TOP 10 LEFT FIELDERS

Each year the MLB Network presents the "Top 10 Right Now" series, looking at the best players at each position headed into each season. They usually have multiple analysts break down their own top 10's for each position, as well as "The Shredders" top 10. "The Shredder" is the MLB Network's research department algorithm based on player performance, which accounts for both offense and defense. After watching most of these "Top 10 Right Now" and disagreeing with most of the positions, I figured I would give my opinion. I will give "The Shredders" top 10, followed by the hosts Brian Kenny's top 10, another analyst top 10 and then my personal top 10 for each position.

The position that will be looked at is Left Fielders. The position has taken a nose dive in recent years and isn't like the olden days when there were middle of the lineup hitters like Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez or Ted Williams. the 2016 collection of Major League left fielders had their weakest hitting performance ever, according to FanGraphs. There are still stars in left field but the decline has become significant.

10. Brett Gardner - New York Yankees. Gardner seems to be a level of consistency at the top of the Yankees lineup year after year. The last four seasons he has had at least 140 hits and around 20 stolen bases each year. He won a Gold Glove in 2016 and continues to be a terrific outfielder. Like somebody else on this list, Gardner is a center fielder playing left field. His power numbers dropped off last year, but being at Yankee Stadium, those numbers can sky rocket at any time. 

9. Andrew Benintendi - Boston Red Sox. I guess Boston beat New York on this one. This year Benintendi was voted as the #1 prospect in baseball and he showed that talent when he was called up in August. In that short amount of time Benintendi showed that he is worth all the hype. Especially with one of the best catches I've ever seen against Tampa Bay. In 2017 he will get the opportunity to have a full season in the big leagues ad should climb up this list in the near future.

8. Randal Grichuk - St. Louis Cardinals. Grichuk has spent most of his career being the guy picked ahead of Mike Trout and not fulfilling his full potential. 2016 was supposed to be his breakout season but when he got off to a terrible start with the Cardinals the chatter started about him not being Mike Trout. However, on an "off year" he was still able to park 24 home runs and 68 RBI's. I think a lot of players would like to have an off year like that. I think Grichuk will have a bounce back year and also climb up this list. 

7. Marcell Ozuna - Miami Marlins. Ozuna has seemed to be the under the radar player in Miami. Everybody focuses more on Giancarlo Stanton in Miami, but Ozuna has put up the powerful and consistent numbers in his career. Especially now moving to left field full time instead of the teams center fielder, Ozuna will have less to focus on in the field and more to focus on at the plate. A premier power bat in the lineup, Ozuna can still play great defense, evident because he was a center fielder his whole career. Ozone besides the great speed has all the tools of a five tool player.

6. Michael Brantley - Cleveland Indians. The only reason Brantley isn't higher in my list is because of the injuries he has had. But when you look at the years where he has played a full season, he's been the quintessential five tool player. He always hits near 300, hits around 20 home runs, steals 20 bases, drives in around 80 bases and plays great defense. Get this guy healthy again and Brantley can be a top 3 left fielder.

5. Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics. This was actually one of Billy Beane's best trades in recent memory. At this point Khris Davis has become the Athletics best hitter. Davis was always looked at as a power hitter in Milwaukee averaging around 25 home runs a year, but once he got to Oakland he took off, hitting 42 home runs. The two time All-Star could use some work in the field but has never been looked at as a liability in the outfield. With the amount of runs he produces he's become one of the true power hitters in the American League.

4. Justin Upton - Detroit Tigers. I could have switched Upton and Davis, but the consistency Upton has had in his career gives him the nod over Davis. It could be said that Davis is younger so he will become better, but Upton is still only 29 years old and it feels like he's been in the league for 15 years. Over those years he's hit for power, average, speed and has shown to be an MVP type player. And just like Grichuk, people said last year was an off year for Upton. The first 4 months of 2016 were terrible but he still hit 31 home runs and 87 RBI's. With the players still on the Tigers, Upton should see a lot of good pitches to hit and have another 25-35 homer season.

3. Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates. The top 3 doesn't change much from analyst to analyst but Marte is one of those players that belongs up here. He's a center fielder playing left field, although now he may finally to be moving to center field and bump Andrew Mccutchen off his throne. Marte is the sneaky player you want, especially in a big ballpark like PNC Park. He may not hit for a lot of power, but in PNC all he needs is to hit rappers. One of the fastest and best defensive players in the game, Marte does everything for this Pirates team. 

2. Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers. For many years baseball writers have said the former MVP has been in decline. I guess after being caught for steroids, nobody pays attention to him anymore but Ryan Braun has been as consistent as they come since his rookie year and is still one of the best players in the game. He has a career .304 batting average, averages 30 home runs each year, and around 90 RBI. That and he has proven to be a great defender. Age isn't slowing Braun down and look for another year where he puts up huge numbers for the Brewers.

1. Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets. Braun and Cespedes are the two best left fielders in the game and an argument could be made for either having the top spot, but my rational is that Cespedes makes everybody around him better. Cespedes is such a presence in any lineup and affects every decision that pitcher has to make. When he played for the Athletics they were an offensive threat, and then when he got traded for Jon Lester the A's fell off offensively. Was that just because of Cespedes? Probably not. But the Mets were also a terrible offensive team just getting by and he made them better. Cespedes' numbers speak for themselves but his defense and arm strength combined with his offensive numbers make him the best left fielder in the game of baseball.

MLB

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Written by

nordbyjordan

Ground Jordan

Baseball advocate and sports nut, I don't have air like Jordan.

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