle of the 2021 regular season. Fortunately, this one is of the 162-game variety.
Since the initial release, players have helped and hurt their case all over the list. A number of players have made major league debuts, thereby making them eligible for Top 150 consideration. But one thing has not changed — Mike Trout is the best player in baseball. Despite a calf injury keeping him sidelined for much of the first half, the reigning #1 ranked player exemplified why he deserves to keep the top spot while on the shelf. In 36 games, Trout put up a 1.090 OPS and clubbed 8 home runs. However, many players right behind the Millville Meteor have stepped their game up as well.
Possibly nobody helped themselves more than Blue Jays’ star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Angels’ two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. What each of those players are doing is astounding and should keep them at the top of this list for quite some time.
As for the bad side, Yankees’ centerfielder Aaron Hicks, Brewers’ infielder Keston Hiura, Nationals’ centerfielder Victor Robles, and Mets’ outfielder Michael Conforto have disappeared off the list with no signs of imminent return.
Additionally, Trevor Bauer, Marcell Ozuna, and Ramón Laureano have each been removed from the list with suspensions pending.
In all its glory, here is the 2021 Midseason Top 150 MLB Players list:
Mike Trout — CF (Angels) (Previous Rank: 1)
The best player in baseball is now 30 years old. He already accrued 74.0 bWAR entering the 2021 season, which is downright remarkable. A calf injury has hampered this season for him, but when he returns, he will surely pick right up where he left off.
Juan Soto — RF (Nationals) (2)
At 19 years and 208 days old, Soto became the youngest player in Nationals’ history to hit a home run. The lefty was so good at such a young age that he turned 21 in the middle of the 2019 World Series… which he happened to star in!
Shohei Ohtani — SP, DH (Angels) (115)
Nobody blossomed into more of a superstar in 2021 than Shohei Ohtani. For the first time in his MLB career, Ohtani was healthy enough to prove that he can truly be a two-way player. The slugger participated in the Home Run Derby, batted leadoff for the American League, and was the starting pitcher as well! He became the first player ever selected to the All-Star Game as each a pitcher and a position player.
Fernando Tatís, Jr. — SS (Padres) (4)
There might not be another player as electric as Fernando. This year, he blasted his 50th career home run in just his 171st game, making him the quickest shortstop in MLB history to reach the mark. Get ready to see Fernando in the outfield — he is training to play there temporarily when he returns from a shoulder injury.
Mookie Betts — RF (Dodgers) (3)
Markus Lynn Betts can do it all. In 2017, he bowled a perfect game in the World Series of Bowling. The following year, he won the World Series with the Red Sox in a season where he took home the AL MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and batting title awards (he was the first player in MLB history to do all of that in the same season). He then won his second World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2020.
Jacob deGrom — SP (Mets) (6)
Jacob deGrom has cemented himself as the best pitcher in baseball. He put up video game type numbers through his first 15 starts of the 2021 season: his 1.08 ERA was the lowest in MLB history since earned runs became a statistic.
Ronald Acuña, Jr. — RF (Braves) (7)
The Braves’ superstar outfielder tore his ACL this summer, effectively ending his 2021 season. His ranking does not change because even in the half-season he played, the Venezuela native was able to smash 24 homers and steal 17 bases.
Trea Turner — SS (Dodgers) (18)
Trea was drafted 13th overall in 2014 by San Diego, but was traded the following offseason to the Nationals in a three-team deal. The trade was highlighted by Turner and Joe Ross being sent to Washington, Wil Myers to the Padres, and Steven Souza Jr. to the Rays. This year, he was shipped back west to California, but to Los Angeles where he and Max Scherzer joined the Dodgers before the trade deadline.
Freddie Freeman — 1B (Braves) (5)
Year in and year out, Freddie Freeman puts up some of the best numbers in the game. The Braves’ first baseman won the NL MVP in 2020. He was then selected to his 5th All-Star Game in 2021.
Vlad Guerrero, Jr. — 1B (Blue Jays) (94)
Everybody knew Vlad Jr. had the potential to be a premium MLB hitter. But after a few seasons without a breakout, the doubts crept in for some. Now, there is not even a shadow of a doubt that the Blue Jays’ first baseman is one of the best hitters in baseball. He won the 2019 Home Run Derby. In 2021, he was selected to his first All-Star Game.
Manny Machado — 3B (Padres) (12)
When Manny Machado signed his 10 year, $300M deal with the Padres, some believed he was exiting the spotlight. That could not have been more wrong. The Padres have garnered endless attention since Machado joined the club, especially with the arrival of the man who stands to Manny’s left in the field. In 2020, Machado played in all 60 games. He was then selected as an NL All-Star in 2021.
Aaron Judge — RF, CF (Yankees) (11)
Yankee Stadium has a section in the right field seats called “The Judge’s Chambers” as a nod to the big right fielder. He was selected to his third career All-Star Game in 2021.
Bryce Harper — RF (Phillies) (27)
The former MVP enjoys connecting with fans in Philadelphia. He does the signature “Bryce bow” to the fans in right field prior to each game. Even when fans were not allowed at games in 2020, Harper bowed to the section behind him each game.
Gerrit Cole — SP (Yankees) (9)
In 2008, the Yankees selected Cole out of Orange-Lutheran High School (CA) in the first round. Although he ultimately decided to attend college instead, the Yankees eventually got their man. That does not mean it did not take some convincing. The Yankees gave the right-hander $324M to come to New York.
José Ramírez — 3B (Indians) (13)
Ramírez grew up in the Dominican Republic playing a game called Vitilla, using a stick to swing at bottle caps. Now, he is one of the best at swinging the lumber in MLB. In fact, he has finished in the top three of the AL MVP race three times already.
Corey Seager — SS (Dodgers) (17)
The reigning World Series MVP suffered a fractured hand and has yet to get rolling this season, but he will still receive tons of attention this offseason when he becomes a free agent. Seager belted 8 home runs in the 2021 Postseason, leading the Dodgers to victory in the Fall Classic.
Walker Buehler — SP (Dodgers) (36)
Buehler is on his way to having a career year in 2021, although his past few seasons have been impressive in their own right. He seems to show up for big games, as he has only allowed 1 earned run in 13 innings over his 2 World Series starts.
Shane Bieber — SP (Indians) (19)
One season after winning the Triple Crown, Bieber recorded another impressive feat. In 2021, he became the first pitcher since 1893 to rack up at least 10 strikeouts in each of his first four starts of the season.
Nolan Arenado — 3B (Cardinals) (20)
All he does is churn out Platinum and Gold Gloves. He has earned the Gold in 8 consecutive seasons so far. Arenado did not fly under the radar. He was the Arizona Fall League’s MVP in 2011. He also played in the Futures Game in 2011 and 2012.
Zack Wheeler — SP (Phillies) (124)
The righty was named to his first All-Star team in 2021. He is well on his way to the best season of his career. Wheeler was originally drafted by the Giants, then was traded to the Mets for Carlos Beltrán in 2011. He signed with the Phillies as a free agent in December of 2019.
Corbin Burnes — SP (Brewers) (80)
At the start of the 2021 season, Burnes refused to issue a walk. In fact, he set the major league record for most strikeouts without a walk to begin a season (58 strikeouts).
Rafael Devers — 3B (Red Sox) (45)
Rafael Devers hit his 100th career home run in 2021. The 24-year-old loves driving in runs and extra-base hits. In 2019, he led the AL with 54 doubles.
Kris Bryant — 3B, LF (Giants) (44)
Bryant was traded to the Giants at the last hour before the trade deadline in 2021. He now plays left field in addition to third base. He also has a World Series ring, an NL MVP Award, and an NL Rookie of the Year Award… impressive.
J.T. Realmuto — C (Phillies) (25)
The Phillies nearly lost Realmuto to free agency in the offseason, but instead he signed a 5-year, $115.5M deal to stay in Philadelphia. He eclipsed the 100 career home run and 50 career stolen bases marks in 2021.
Carlos Correa — SS (Astros) (30)
Correa will be a free agent after the 2021 season and he was very vocal about the Astros’ extension offer to him prior to this season. He thinks he was lowballed, so this could be the final season the shortstop plays in Houston where he was drafted number one overall.
Xander Bogaerts — SS (Red Sox) (31)
The ‘X-Man’ was actually born in Aruba and remains the only player ever born there to become an MLB All-Star. Bogaerts wears No. 2 as his uniform number as an homage to Derek Jeter, despite the fact that he plays for Boston.
Jose Altuve — 2B (Astros) (62)
The hits machine led the American League in the category from 2014 to 2017. The fewest amount of hits he had in the timeframe was 200 knocks in 2015. He also led the AL in batting average in three of the four years.
Bo Bichette — SS (Blue Jays) (41)
You might remember another baseball (also football) player named Bo. You might also remember another baseball player named Bichette. Well, Bo Bichette’s father, Dante Bichette, was a teammate of Bo Jackson in the major leagues. He loved Jackson so much that he actually named his son after him. Bo Bichette’s middle name is Joseph, also named after a teammate of his father — Joe Girardi.
Matt Olson — 1B (Athletics) (58)
After a down year in the shortened 2020 season, Olson bounced back to have an All-Star season in 2021. He is a top notch first baseman and is very durable. He already has two seasons where he has played in all of the Athletics’ games.
Trevor Story — SS (Rockies) (21)
It was a bit of a surprise that Trevor Story remained with the Rockies beyond the 2021 trade deadline. He is due to become a free agent after the season. The shortstop participated in the Home Run Derby in his home stadium this year.
José Abreu — 1B (White Sox) (28)
The Cuban-born Abreu won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2014 and the AL MVP Award in 2020. He is currently on a quest to lead the American League in runs batted in, as he has done in each of the last two seasons.
Max Scherzer — SP (Dodgers) (37)
Mad Max is now a member of the Dodgers after a trade sent him and Trea Turner out west. The three-time Cy Young winner is likely to eclipse 3,000 career strikeouts this season (but if not, then early next season).
Lance Lynn — SP (White Sox) (125)
Lynn was traded from the Rangers to the White Sox this past offseason and he has fit right in with the South Siders. He picked up his 1,500th career strikeout this season.
Will Smith — C (Dodgers) (40)
The Dodgers have themselves a franchise catcher in Will Smith. He handles the pitching staff extremely well, helped them win a World Series, and can really hit. He was drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft and already has two major league seasons with an OPS north of .900 (2019 and 2020).
Christian Yelich — RF (Brewers) (10)
In 2019, Christian Yelich took part in the ESPN: The Magazine Body Issue to one Twitter user’s disliking. The user, named Roxane, tweeted at Yelich calling the photoshoot “really sad” and wanted the former MVP to think about young kids. Yelich replied, “Relax Roxane,” then walked up to “Roxanne” by The Police in his next game.
Yu Darvish — SP (Padres) (24)
The Padres went out and got Darvish via trade last offseason. The Japanese right-hander picked up his 1,500th career strikeout this season, but he also has another 1,250 punch-outs from the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.
Anthony Rendon — 3B (Angels) (14)
This year has not been one to remember for Rendon, but mostly due to health issues. The third baseman has earned some good will, however, because the four seasons prior to 2021 were as good as it gets. He led MLB with 126 RBI in 2019 and led the National League with 44 doubles in 2018 and 2019.
George Springer — CF (Blue Jays) (43)
The George Springer Kids’ Fund assists families in need with sending their child to Camp SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young). Springer himself has been vocal about overcoming the challenge of having a stutter and serves as a National Spokesperson for SAY.
Byron Buxton — CF (Twins) (81)
Buxton was ranked as the top draft prospect by MLB.com for the 2012 draft class. Since then, he topped the site’s preseason prospect rankings on two occasions. The raw talent is undeniable. Buxton possesses the uncanny ability to track down fly balls in centerfield. His combination of speed and hand-eye coordination make him a pitcher’s best friend. In 2017, he won the AL Platinum Glove Award.
Tim Anderson — SS (White Sox) (38)
The 2019 AL Batting Title winner swings the bat well, and slams it well too. The shortstop’s home run celebrations include the signature bat slam.
D.J. LeMahieu — 2B, 1B, 3B (Yankees) (8)
In 2020, LeMahieu became the first player in MLB history to win the Batting Title in both leagues. He won the NL Batting Title in 2016 with the Rockies.
Francisco Lindor — SS (Mets) (15)
Lindor, born in Puerto Rico, knew he was going to be a star, even when he was young. He told his parents he was going to learn English because he wanted to do interviews in the language when he was a major league ballplayer. Not only did he learn the language, but he also became one of the greatest shortstops this game has ever seen.
Ozzie Albies — 2B (Braves) (46)
Albies is one of sixteen Curaçao-born players to ever play MLB. Out of the bunch, six are active major leaguers. The switch-hitting second baseman already has an All-Star Game selection and a Silver Slugger Award to his name.
Jack Flaherty — SP (Cardinals) (42)
In 2019, Jack set the Cardinals franchise record with 10.6 K/9. He bested that mark in 2018 and 2020 as well, but did not have enough innings to qualify. He put himself in great position to win his salary arbitration hearing this offseason.
Randy Arozarena — LF (Rays) (49)
The 2020 Postseason icon still qualifies as a rookie in 2021. The Cuban-born outfielder defected to Mexico and even spent the offseason riding and racing against horses.
Brandon Woodruff — SP (Brewers) (74)
This pitcher can hit, and in important spots too. He became the first and only left-handed batting pitcher to hit a home run off a left-handed pitcher in a Postseason game. In the 2018 NLCS, he drilled a four-bagger off of Clayton Kershaw.
Cody Bellinger — CF, RF, 1B (Dodgers) (16)
He has been the NL Rookie of the Year, the NL MVP, a Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger winner, and a World Series winner. Speaking of which, Cody hit a home run in the 2020 World Series, then popped his shoulder out while celebrating with Kiké Hernández. He had his shoulder popped right back in and did not miss an inning.
Anthony Rizzo — 1B (Yankees) (59)
The longtime Cubs’ leader was traded to the Yankees at the deadline in 2021. He immediately made franchise history by becoming the first Yankee ever to record at least one RBI in each of his first six games with the club. A New Jersey pastry shop already had a dessert named after him due to his family ties to the area.
Paul Goldschmidt — 1B (Cardinals) (26)
He is an All-Star caliber first baseman, but Goldschmidt does just as much off the field. His foundation ‘Goldy’s Fund 4 Kids’ provides assistance to families with children in the hospital.
Marcus Semien — 2B, SS (Blue Jays) (117)
Semien made the move from shortstop to second base when he signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays. It was a bit surprising that he did not land a long-term deal, but with a competitive shortstop market approaching, some teams may have been wary about committing to the position long-term until after the 2021 season. The gamble by Semien has paid off and he should land a multi-year contract this offseason.
Jesse Winker — OF (Reds) (Unranked)
The left-handed outfielder is quietly putting together an impressive career. Although 2021 is considered to be his breakout season, Winker’s lowest OPS in five years is .830 (2019).
Michael Brantley — DH, LF (Astros) (54)
It makes perfect sense that Michael Brantley is the son of a former major league player and hitting coach. His father, Mickey Brantley, played for the Mariners and served as the hitting coach for the Mets and Blue Jays. The guidance paid off, as Michael ranked in the 93rd percentile in whiff rate in 2020, per Baseball Savant. His career high for strikeouts in a season is 76, which is very impressive for a 12-year veteran with 4,800 at bats. Another fun fact, Michael was the “player to be named later” in the trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers in 2008.
Tyler Glasnow — SP (Rays) (68)
Glasnow may be out a while, since he had Tommy John surgery this summer. However, he was on fire in 2021. Glasnow added a slider to his pitch arsenal, helping him strike out 123 batters in 88 innings.
Whit Merrifield — 2B, OF (Royals) (50)
It should be no surprise that his nickname is “Two Hit Whit.” In 2018 and 2019, Merrifield was responsible for 398 total hits, as he led the majors in both seasons.
Matt Chapman — 3B (Athletics) (23)
There are not many, if any, better at the hot corner than Matt Chapman. At 28, Chapman already has a pair of Platinum Gloves.
Javier Báez — SS (Mets) (32)
As part of the Cubs’ purge of their veteran players, Báez was shipped to New York to play for the Mets. Earlier this season with Chicago, Báez wreaked havoc on the base paths when he ran backwards to avoid a tag by Pirates’ first baseman Will Craig, who panicked and threw home before touching first base. Báez made it to third base safely on the play.
Nelson Cruz — DH (Rays) (63)
Talk about getting better with age. Since his age-34 season, Cruz has more home runs (204 homers prior to this season) than before his age-34 season (197 homers).
Josh Hader — RP (Brewers) (66)
The left-handed reliever has dominated hitters since his debut in 2017. He boasts a career 2.54 ERA and a ridiculous 15.3 K/9 rate. His strikeout rate and whiff rate have each ranked in the top four percent in each of the past three seasons, per Baseball Savant.
Yordan Álvarez — DH (Astros) (88)
Álvarez got the callup in the 2019 season and immediately began terrorizing pitchers across baseball. He slugged 27 homers and had 26 doubles in 87 games. The Cuban-born 23-year-old already has an All-MLB Second Team selection under his belt (2019).
Chris Sale — SP (Red Sox) (60)
The lanky lefty finished in the top-6 of AL Cy Young Award voting in seven consecutive seasons (2012-2018). He is set to return from Tommy John surgery in the near future.
Salvador Pérez — C (Royals) (72)
In 2006, the Kansas City Royals signed Salvador Pérez for $65,000. They would probably do it again. Pérez turned into their franchise catcher, a World Series MVP and champion, six-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner, and three-time Silver Slugger.
José Berríos — SP (Twins) (100)
José’s wife is the sister of Javier Báez’s wife, so that is a fun family matchup to look out for in 2021. Berríos has pitched for Puerto Rico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics.
Justin Turner — 3B (Dodgers) (75)
Turner was drafted by the Reds, then bounced to the Orioles and Mets. The Mets non-tendered the third baseman after the 2013 season. His chances of returning to the majors were becoming slim, but Dodgers’ bench coach Tim Wallach noticed Turner hitting at an alumni game in California. The rest is history for the L.A. Legend.
Hyun Jin Ryu — SP (Blue Jays) (76)
Ryu was the first Korean player to ever sign with an MLB team via the posting system. In 2013, he became the first Korean player to be the starting pitcher in an MLB Postseason game. Ryu’s gane flourished, and the 2019 and 2020 seasons included All-MLB Second Team selections for the lefty.
Liam Hendriks — RP (White Sox) (78)
The Perth, Australia native became the AL Reliever of the Year in 2020. He has also received two nominations for the Roberto Clemente Award, to recognize the work he has done with Big League Impact and Striking Out Poverty — organizations focused on ending poverty in the Dominican Republic.
Cedric Mullins — OF (Orioles) (Unranked)
Mullins used to be a switch-hitter, but after seeing the numbers prove that he was far better from the left side he decided to stay there full-time. It was a great decision and it has helped catapult Mullins into an All-Star. Mullins can do basically everything on a baseball field. He runs well, hits for average, and has displayed some nice pop in 2021.
Ketel Marte — 2B, CF (Diamondbacks) (79)
Marte finished fourth in the 2019 NL MVP race, but you can argue he started his breakout in 2018. That season, he led the majors with 12 triples, as part of his 52 extra-base hits. The switch-hitter mostly played centerfield in 2019, but moved back to second base in 2020.
Joey Gallo — RF (Yankees) (91)
Gallo played 57 games last season and was able to produce a 1.4 bWAR even while batting .181 on the year. He has 2 seasons of 40+ home runs on his resumé, so do not be surprised if he does it again in 2021.
Kevin Gausman — SP (Giants) (Unranked)
The right-hander was the 4th overall pick out of LSU in 2012. He is one of many players on this list who were selected to their first All-Star Game in 2021. The Giants gave him a qualifying offer last offseason, which he accepted. So Gausman is on a one-year deal and will likely get a pay day this winter.
Buster Posey — C (Giants) (Unranked)
After missing the 2020 season when his family adopted two children during the pandemic, Posey came back better than ever. The future Hall of Fame catcher is in the midst of one of his best seasons and added yet another All-Star selection to his resumè. He already has three World Series wins, an NL MVP Award, and an NL Rookie of the Year Award to go along with the seven All-Star selections.
Teoscar Hernández — RF, CF, LF (Blue Jays) (137)
A free-swinger and home run hitter are the best ways to describe Hernández. He flashed signs of power in the bat over the two seasons prior to 2020, but he took it to another level in 2020. In just 190 at bats, he smoked 16 homers.
Max Muncy — 1B, 2B (Dodgers) (102)
Muncy loves hitting bombs. He famously told Madison Bumgarner to get one of them “out of the ocean.” He also hit the latest walk-off home run in World Series history when he hit a towering fly ball that cleared the left/center wall in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the 2018 Fall Classic.
Nicholas Castellanos — OF (Reds) (Unranked)
In 2019, Castellanos had an incredible stretch after being traded to the Cubs at the deadline. He posted a .321 average with 16 homers in his two months there. After a sub-par 2020, he is having the best season of his 9-year career in 2021. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
Starling Marté — CF (Athletics) (106)
Contact and speed are two of Marté’s standout traits. He has ranked no lower than the thirteenth percentile in sprint speed, per Baseball Savant. In 2020, he managed to play 61 games, since he was traded midseason to the Marlins, who had more games remaining than the Diamondbacks.
Eloy Jimenez — LF (White Sox) (64)
The young man arrived in 2019, smacked 31 dingers, then came back in 2020 and hit the ball hard again. Per Baseball Savant in 2020, he ranked in the 98th percentile for hard-hit percentage and the 96th percentile for barreled-ball percentage.
J.D. Martinez — DH, RF, LF (Red Sox) (90)
J.D. was released by the Houston Astros in 2014. He joined the Tigers then was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2017. Later that season, he became the 18th player in MLB history to smash 4 home runs in a game, which he did against the Dodgers. He signed with the Red Sox that following offseason and won a World Series ring in 2018 in his first season in Boston.
Pete Alonso — 1B (Mets) (51)
Hitting 53 home runs is not easy, no matter how many years you have played in the big-leagues. But Alonso did it in his first season in 2019, setting the MLB rookie home run record. He earned the NL Rookie of the Year Award during that same campaign.
Aaron Nola — SP (Phillies) (53)
Aaron has a brother, Austin, who also plays in the major leagues (for the Padres). The two brothers attended the same college, LSU. Aaron was college roommates with Astros’ third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bryan Reynolds — CF, LF (Pirates) (Unranked)
Reynolds finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, then had a down year in 2020. This year, he became an All-Star for the first time. He is a switch-hitting centerfielder.
Austin Meadows — RF, DH (Rays) (135)
Austin’s younger brother, Parker Meadows, was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Tigers. Austin is already in the big-leagues and has shown that he belongs. He was an All-Star in 2019 and finished 14th in AL MVP voting that season.
Carlos Rodón — SP (White Sox) (Unranked)
Rodón was so close to throwing a perfect game this season. He ultimately did get a no-hitter, with the only baserunner being Roberto Pérez on a hit by pitch. Rodón was also selected to his first career All-Star Game in 2021.
Trevor Rogers — SP (Marlins) (Unranked)
The southpaw was drafted out of high school in New Mexico to the Marlins in the first round in 2017. Something clicked for him at the end of 2020 and he carried it over into 2021, where he earned his first All-Star selection.
Mike Yastrzemski — RF, CF (Giants) (55)
Everybody loves a good baseball pedigree, well with Mike, we get a great one. His grandfather is the former MVP and Triple Crown winner, current Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. In his first game ever at Fenway Park, Mike smashed a home run with grandpa Carl in attendance.
Kyle Tucker — LF (Astros) (97)
Kyle was selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft when Houston picked him 5th overall. At that time, his brother Preston was on the Astros’ major league team.
Lucas Giolito — SP (White Sox) (57)
Look at that, another Harvard-Westlake product! Giolito threw a no-no in 2020, and did so on only 101 pitches while racking up 13 punchies. He did so with a three-pitch mix, too. In the outing, he only used a four-seamer, a slider, and a changeup… impressive.
Willson Contreras — C (Cubs) (86)
The Venezuelan backstop has played his entire professional career with the Cubs organization. It took about seven years, but he got the call to the majors in 2016. On the first pitch of his first at bat, he blasted a home run. It turned out to be a pretty good year for Contreras, as he went on to help the Cubs break the curse and win the World Series.
Stephen Strasburg — SP (Nationals) (47)
He was the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. A decade later, he led the major leagues in wins and innings pitched, then went on to win the World Series MVP. Strasburg has an immaculate inning on his resumé, too. Injuries have decimated 2021 for him, but he is likely to rebound.
Charlie Morton — SP (Braves) (77)
When the calendar flips to October, you are probably going to see Morton on the mound. In his career, he has won an MLB record four winner-take-all Postseason games. In 2017, he won Game 7 of the ALCS and World Series for the Astros. In 2019, he won the Wild Card game for the Rays. Then in 2020, he won Game 7 of the ALCS for the Rays against his former team, the Astros.
Devin Williams — RP (Brewers) (93)
Williams has a nasty changeup that is borderline unhittable. Need proof? In the 2020 season, he maintained a 0.33 ERA in 27 innings. His 17.7 K/9 was also extremely impressive.
Giancarlo Stanton — DH, LF (Yankees) (29)
Everybody knows Giancarlo has possibly the best raw power in the game. It was on full display in the 2020 Postseason. He hit 6 home runs in 7 games last October.
Chris Taylor — 2B, SS, LF, CF (Dodgers) (Unranked)
It is always nice when a team has a player that can be put anywhere on the field without a worry. The Dodgers have that in Chris Taylor. In 2016, Taylor hit his first career home run — a grand slam.
Luis Castillo — SP (Reds) (65)
In 2019, the changeup became Castillo’s primary pitch. Upon doing so, his ERA and HR/9 rate each dropped from the previous season. His K/9 rate also jumped to 10.7 in 2019 and 11.4 in 2020, so it is safe to say the new pitch mix is working.
Freddy Peralta — SP (Brewers) (Unranked)
Peralta’s career started out strong. He set the Brewers’ franchise record with 13 strikeouts in his major league debut in 2018. The righty has found sustained success in 2021 and should be on this list for quite a while.
Alex Reyes — RP (Cardinals) (Unranked)
Arm injuries took over Reyes’ career, but he has found a way to overcome the adversity. He shortened his arm path and it has resulted in him becoming the closer for the Cardinals.
Brandon Crawford — SS (Giants) (Unranked)
The veteran shortstop has joined many of his Giants teammates in turning back the clock in 2021. He earned his third career All-Star selection.
Drew Pomeranz — RP (Padres) (92)
Pomeranz desperately needed a reboost to his career. He found it in 2019 when the Brewers moved the lefty to the bullpen. He registered 45 strikeouts in 26.1 innings for Milwaukee, then rejoined the Padres in the offseason. He kept the momentum going in 2020 with a 1.45 ERA and enters 2021 as one of the league’s best relief pitchers.
Brandon Lowe — 2B (Rays) (103)
Brandon Lowe struggled during the second half of 2020 through the Postseason… until Game 2 of the World Series. Then, he “(kept) his booty back,” as his offseason hitting trainer stated, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In Game 2, he led the Rays to victory by parking a pair of dingers over the left field wall. Lowe will try to do the same in 2021, as he has shown great potential since arriving in the majors in 2018.
Franmil Reyes — DH (Indians) (110)
‘La Mole’ means “The Beast,” and that is exactly the way to describe Reyes. The 6’5”, 265 pounder hit 37 tanks in 2019 and is adding to his career home run total each week.
Jonathan Loáisiga — RP (Yankees) (Unranked)
One change has made a huge difference in Loáisiga’s career: he is using his two-seam fastball as his main pitch, instead of his four-seamer. It has turned him into a remarkable ground ball pitcher. Oh… and he can throw it over 100 mph, by the way. He could very well be a closer in the near future.
Luis Robert — CF (White Sox) (95)
Luis Robert is a classic five-tool player. His hitting is still improving, but the young outfielder already has a Gold Glove to his name.
Gio Urshela — 3B (Yankees) (85)
Urshela has developed into one of the better all-around third basemen in the game. This must have been a surprise to at least two front offices, because twice the Colombian corner infielder was dealt in exchange for cash considerations. In fact, the Yankees only paid Toronto $25,000 for Urshela. Not a bad deal.
Ke’Bryan Hayes — 3B (Pirates) (87)
Ke’Bryan is the son of former major league third baseman, Charlie Hayes. But now he is making a name for himself in the league. He put up a ridiculous 1.9 bWAR over 24 games in 2020, the season of his MLB debut.
Chris Bassitt — SP (Athletics) (Unranked)
In 2020, Bassitt finished 8th in Cy Young Award voting. In 2021, the righty was selected to his first career All-Star Game at 32-years-old. He is a true 5-pitch pitcher who changes speed and location to keep hitters guessing.
Trent Grisham — CF (Padres) (111)
When the Brewers drafted him in the first round of the 2015 draft, he was known as Trent Clark. But two years later, he legally changed his name to Trent Grisham, which matches his mother’s last name. He now has a Gold Glove to his name too, as he took home the award in 2020.
Blake Snell — SP (Padres) (48)
In 2018, Snell led the major leagues in wins (21) and the AL in ERA (1.89). Those look like video game numbers, and speaking of which, Snell is a popular video game streamer in his spare time.
A.J. Pollock — LF, DH (Dodgers) (121)
Pollock is finally a World Series champion, but he will tell you that his proudest 2020 achievement was becoming a father to a baby girl, who was miraculously born into this world amongst worrisome circumstances.
Luke Voit — 1B (Yankees) (39)
A lot of players are tough, but not many are as tough as Luke Voit. The 2020 MLB home run king once took a fastball to the face in 2019. In what would have been a scary moment for most, Voit walked it off and stayed in the game. No word yet on whether the ball survived the collision.
Adam Frazier — 2B, LF (Padres) (Unranked)
The Padres traded for Frazier from the Pirates prior to the 2021 trade deadline. The Georgia native attended Mississippi State and was drafted in the sixth round in 2013.
Trey Mancini — RF, 1B, DH (Orioles) (133)
Trey did not play during the 2020 season because he was diagnosed with cancer and entered a battle to get healthy, going through rounds of chemotherapy. In 2021, he got back on the field and even competed in the Home Run Derby.
Julio Urías — SP, RP (Dodgers) (129)
You might notice that Urías wears eyeglasses on the playing field — and there is a reason. The young left-hander has undergone four eye surgeries in his lifetime. That has not stopped the 24 year old from finding success in the majors. He has a career 3.20 ERA in 239 innings. Last season, he recorded the final out of the 2020 World Series clincher on a strikeout of Willy Adames.
Ryan Mountcastle — LF, 1B (Orioles) (116)
He might not have a full time defensive home quite yet, but Mountcastle can certainly rely on staying in the major leagues for a long time. He will likely play left field after playing shortstop and both corner infield spots throughout the minor leagues. He logged a very respectable 140 OPS+ in his debut season.
Garrett Crochet — RP (White Sox) (128)
The left-handed reliever became the first player in ten years to be drafted and play a major league game before playing in a minor league game. However, he did play at the alternate site as part of the 60-man player pool prior to his call-up. When he entered the big-leagues, hitters could not touch his stuff. His fastball averages over 100 miles per hour and he did not allow a run in 6.2 innings between his debut season and Postseason.
Aroldis Chapman — RP (Yankees) (69)
The flamethrowing closer nicknamed ‘The Cuban Missile’ has been a major leaguer for 11 years already. In 2008, he attempted to defect from Cuba, but failed to do so and was banned from the Cuban national team for a year. Just over a year later in 2009, Chapman, who re-joined the Cuban national team, traveled to the Netherlands for the World Port Tournament. Without advanced notice to his immediate family members and girlfriend (Chapman says he made the final decision to defect within the hour he did so), Chapman hopped in a car at the team hotel and left the Netherlands, establishing residency in Andorra. This made him eligible for MLB free agency for the first time.
Kyle Schwarber — LF (Red Sox) (Unranked)
June of 2021 was the month of Kyle Schwarber. From June 12th to June 29th, Schwarber hit 16 jacks. The big lefty earned his first All-Star selection but was unable to play in the game due to a strained hamstring. He ultimately was traded to the Red Sox just prior to the trade deadline.
Joe Musgrove — SP (Padres) (Unranked)
The right-handed San Diego area native became the first pitcher in franchise history to throw a no-hitter. In fact, the feat was so monumental that a mural was made to commemorate the moment at Musgrove’s old high school.
Zac Gallen — SP (Diamondbacks) (83)
Gallen is one of the game’s most under-appreciated young pitchers. In 152 career innings, he has posted a 2.78 ERA and 10.5 K/9 rate. He was traded from the Marlins in 2019 for Jazz Chisholm. But some might not know he was originally traded from the Cardinals to the Marlins in the 2017 trade that sent Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis.
Austin Riley — 3B (Braves) (Unranked)
Being a big, slugging third baseman resulted in many comparisons between Riley and former Angels’ great Troy Glaus. The comparisons seemed like a stretch for a while, but 2021 has been a breakout season for Riley. He has already surpassed 20 homers, blowing by his previous season-high of 18.
Corey Kluber — SP (Yankees) (114)
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is often referred to as the ‘Klubot’ because of his machine-like routine and practice methods. The righty once struck out 18 hitters in one outing, against the Cardinals in 2015. Even better, he threw a no-hitter against the Rangers in 2021.
Rhys Hoskins — 1B (Phillies) (138)
When he was called up to the majors in 2017, ‘Rhys Lightning’ was born. The slugger became the quickest player in MLB history to reach 10 home runs (the record has since been broken by Aristides Aquino).
Jonathan India — 2B, 3B (Reds) (Unranked)
The Reds’ rookie attended the University of Florida where he won a College World Series title in 2017. He was then the 5th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Nick Madrigal — 2B (Cubs) (107)
It has been a rollercoaster season for Nick Madrigal, also known as ‘Nicky Two Strikes’. It took a while, but Madrigal finally cracked his first major league home run this season. He then had an unfortunate season-ending injury and was later traded from the South Side to the North Side at the deadline.
Nick Anderson — RP (Rays) (122)
Anderson’s K/9 rate is downright ridiculous (15.0). He is already 30 years old and heading into his third season, so he did not arrive early to the big-leagues, but he did arrive ready. The righty reliever struggled in the 2020 Postseason, but he only allowed 1 run in 16.1 innings in the 2020 regular season.
Mitch Garver — C (Twins) (136)
Garver’s 2019 season has been the highlight of his career so far. It was a monster year for the catcher, as he drilled 31 homers in just 311 at bats. His .995 OPS that year is 246 points higher than any other of his seasons.
Willy Adames — SS (Brewers) (Unranked)
The shortstop was traded from the Rays to the Brewers early in the 2021 season. Once he got to Milwaukee, his bat took off. During the 2020 World Series, Mookie Betts had a conversation with Adames while standing on second base. Betts told him he can help him improve his offense and put Adames in touch with his offseason hitting trainer. Adames has since crushed the ball with the Brewers, which he also partially attributes to being out of Tropicana Field where he had trouble seeing the ball.
James Karinchak — RP (Indians) (141)
Few pitchers move around on the mound more than James Karinchak. The right-hander spins the baseball and talks to himself out there. He is clearly hyped up when his name is called to come in to pitch.
Jeff McNeil — 2B, LF (Mets) (61)
There are few, if any, better contact hitters in the league than McNeil. He has never finished a season below a batting average of .311 in his career. Versatility is part of McNeil’s game too, as he played second base, third base, left field, and right field in 2020.
Kyle Lewis — CF (Mariners) (71)
Like Trevor Story, the callup of Kyle Lewis was met with immediate success. He joined Story to become the only other player in MLB history to homer in each of his first three major league games. Even when the calendar flipped to 2020, Lewis took the success with him and earned the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
Noah Syndergaard — SP (Mets) (105)
Few pitchers in the majors have the frame and physique that ‘Thor’ possesses. Pitching might be what Syndergaard is best known for, but he can add acting to the list. He appeared on an episode of “Game of Thrones”, the HBO show he was a huge fan of, although the appearance was brief.
Zack Greinke — SP (Astros) (149)
Greinke has a host of accolades earned over his 18-year career. He won the Cy Young Award back in 2009 and has been awarded with 6 Gold Gloves and 2 Silver Sluggers. He has been selected to 6 All-Star Games. But Greinke claims that his next goal is to join the 10-10 club. He currently has 9 career home runs and 9 career stolen bases, but with the universal DH looming, he does not know how many tries he will have at the achievement.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. — 2B, SS (Marlins) (Unranked)
Currently, Jazz plays second base. He could become the future shortstop — the position he played in the minor leagues. Jazz was born and raised in the Bahamas and is one of baseball’s most exciting players. He is a free-swinger, so a little plate discipline may sharpen his game and take him to the next level. In April of this season, he parked a 100 mph deGrom fastball in the upper deck for a home run, despite the pitch being located above the strike zone.
Alex Verdugo — RF, CF, LF (Red Sox) (143)
Verdugo grew up in Tucson, Arizona and is of Mexican descent. He even played for the Mexican National Team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, at just 20 years old. He was traded from the Dodgers to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts trade.
Yasmani Grandal — C (White Sox) (82)
Grandal made his major league debut with the Padres against the Rockies at Coors Field. ‘Yaz’ hit a home run in the fourth inning for his first career hit, doing so from the right side of the plate. Two innings later, he recorded his second career hit, another home run, but from the left side of the dish. He became the first player in MLB history whose first two big-league hits were homers from each batter’s box.
Ian Anderson — SP (Braves) (118)
Ian has a twin brother, Ben Anderson, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2019. In Ian’s debut against the New York Yankees in 2020, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. It was spoiled by Luke Voit’s one out solo homer.
Ryan McMahon — 3B, 2B, 1B (Rockies) (Unranked)
McMahon is among the game’s most underrated defensive players. He can play any infield position at a high level. He has been in the Rockies’ system for a while — he was taken in the second round of the 2013 draft.
Craig Kimbrel — RP (White Sox) (Unranked)
The 2011 NL Rookie of the Year is now a grizzled veteran. Kimbrel is finally back to form after two disastrous seasons. From 2011 to 2014, he led the NL in saves, but has yet to do so since then. He represented the Cubs in the 2021 All-Star Game, but was traded to the White Sox at the deadline.
Max Fried — SP (Braves) (56)
Most know about Max’s high school, Harvard-Westlake, as it produced Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty. That’s a pretty solid trio to come from one place. But you might not know that, although pitcher records are deployed less often these days in conversation, Max did not lose a game in the 2020 season (7-0 record).
Mark Melancon — RP (Padres) (Unranked)
The 36-year-old closer form Colorado earned his fourth career All-Star Game selection in 2021. He has had plenty of save opportunities with the Padres and he has made sure to cash them in. In the 2020 Postseason, Melancon pitched 6.1 innings without allowing an earned run for the Atlanta Braves.
Dansby Swanson — SS (Braves) (145)
The Braves shortstop is a native Georgian. He grew up in Marietta, Georgia before attending Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He was drafted first overall by the Diamondbacks and then traded to his home state.
Josh Donaldson — 3B (Twins) (70)
The ‘Bringer of Rain’ was brought to the major leagues as a catcher. Since converting to third base, he has won an AL MVP (2015), been selected to three All-Star Games (2014-2016), won the AL Hank Aaron Award (2015), earned the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award (2019), and took home two Silver Sluggers (2015 & 2016).
Gleyber Torres — SS (Yankees) (35)
Gleyber has made massive improvements defensively, but the trade-off has been on the offensive side. He added another feature to his game in 2021 — stealing bases.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa — SS (Rangers) (Unranked)
How often does a player change positions after winning a Gold Glove in the prior season? Well, that is what Kiner-Falefa did. Last year, he won a Gold Glove at third base, but he asked to be moved to shortstop since he can handle the challenge. He came up to the big leagues in 2018 as a catcher!
Luis Severino — SP (Yankees) (126)
‘Sevy’ is a great talent with an unfortunate history of injuries, but is slated to return in the middle of the 2021 season. He has spent his entire career in Yankees’ Pinstripes, but according to him, it almost did not happen. He nearly ended up with the Rockies and Marlins before he ultimately signed with the Yankees.
Charlie Blackmon — RF (Rockies) (84)
‘Chuck Nazty’ has had an amazing career so far. His best season was in 2017 when he became the first Batting Title winner to ever lead the majors in hits, runs, triples, and total bases. He also joined an exclusive club of hitters that drove in 100 runs from the leadoff spot (104 RBI in 2017).
Tyler O’Neill — OF (Cardinals) (Unranked)
The Canadian outfielder earned his first career Gold Glove in 2020. He has found his way at the plate as well and is on his way to having his best offensive season. He has already set his single-season career best mark in home runs.
Kyle Hendricks — SP (Cubs) (123)
‘The Professor’ is a smart guy on and off the pitcher’s mound. He earned a degree in economics from Dartmouth College. He also led the major leagues in ERA with a 2.13 in 2016, the same year he helped the Cubs lift the World Series trophy for the first time in nearly eleven decades.
Ha-seong Kim — SS, 2B, 3B, LF (Padres) (148)
The Padres signed Kim out of the Korean Baseball Organization and you can see why. He is incredibly fast and truly a gem on the defensive side. The bat will need to catch up, but surely after an adjustment period we will see better swings.
Adolis García — OF (Rangers) (Unranked)
‘El Bombi’ originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Rangers got him for cash considerations. It was a clear mistake by the Cardinals because García is a five-tool outfielder in Texas now.
Yuli Gurriel — 1B (Astros) (Unranked)
Yuli’s brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., plays for the Blue Jays. Their father, Lourdes Gurriel Sr., was one of the best professional baseball players in the history of Cuba.
Dylan Carlson — CF, RF, LF (Cardinals) (147)
The switch-hitting outfielder was a first round pick in 2016 for the Cardinals. He attended Elk Grove High School in California, which has produced major leaguers Nick Madrigal, J.D. Davis, Rowdy Tellez, David Freitas, and Derek Hill all in recent years.
Josh Staumont — RP (Royals) (109)
If you see a pitch whiz by a batter at 100 miles per hour, there is a good chance it was thrown by Staumont. In 2020, he ranked in the 99th percentile in fastball velocity, according to Baseball Savant. However, he ranks in the bottom two percent in hard hit rate, likely a byproduct of his high velocity.
Removals
Trevor Bauer — SP (Dodgers) (21)
Marcell Ozuna — OF (Braves) (48)
Eugenio Suárez — 3B (Reds) (52)
Patrick Corbin — SP (Nationals) (67)
Dinelson Lamet — SP (Padres) (73)
Michael Conforto — RF (Mets) (89)
Ian Happ — CF, LF (Cubs) (96)
Cavan Biggio — 3B, 2B, 1B (Blue Jays) (98)
Sixto Sánchez — SP (Marlins) (99)
Keston Hiura — 1B, 2B (Brewers) (101)
Max Kepler — RF, CF (Twins) (104)
Zack Britton — RP (Yankees) (108)
Aaron Hicks — CF (Yankees) (112)
Ramón Laureano — CF (Athletics) (113)
Dallas Keuchel — SP (White Sox) (119)
Trevor Rosenthal — RP (Athletics) (120)
Travis d’Arnaud — C (Braves) (127)
Alec Bohm — 3B (Phillies) (130)
Dustin May — SP, RP (Dodgers) (131)
Jordan Hicks — RP (Cardinals) (132)
Victor Robles — CF (Nationals) (134)
Zach Plesac — SP (Indians) (139)
Carlos Carrasco — SP (Mets) (140)
Kwang Hyun Kim — SP (Cardinals) (142)
Didi Gregorius — SS (Phillies) (144)
Bobby Dalbec — 1B, 3B (Red Sox) (146)
Brad Hand — RP (Nationals) (150)