Reimagining MLB's Top 100: 1-10
- Nic
- Apr 3, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 17, 2022
Recently, MLB released it's top 100 players heading into the 2022 season. The list includes future Hall of Famers as well as players that will never even get close. The full list can be found here: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-network-top-100-right-now-for-2022. If you'd like to save time, let me give you the top ten right here.
Shoei Ohtani, Angels
Mike Trout, Angels
Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres
Juan Soto, Nationals
Bryce Harper, Phillies
Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Jacob deGrom, Mets
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Ronald Acuña, Jr., Braves
It's a solid list, sure, but is it perfect? Absolutely not. There are some glaring issues with this top 10. To start, there is no sane reason to have two Angels in the top 3. In 2o21, the Angles finished with a final record of 77-85 which was only good enough for 4th place in the AL West -- the same division that also hosts the Athletics, Rangers, Astros, and Mariners. Of the five teams in the division, only one, the Astros, qualified for the 2021 playoffs. Regarding the two players in question here, Mike Trout missed 126 of 162 games in 2021 That levels out to missing 77% of the season. Trout's career numbers make him a no doubt hall of famer once he retires, but his 2021 performance does not reflect that of a player that should be listed in the top 3 in the entire league. His teammate, Shoei Ohtana, a shade of Babe Ruth, on the other hand is well-deserving of his position on the list. In 2021, Ohtani put up some monster numbers. Ohtani smashed 46 home runs all while toeing the slap 23 times and posting a sub-3.20 ERA. Like the article from MLB says, the last player to post numbers even close to that: Babe Ruth. Take a look at some of Othani's top moments from 2021:
source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCtvOL9xJg4
My next grievance with this list resides in spots 4 and 5. These two should be reversed. Bryce Harper
, who is in the beginning of a mega deal with the Phillies (13 years, $330 million), is the reigning NL MVP and Silver Slugger. Compared to the rest of his career, 2021 didn't quite measure up, but it was still an excellent year for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Will 2022 be another great year for the seven time All-Star? Time will tell, but there is no reason to believe that he will not come out of the gate swinging. Pun intended.
Image source: Sports Illustrated
The next issue that arrises from MLB's list is the players that should be in the top 10 that are not. Let's start with Gerrit Cole. The new Yankees' ace has been dominant since inking his 9 year, $324 million deal prior to the COVID-shortened 2020 season. In 2021, Cole finished 2nd in Cy Young voting and in the top 20 in MVP voting (Baseball Reference). In addition, Cole led the league in wins, complete games, and strikeouts per win. In my eyes, that warrants a top 10 placement coming in to 2022. But who does Cole replace? We'll get to that. Cole is currently ranked 16th in MLB's list. The next player who is not in the top 10 who should be is Aaron Judge. A teammate of Cole, Judge finished 4th in MVP voting and gained recognition as an All-Star and Silver Slugger. Judge has become the face of the New York Yankees since making his debut in 2017. Launching 39 home runs, driving in 98 runs, and scoring 89 of his own runs, Judge was instrumental in getting the Yankees to the post-season rightfully earning himself a sport in MLB's top ten players coming into 2022. Judge is currently ranked 11th in MLB's list (Baseball Reference).
At this point, you may be asking yourself what my new rankings look like. Let me give it you before discussing it.
Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays
Bryce Harper, Phillies
Juan Soto, Nationals
Aaron Judge, Yankees
Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Mike Trout, Angels
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Removed: Jacob deGrom, Ronald Acuña, Jr.
You'll notice the big jump of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Vladdy is one of the most developed and underrated players in the league. He has become the face of a fierce Toronto Blue Jays squad that will undoubtably cause a trouble to fellow AL East teams. Vladdy will be a menace in 2022 and you can mark my word on that one.
Another notable change in the list is the drop of Mookie Betts. Mookie, one of the many stars on the loaded LA Dodgers, has been a dominant player ever since the beginning of his career in Boston. This trend can be expected to continue to be present in 2022 as Mookie will play an integral role in the Dodgers 2022 World Series hunt. Don't believe me? Perhaps you'll believe Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dave-roberts-guarantees-dodgers-will-win-2022-world-series-put-it-on-record/.
While they don't make my top ten list, here is a short "list" of players to watch in 2022:
Carlos Correa, Twins
Kyle Higashioka, Yankees
Matt Olson, Braves
Gary Sanchez, Twins
Kyle Higashioka has been absolutely electric in spring training launching 7 home runs in 9 games and maintaining a whopping .478 average. With Gary Sanchez now in Minnesota, Kyle is Catcher 1 in New York, so expect him to play upwards of 120 games. For more about Kyle, listen to Bryan Hoch: https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-higashioka-hits-two-home-runs-against-the-braves.
Speaking of Gary Sanchez, expect him to fall off. This spring, Sanchez has only managed four hits in 27 at-bats (Baseball Reference). Will The Kraken snap out of his cold streak or will Twins fans see more of what Yankees fans had been seeing? As for Olson and Correa, both players were dominant in Oakland and Houston respectively, but things have changed. My prediction: both players will make All-Star teams and put up extremely impressive numbers.
That's all for now. Come back soon for more takes on the beginning of the MLB season once pitches start flying on April 7th.
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