Canha joined the show and first spoke about the trade that sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers: “It was wild, and it’s a tough experience… It took a minute, it did take probably a week or maybe two weeks for the dust to settle and for you to start feeling comfortable and kind of normal again.”

Photo by Roberto Carlo

Canha was very outspoken while he was still a Met that he loved living in New York City, and while the trade was tough on him in the sense that he had to uproot himself and his family to a new city, he has certainly settled in. In 46 games since the trade, Canha has compiled an .839 OPS and has exceeded even the Brewers’ expectations of what he would provide for the team.

Naturally, the conversation shifted shortly after to the Mets. After saying he felt “lighter” in Milwaukee, Canha was asked by Sherman if his time with the Mets this year was “heavy,” to which Canha responded: “I think it’s heavy in New York, regardless of the circumstances it’s heavy in New York. I think it was heavy in New York last year. It’s always going to be that way.”

Canha explained that he knew what to expect in New York coming in as a free agent before the 2022 season, but it felt more real this year with the massive drop in performance on the field from the whole team. That allowed Heyman to segue into what has been a hot topic recently: Tommy Pham’s statement that the Mets’ position players were the “least-hardest working” group he’s played with.

When asked for his reaction to that proposition, Canha pushed back on it a bit: “I’ll say this. It doesn’t surprise me, really, that Tommy said that. Not because I feel the same way, but because of the way that Tommy works specifically.”

Canha explained that he believes each player has a specific routine that works for them and that Pham’s routine was more intense than most players did.

“Guys are gonna go about their business in their own way, and Tommy goes about his business in his own way. And the fact of the matter is… his workload that he puts on himself on a daily basis is significantly more than anybody else on the team. So I don’t necessarily agree with the fact that other players don’t work hard, I think it’s just, to expect everyone to work the way that Tommy Pham works every day is a little bit much. And that works for him, and what I do works for me.”

Canha concluded his answer by stating he “can understand where he’s coming from based on what he does and maybe he expects other people to do the same as him,” which perhaps speaks more to Pham’s competitiveness, desire to win, and personality than to the work ethics of certain Mets players.

Whatever the reason for the Mets’ demise this year, Canha doesn’t seem to think it’s for a lack of effort. When asked, “Why didn’t it click this season?” by Sherman, Canha acknowledged he doesn’t have a definitive answer but pointed to injuries and suspensions to the pitching staff, saying, “It made it tough to win” early in the season when some of the best pitchers on the team were unavailable.

The conversation took on a lighter tone when Sherman asked Canha about Buck Showalter, to which Canha heaped praise on his former skipper: “Right when you say his name, I just smile, because I love Buck. Playing for him was amazing and so much fun, and just a great experience,” before raving about Showalter’s attention to detail and his handling of the players on his team. “I think Buck could manage any team. I don’t think he’s a part of a problem there or anything like that.”

Canha was then asked about Pete Alonso and whether he could shed any light on the reports that Alonso is a problem in the Mets’ clubhouse, which Canha vehemently denied.

“He feels like such a New York guy, he really embraces that role…he’s so all-in on the Mets. I loved playing with Pete. Saying that he’s a problem in the clubhouse couldn’t be further from the truth. I could say, ‘Oh, well everyone has their own opinion,’ but I honestly can’t imagine how anyone would come to the conclusion that Pete is a problem in the clubhouse. It’s the opposite of that.”

Both Heyman and Sherman, who have carved out great careers in New York media and have spent plenty of time around the New York Mets, attested to Canha’s review of Alonso as a person and teammate.

While Canha’s time with the Mets didn’t come to the happiest of endings, it’s clear that he holds his time and his relationships with the team in high regard. The Mets will unfortunately be sitting at home this October, but Canha will have the chance to be a key part of a playoff team for the second year in a row.

The post Mark Canha Praises Pete Alonso appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Juan Soto. Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the rosters for all 20 countries in next month’s World Baseball Classic are out, it’s time to examine the teams in-depth. Today, we will take a look at the position-player pool.

Obviously, we can’t go too deep in terms of how each manager is going to set up their lineup in pool play, but we can go position-by-position to determine some of the stronger lineup in this year’s tournament. So, here’s the list of the five-best countries in terms of their position-player pool in this year’s tournament:

Randy Arozarena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mexico

This was a tough choice for number five with Korea Republic and Puerto Rico being heavily considered. Though, Mexico is the choice here.

Behind the plate, Team Mexico has Austin Barnes (Dodgers) and Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays). Kirk had the second-most hits among catchers a season ago (134) and drew the third-most walks (63). As for Barnes, he had a .704 OPS last year in 62 games, which is not an awful mark for a backup catcher.

In the infield, you have the power options of Brewers’ left-handed hitter Rowdy Tellez (35 home runs in 2022) and a right-handed hitter in Joey Meneses at first base. Meneses got his opportunity with the Nationals last year and he had a .930 OPS and a 165 OPS+ in 56 games (13 home runs).

In the middle infield spots, keep an eye on Isaac Paredes (Rays). He has good positional versatility, which has great value in this tournament. Last year, in his first full-season, he had 20 home runs and an OPS+ of 114 in 111 games.

The position group that is most intriguing for Mexico is the outfield. Alex Verdugo (Red Sox) has played in the WBC before and had success (5-for-14 in 2017). Meanwhile, Randy Arozarena (Rays) has a slashline of .333/.417/.705 with 11 home runs and 17 RBIs in 31 career postseason games. So, he is used to the big stage of a major tournament.

Salvador Pérez. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

4. Venezuela

Venezuela made it out 0f group play in 2017, but then went 0-3 in the second round against the United States, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. While they have to face two of those countries in Pool D, Omar López’s lineup has the potential to get this team to the semifinals if all goes right.

Behind the plate, they have one of the best offensive catchers in the game in Salvador Pérez (Royals). Pérez’s 2017 WBC was cut short due to a knee injury (2-for-7, HR, 2 RBI). Though, he has hit at least 20 home runs in six of his last seven MLB seasons. There are also good options behind Pérez in Robinson Chirinos and current Met Omar Narváez.

The strength for this Venezeulan offense is in their middle infield. They have a lot of depth with José Altuve (Astros), last year’s AL batting champ Luis Arráez (Marlins), and former Met Andrés Giménez (Guardians). Keep an eye on Giménez, who had a 7.4 WAR in 2022 and 20 stolen bases.

Further depth Venezuela has in their middle infield includes Gleyber Torres (Yankees) and Luis Rengifo (Angels), as well as Miguel Rojas (Dodgers). As for the corner infield position, of course Mets’ fans will be keeping an eye on what Eduardo Escobar does and how much time he gets at third base between him and Eugenio Suárez (Mariners).

Of course, the lineup gets a big boost with Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves) set to anchor the group. Also, Anthony Santander (Orioles) and his 33 home runs from a season ago brings even more power to the outfield.

The wildcard of the team may end up being legend Miguel Cabrera (Tigers). There isn’t a true first baseman on the roster, so Cabrera could see some time there. He has hit a home run in each of the four previous WBCs.

Shohei Ohtani. Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Japan

If you are looking for an extensive breakdown of Team Japan, our own Matt Lazzarro broke down their preliminary roster terrifically.

Japan will be probably more known for its pitching, especially being led by Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish (Padres). Even though Ohtani will also hit, their offense has some other intriguing names as well.

Behind the plate, 29-year-old Takumi Ohshiro should thrive. He had a slash line of .266/.339/.416 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI for the Yomiuri Gianta a season ago. Defensively, he has just 12 errors at catchers across five seasons in the NPB. So, he is also able to limit the opposition from getting free bases.

In the infield, two names to watch are Munetaka Murakami and Tetsuto Yamada. Murakami can play either of the corner infield spots and has excellent power. With the Yakult Swallows last year, he hit 56 home runs, drove in 134 runs, and had an OPS of 1.168. He will definitely be a name to monitor if/when he is able to come to the United States.

As for Yamada, he has some prior WBC experience, notably he had a good tournament in 2017 when he went 8-for-27, hit a pair of home runs, and drove in five runs. The 30-year-old middle infielder had 31 doubles and hit 23 home runs for Yakult in 130 games in 2022.

Going out to the outfield, there are three major league players in Lars Nootbaar (Cardinals), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), and Masataka Yoshida (Red Sox). Yoshida will probably be hitting towards the top of the Red Sox order in April and should provide some good contact hitting and plate discipline for Japan (80 walks in 119 games for Orix in ’22).

Pete Alonso. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

2. United States

In most years, Mark DeRosa’s lineup would probably be the best lineup in the tournament. Though, it is a new-look Team USA as only two players who played in 2017 are on this year’s roster (Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt).

Obviously, you can’t talk Team USA without talking about Mike Trout (Angels) and Mookie Betts (Dodgers) sharing the same outfield. Trout and Betts are the headliners, but, overall, there is a good mix of power when you add Kyle Tucker (Astros) and Kyle Schwarber (Phillies). Further, there is good gap hitting/speed with Cedric Mullins (Orioles) and Jeff McNeil (Mets) as well.

In the middle infield, Team USA has a chance to steal runs with the speed the team possesses via Trea Turner (Phillies), Tim Anderson (White Sox), and Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals). These three could be great table-setters for the likes of Arenado, Goldschmidt, and Pete Alonso (Mets).

As far as catcher goes, Will Smith (Dodgers) and J.T. Realmuto (Phillies) each finished near the top in home runs among catchers last year (with 24 and 22, respectfully). They were also two of the four catchers who finished with 130 or more hits.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Photo Credits: USA Today.

1. Dominican Republic

You could try to put together a fantasy lineup and even that team might not be able to match the lineup that Rodney Linares is going to put out there in Pool D. Back in 2017, the Dominican Republic hit nine home runs in the tournament, they should be able to match or even break that record this year.

If there is one weak point on the D.R. roster, it may be at catcher with Gary Sánchez. Sánchez, who is still a free agent, is known for being an all-or-nothing hitter in terms of either hitting a home run or striking out. But, if he gets hot, then it’s hard to find an easy out in this lineup.

As it stands, the infield options consist of a World Series MVP in Jeremy Pena (Astros) at shortstop, the AL MVP runner-up in 2021 in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) at first base, and the runner-up for the 2022 NL MVP in Manny Machado (Padres) at third base. If Machado isn’t playing, then you have Rafael Devers (Red Sox) and his power at the hot corner.

At the top of the order and in the outfield, both Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) and Juan Soto (Padres) can make a pitcher pay for a mistake early in the game. Or, they can work up the pitch count, which is key when you consider there are pitch limits in each round of the tournament.

Lastly, another veteran that can change the game with one swing is Nelson Cruz (Padres). Cruz had three home runs and six RBI in the 2017 WBC which led to him being named to the all-tournament team that year.

The post 2023 World Baseball Classic Team Rankings: Position Players appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

I have been wrapping my head around these rankings for days. For I am Sisyphus and the Fangraphs projections page is my boulder that tumbles down the mountain once I near my answer.

This persistent struggle against the absurdity that is the National League East number one starter debate will ultimately lead to an answer that can be argued for and against a million different ways.

Before we even look into the question as a whole we must determine who even are the No. 1 starters in the NL East.

Mets: Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander
Braves: Max Fried or Spencer Strider
Phillies: Zack Wheeler or Aaron Nola
Marlins: Sandy Alcantara
Nationals: Josiah Gray

Great so we have three teams with a toss-up, a reigning Cy Young Award winner, and Josiah Gray. Sorry, Josiah.

5. Josiah Gray, WSH

Gray earns the Nationals’ ace spot over Patrick Corbin due to prospect pedigree and potential. In 2020 he was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ third-overall prospect. He moved up to second in 2021 with the graduations of Dustin May and Gavin Lux. Gray was then dealt to the Nationals along with Keibert Ruiz for Scherzer and Trea Turner.

The return for the Nationals has been less than stellar. Gray, 25, is still finding his way in the league and likely won’t be Washington’s best pitcher next year (ahem, Trevor Williams). Gray has made 41 major league starts, to the tune of a 5.17 ERA in 219.1 innings.

Gray is projected for 1.0 WAR next season with a 4.60 ERA in 24 starts.

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Now let’s try and determine the true ace in these pitching battles.

Scherzer vs. Verlander

Two former teammates are back together. Two generational aces and future Hall of Fame members lead the Mets into the 2023 season but their 2022 seasons went differently.

Scherzer, 38, threw the fewest innings last season (sans 2020) since his rookie year in Arizona when he appeared in 16 games and made seven starts. Scherzer was still terrific when he pitched, a 2.29 ERA, 2.62 FIP, and 10.71 k/9 shows the Scherzdog still has it in him.

Verlander made his return from Tommy John surgery in 2022. Now 39, Verlander is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner after posting a 1.75 ERA over 175.0 innings pitched. Verlander was the Mets make-up signing for losing out on Jacob deGrom and it’s likely he’ll get the Opening Day nod so the Mets can show off their shiny new addition.

EDGE: Verlander

Fried vs. Strider

Fried is the incumbent ace of the Braves. The 28 year old lefty was Atlanta’s most reliable starter last season with 30 starts and over 185 innings pitched. Strider was the new flamethrower. He started the season in Atlanta’s pen but jumped into the rotation to start 20 games and strike out a ludicrous 38.3% of batters faced.

Strider had a better FIP (1.83) than Fried (2.70) and finished with 0.1 less fWAR than Fried in 55 fewer innings pitched. Unfortunately for Strider, his end of the season was hampered by an oblique injury. It’s unknown if Strider can handle a full-season workload and how he’ll look over time so for now I have to go with Fried.

EDGE: Fried

Wheeler vs. Nola

Wheeler and Nola have flip-flopped the ace status of the Phillies for a few seasons now.

Wheeler is a season removed from finishing second in the NL Cy Young vote where he led baseball in innings pitched and strikeouts. Then he followed it up in 2022 with a 2.82 ERA in 153.0 innings.

Nola is a one-time All-Star as well, last making the team in 2018. While Wheeler shined in 2021, Nola had the worst season of his career with a 4.63 ERA in 32 games started. But Nola bounced back in 2022 with a 3.25 ERA in 205.0 innings pitched while finishing fourth in Cy Young voting. Additionally, he proved how useless pitcher records are by going 11-13.

Nola hasn’t made under 32 starts in a season since 2017 and finished with 2.1 more fWAR than Wheeler last season. 2023 looks like another season of Nola leading the charge.

EDGE: Nola

Okay, now we have the final four: Verlander, Fried, Nola, and Alcantara.

How do they rank up?

Here’s how certain projection systems predict they’ll do.

ZiPS
1. Nola: 13-9, 188.1 IP, 3.54 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 4.6 WAR
2. Fried: 15-6, 172.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 3.7 WAR
3. Verlander: 14-7, 165.0 IP, 2.84 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 3.7 WAR
4. Alcantara: 12-10, 209.0 IP, 3.32 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 3.7 WAR

Well, thanks for nothing ZiPS.

Steamer
1. Nola: 13-10, 199,0 IP, 3.50 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 4.2 WAR
2. Verlander: 12-9, 180.0 IP, 3.36 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 4.0 WAR
3. Alcantara: 12-11, 211.0 IP, 3.56 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 4.0 WAR
4. Fried: 13-9, 190.0 IP, 3.59 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 3.2 WAR

Steamer also has Scherzer (4.3 WAR) over Nola and Wheeler (3.9) and Strider (3.7) over Fried.

The BAT
1. Nola: 15-9 195.0 IP, 3.39 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 4.8 WAR
2. Alcantara: 14-11, 204.0 IP, 3.37 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 4.5 WAR
3. Verlander: 12-8, 163.0 IP, 3.27 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 4.0 WAR
4. Fried: 14-9, 182.0 IP, 3.46 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 3.9 WAR

The BAT has Strider as their fourth-best pitcher (4.7 WAR), Wheeler as their seventh (4.4), and Scherzer as their ninth (4.2).

Frankly, I’m lost as to where to go from here. Nola is projected as the best but that just subjectively feels wrong.

Okay, I’ll just use the fairest scoring system of all. Mario Kart. The top starter by projected WAR gets 10 points, the second gets 8, the third gets 6, the fourth gets 4, the fifth gets 3, and so on. Here’s how all eight names rank up with the three projections.

1. Nola – 10-8-10-28
2. Scherzer – 2-10-3-15
3. Wheeler – 8-3-4-15
4. Alcantara – 3-4-6-13
5. Verlander – 4-6-2-12
6. Strider – 1-2-8-11
7. Fried – 6-1-1-8
8. Gray – 0-0-0-0

Well, Aaron Nola wins it in a runaway. If anything this list is less of a testament to who is the “top-ace” and more oh my goodness the NL East is absolutely stacked at pitching for this upcoming season.

Excluding Gray, all seven of those pitchers ranked among the top 20 starters for next season. That’s incredible. There is not a division in baseball with more pitching talent and it will be a shame the MLB schedule changed so these teams cannot play each other for half the season.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Ace Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

One phrase to describe the right fielders in the National League East? Top heavy. Continuing MMO’s series of position rankings in the NL East, here are the rankings of right fielders in the division.

Avisail Garcia. Photo via USA Today.

5. Avisaíl García, MIA

Avisaíl García had a underwhelming 2022 season after signing a four-year, $53-million contract with the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old outfielder was limited to just 98 games, slashing .224/.226/.317 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 380 plate appearances. García finished the year with a -1.1 WAR, the lowest total of his career.

The one-time All-Star was down in nearly every offensive category from the year prior. Specifically, his plate discipline took a turn for the worse, with his walk rate going from 7.4% in 2021 to 4.5% in 2022 and his strikeout rate going from 23.5% in 2021 to 28.7% in 2022.

García lands as the fifth-best right fielder in the division following his 2022 season. He could bounce back in the second year of his contract, but the outfielder is now on the other side of 30. The Marlins’ lineup lacks power, something that García has provided in the past (hit 29 home runs in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers).

Lane Thomas. Photo via USA Today.

4.  Lane Thomas, WSH

Lane Thomas played a significant role in his first full season in the Washington Nationals’ organization. The former 2014 fifth-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays was acquired by the Nationals at the 2021 trade deadline. He then hit .270 with a .853 OPS in 206 at-bats in the second half of that season.

His overall numbers decreased with more plate appearances in 2022, slashing .241/.301/.404 with a 103 OPS+ in 146 games. Thomas showed off some power as well, hitting 17 home runs and 52 RBI, both of which were career highs. Punch outs became a large part of his game with more playing time, striking out 132 times good for a 24.1% strikeout rate.

Thomas slots in as the fourth-best outfielder in the division because of his age and his ability to play more than one position. The 27-year-old can play all across the outfield, especially on the corners. He also adds the speed element, tallying eight stolen bases in 12 opportunities.

For a Nationals team that is in the midst of a rebuild, Thomas is someone manager Dave Martinez can rely on to play everyday.

Nick Castellanos. Photo via USA Today.

3. Nick Castellanos, PHI

Nick Castellanos signed a five-year, $100-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last off-season. Going into the year, the plan for the former Cincinnati Red was to see him get a lot of his playing time as a designated hitter. That all changed as soon as Bryce Harper suffered a small tear to the UCL in his right elbow, meaning that he could only hit when he returned from the injured list later in the season.

Castellanos, who has never been known as a great defender, all of sudden slotted in as the everyday right fielder. The 30-year-old had to think about more than just hitting, which you have wonder if that impacted his numbers at the plate.

The Phillies‘ slugger struggled with the bat, slashing .263/.305/.389 with only 13 home runs and 62 RBI in 136 games. In comparison, Castellanos hit .309/.362/.576 and was an All-Star with the Reds in 2021.

The outfielder had some big moments in the Phillies playoff run, most notably a diving catch in Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. Castellanos has been a very solid player for a numbers of years, and it would not be surprising if he bounces back in 2023. With that being said, he ends up as the third-best right fielder in the NL East going into the season.

Starling Marte. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

2. Starling Marte, NYM

Starling Marte had an excellent season with the New York Mets in 2022, hitting .292/.347/.468 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI  in 118 games. The outfielder did have two separate injuries over the course of the year, but his impact was evident when he was on the field. Marte was an All-Star and finished 19th in National League MVP voting.

The biggest concern with Marte going into the 2023 season is his health. The 34-year-old underwent core surgery after the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs, somerthing he has still yet to recover fully from. His availability for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, which starts in March, is unknown. Marte could miss some time to begin the year, but his return should come at some point in April at the latest.

When Marte is on the field, he is one of the most dynamic outfielders in the game. He was great in his first season with the Mets, now, it is just about continuing that success in 2023. Marte’s all-around game places him at a very comfortable second place.

Ronald Acuña Jr. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL

Ronald Acuña Jr. began the 2022 season on the injured list after tearing his ACL in July of 2021, missing the Atlanta Braves run to the World Series that year. His recovery continued into the next season, as his 2022 debut did not come until April 28.

Acuña was good throughout the year, but it was clear that he wasn’t quite back to full speed following the significant injury. He still put up some decent numbers, slashing .266/.351/.413 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 119 games.

The 25-year-old will be a year-and-a-half removed from the ACL injury when the season begins in late March. Acuña is a top-tier talent in MLB and should be in the running for an MVP in 2023.

Injuries will always be a concern with his aggressive style of play, but that is what makes him so special. He should be regarded as the unquestioned best right fielder in the NL East.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Right Field Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The left field position for each of the five NL East teams remains mostly unchanged from 2022, with only one or two teams making a minor change. The overall group is underwhelming, especially when considering the amount of star players that play in the division. Continuing MMO’s series of position rankings in the NL East, here are the rankings of left fielders in the division.

5. Eddie Rosario, ATL

Eddie Rosario will forever be a hero in Atlanta Braves history because of his efforts during the team’s 2021 World Series run, but that luster has quickly faded. Rosario’s 2022 season was putrid, partly due to a swollen retina that required surgery midseason. His stats suffered because of it and in 250 at-bats, he slashed .212/.259/.328/.587 with five home runs and 24 RBIs, also posting a -1.1 fWAR.

Rosario swung at the same percentage of pitches in 2022 as he did in 2021, but his whiff rate rose from 19.2% to 31.9%. A source of hope for Rosario, though, is that he faced the shift over 80% of the time and performed much better against a non-shifted infield in 2022. With the shift completely banned in 2023, he can be expected to improve offensively.

Rosario has not been a quality defender at all throughout his career, and that remained so in 2022. He had -9 DRS and -5 OAA for the season, meaning he was a defensive liability in addition to his offensive woes. Even his arm strength, which was in the 94th percentile in 2020 and the 89th percentile in 2021, dropped down to the 54th percentile in 2022.

To give Rosario the benefit of the doubt, his 2022 was an outlier when you compare it to the rest of his career. His OPS+ of 64 was by far the lowest of his career, with the second lowest mark being 91 in 2016. If Rosario had never dealt with his eye issues, maybe his 2022 season would have gone differently. But he is now on the wrong side of 30 and is clearly the weak link in the Braves’ lineup. Unless he can find that 2021 postseason spark again, Rosario is the worst left fielder in the division.

4. Corey Dickerson, WAS

Corey Dickerson, like Rosario, has his best years behind him. A one-time All-Star, he has failed to regain the power he possessed in the beginning of his career when he hit 24-plus homers three times in a four year stretch. He hasn’t seen as much playing time as he did during those years, but even still he’s hitting home runs at a lower rate. Dickerson was average in every sense of the word in 2022, exhibited by his 0.4 fWAR and 100 OPS+. In 281 at-bats he slashed .267/.300/.399/.698 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in his lone year with the Cardinals.

Dickerson’s -5 DRS and 1 OAA in 2022 show that, while not a great defender, he can hold his own in left field. He won the only Gold Glove of his career in 2018, but with age catching up to him, that part of his game has been on the decline. Still, Dickerson will be expected to man left field for the Nationals in 2022, at least for the first half of the season.

It would be a surprise if Dickerson returned to his prime form now that he is 33 years old, but it would be just as surprising if his play fell off completely. Dickerson embodies mediocrity at this stage of his career, and thus takes fourth on the list.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bryan De La Cruz, MIA

Bryan De La Cruz is an exciting young player for the Marlins, acquired from the Astros during the 2021 season. With Jazz Chisholm set to take over in center field, De La Cruz is expected to be the team’s left fielder in 2023. Playing in 115 games last season, he slashed .252/.294/.432/.725 in 329 at-bats. As his on-base percentage suggests, De La Cruz struggled at getting on base, hindered by an abysmal 0.21 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

His finish to the 2022 season gives reason for excitement, though, as he hit .388/.419/.718/1.137 with six of his 13 total home runs in September and October alone. If he can build on this in his third season in the league, De La Cruz can be a true offensive weapon for the Marlins.

De La Cruz was defensively sound last year, but especially so in left field. He recorded 4 DRS and 1 OAA at the position and his arm strength was in the 89th percentile of all players. Shifting over to left field full time may be the best thing for De La Cruz’s career, as it is sure to make him an improved defender.

De La Cruz exudes potential and upside that Marlins fans should be excited about. His career is still young, though, and he is held back by his undisciplined approach at the plate. Until he can perform at a high level in a larger sample size, De La Cruz finds himself in the middle of the pack of NL East left fielders, but he has the ability to climb up the rankings in future years.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mark Canha, NYM

Mark Canha was an on-base machine in his first year with the Mets, posting the seventh-highest on-base percentage in the National League despite a .266 batting average. This was aided by the fact that he led all of baseball with 28 hit-by-pitches and maintained a deliberate and thoughtful approach to each plate appearance, engaging in prolonged at-bats that often resulted in walks or base hits.

Canha didn’t showcase much power until later in the year when he turned it on during a scorching August, recording a .979 OPS for the entire month. In all, though, Canha hit just 13 home runs with a .403 slugging percentage for the year, his lowest totals over full seasons in his career.

Canha is not a plus-defender in left field, but he doesn’t present a liability either. He ended 2022 with -4 DRS and 0 OAA, and his arm strength ranked in the 31st percentile. The Mets’ defense features several great defenders, including Brandon Nimmo to Canha’s left, so it’s not cause for concern that Canha himself isn’t a prolific fielder.

Most projections have Canha taking a step back in 2023. ZiPS, Fangraphs, and Steamer all have Canha’s batting average dipping into the low .240s and his OPS dropping below .750. Even if he does show some regression in 2023, Canha is still one of the better left fielders in the NL East.

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1. Kyle Schwarber, PHI

Mets fans know better than just about anyone how dangerous of a hitter Kyle Schwarber is. His best trait is crushing baseballs which he did at an elite level in his first season with the Phillies, hitting a National League-leading 46 home runs en route to his second consecutive All-Star nod and his first Silver Slugger Award.

He’s not just a masher at the plate though. He is extremely disciplined and takes walks when given to him, as he ranked in the 94th percentile for walk rate and the 87th percentile for chase rate in 2022. His .323 on-base percentage despite a .218 batting average is further evidence of his patience at the plate. His only offensive weakness is that he swings and misses often, which resulted in an MLB-leading 200 strikeouts last year. But when he makes contact, he’s as dangerous as anybody else in the league.

Schwarber’s biggest downside, as it has been his whole career, is his defense. Schwarber was simply horrendous as a fielder in 2022 with -14 DRS and -13 OAA, though that can be overlooked given the offensive threat that he is. Even with his poor defensive play, he still posted a 2.6 fWAR in 2022. As long as he can continue to be an elite power threat and an elite on-base threat, the Phillies will ignore his defensive struggles.

Schwarber will be 30 at the beginning of the 2023 season, but he has showed no signs of slowing down offensively. Among this group of NL East left fielders, Schwarber is far and away the most productive offensive player and that alone gives him the credibility to be ranked first on this list.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Left Field Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

With the Mets re-signing Brandon Nimmo in December, the center field picture in the NL East remains largely unchanged from the 2022 season. The only team in the division entering 2023 with a new centerfielder is the Marlins, who will shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to that spot after acquiring a surplus of infielders. While the NL East doesn’t necessarily boast a true superstar at the position, there is some solid depth throughout the division.

No. 5 Victor Robles, WSH

Once ranked as high as the second-best prospect in the sport by Baseball Prospectus, Victor Robles finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and played a key role in helping the Nationals win the World Series. However, Robles has failed to replicate that level of production ever since. He hit just .224/.273/.311 with six homers and 10 doubles, giving him a career-worst 64 wRC+. Robles also set career lows in walk percentage, ISO, wOBA, xwOBA, and xBA.

While his offense was subpar, Robles’ speed and defense were still solid. He racked up 12 DRS and registered a 4.8 uZR, with his 6 OAA ranking in the 90th percentile of MLB. Robles also showed off his impressive arm strength, ranking in the 96th percentile in that category. His 28.7 feet-per-second ranked in the 86th percentile in that category and he swiped 15 bases in 19 tries.

Even though Robles is coming off another disappointing season, it’s worth noting that he’s only 25 years old and has time to turn his career around. With the Nationals firmly in rebuild mode, he seems to be in line for plenty of playing time for the foreseeable future.

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Jazz Chisholm Jr., MIA

After a solid showing in his rookie season, Jazz Chisholm came out of the gates firing in 2022. In 60 games, he hit a strong .254/.325/.535 (139 wRC+) with 14 homers, 10 doubles, 4 triples, and 12 steals. While he was still striking out at a high rate, Chisholm’s walk rate increased from 6.7% to 8.7%, his ISO went from .177 to .282, and his 2.6 fWAR eclipsed the 1.9 mark he put up in 124 games the year prior. As a result, Chisholm became the first Bahamian-born player to be named to the All-Star Game. However, he was placed on the injured list in June with a back strain and missed the rest of the season after suffering a stress reaction in his lower back.

The biggest issue holding Chisholm back in these rankings is that he has never played an inning in the outfield at the professional level. There’s a chance he rises on this list, but there’s also a chance he isn’t playing the position by the end of the first half. Chisholm should be helped by his elite footspeed of 29.2 feet-per-second and he was the one who approached Skip Schumaker about making the shift to the outfield. One way or another, it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out this season.

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No. 3 Brandon Marsh, PHI

Brandon Marsh was in the midst of a disappointing season with the Angels when he was shipped to Philadelphia for catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe. While Marsh still isn’t a masher with the bat, he made considerable strides with the Phillies, hitting .288/.319/.453 with three homers, nine doubles, and two triples in 138 plate appearances. While his strikeout rate was still high, Marsh’s hard-hit rate rose from 36.5% to 41.8%, his line-drive rate went from 22.7% to 33%, and his ground-ball rate fell from 43.6% to 37.4%.

Defensively, Marsh is solid in center, though he posted better numbers in left field. Still, he ranked in the 93rd percentile for OAA and his arm strength improved after moving positions. Marsh has always been lauded for his speed, and his 28.9 feet-per-second ranked in the 89th percentile in that category. With a full season in Philly ahead of him, expect the 25-year-old to post solid numbers in 2023.

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No. 2 Michael Harris II, ATL

When the Braves called up Michael Harris on May 28th, they were just 22-24 and facing an 8.5-game deficit in the NL East. After Harris debuted, Atlanta went 79-37 (.681) and as a result, claimed their fifth straight division crown. Harris was phenomenal in his rookie season, hitting .297/.339/.514 (136 wRC+) with 19 homers, 27 doubles, 20 steals, and 4.8 fWAR in 114 games. Harris won NL Rookie of the Year and finished 13th in MVP voting. The only knock against Harris’ game was that he walked in just 4.8% of his plate appearances and had a 39% chase rate, while he struck out in 24.3% of his at-bats. His .361 BABiP, 55.2% ground-ball rate, and 17.9% fly-ball rate suggest he may regress a little, but he’s still projected to be a well-above-average bat.

Defensively, Harris was impressive, recording 4.9 uZR while racking up 7 OAA and 8 DRS. Statcast ranked him in the 92nd percentile for OAA, the 89th percentile for outfield jump, and the 95th percentile for arm strength. Harris’ 29.4 feet-per-second put him in the 95th percentile of sprint speed, and he was only caught stealing twice. Even if his bat regresses a little bit, the 21-year-old looks to be a lock to stay near the top of this list for years to come.

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1. Brandon Nimmo, NYM

Brandon Nimmo finally was able to play a full season without a trip to the injured list, and he had the best season of his career. In a career-high 151 games, Nimmo hit .274/.367/.433 (134 wRC+) with 16 homers, 30 doubles, 64 RBIs, and 5.4 fWAR. While his 10.5% walk rate is the lowest mark he’s recorded, Nimmo cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 17.2%, making this the first time that mark has been below 20% over a full season. Once plagued by his struggles against lefties, Nimmo hit .264/.358/.428 in 234 plate appearances against southpaws, which was one of the best marks on the team. His 50.4% ground-ball rate suggests that there’s still room to improve for the 29-year-old, but he’s projected to excel with the bat again in 2023.

Defensively, Nimmo proved once again that he can man centerfield every day. He posted a career-best 6 OAA, which Statcast ranks in the 90th percentile. While his arm strength still isn’t elite, Nimmo’s 88.1 miles-per-hour average throw represents a solid increase from the 84.6 he posted in 2021. While he only stole three bases this year, Nimmo’s average sprint speed increased to a career-high 28.9 feet-per-second, which is good for the 86th percentile in MLB. Now locked in on an eight-year contract, expect Nimmo to be a mainstay at the top of the Mets’ batting order and be a catalyst for the team for years to come.

Shortstop
Second Base
Catcher
Third Base
First Base

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Center Field Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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With the Carlos Correa saga behind them, the Mets are faced with an intriguing position battle at third base heading into spring training. Eduardo Escobar, who played 130 games at the hot corner in 2022, and top prospect Brett Baty both have compelling cases as to why they should be the primary option at the position in 2023. With that, let’s break down each player’s strengths and weaknesses and provide an outlook on who could ultimately win the job.

Despite a rough stretch during the middle of the season, Eduardo Escobar slashed .240/.295/.405 with a 106 wRC+ and 2.3 fWAR in 2022. He also broke the 20-home run plateau and had 69 RBIs, both of which ranked third on the team. A strong September and October helped cushion his numbers, as he slashed .321/.385/.596 with a 176 wRC+ during those two months. A key for Escobar moving forward will be consistency though, as he hit .224/.279/.379 with a 94 wRC+ during the first half in what was an exceptionally streaky campaign.

An inherent trait that could play in Escobar’s favor regardless of the outcome of a potential position battle is that he crushes lefties, raising his stock as a platoon option. Last season, he hit .263/.302/.525 with a 133 wRC+ and .351 wOBA against southpaws while slashing .231/.293/.387 against righties. His power is another factor that works in his favor, as he has five 20-homer seasons in total over his career.

Escobar’s baserunning should be considered a strength too despite a lack of stolen bases, as he finished 2o22 with a 3.1 BsR according to Fangraphs while finishing in the 66th percentile for sprint speed. His overall track record as a full-time starter in the league speaks for itself as well, as he finished each of his last four full seasons with an fWAR of 2.3 or higher.

The predominant concern with Escobar’s profile is his defense and swing-and-miss tendencies. He put up -11 Defensive Runs Saved and -7 Outs Above Average at third in 2022 while also finishing in the 8th percentile for OAA across the league. At the plate, he struck out 23.8% of the time last year and well below average whiff and chase rates of 27.7% and 34.0% respectively.

Brett Baty, while likely the underdog between the two players, has a legitimate shot to earn the starting role. Recently ranked the No. 21 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, Baty slashed .184/.244/.342 with a 71 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR in 11 games and 42 plate appearances as a rookie in 2022. While his first cup of coffee in the bigs wasn’t necessarily successful, that doesn’t take away from his outlook moving forward. In fact, the positives of that stint may outweigh the negative as he showed off impressive potential with his average exit velocity of 91.1 MPH and max exit velocity of 113.0 MPH.

Baty was also able to convert his immense raw power into greater results in the minors in 2022, mashing 19 homers across 89 games in Double-A after hitting 12 the year prior in 91 games. That bodes well for his development, as a big knock on his game was his inability to lift the ball. For example, his groundball rate in 2021 at Double-A was 61.2%, which declined to 42.6% at the same level in 2022.

Strikeouts have plagued Baty throughout his professional career thus far too, but his reputation as a patient and pure hitter has uplifted his profile. He had walk rates of 11.5% at Single-A and 12.5% at Double-A in 2021 and 11.7% at Double-A in 2022. Furthermore, he has hit .292 in the minors and continues to make strides in hitting the ball to all fields, particularly up the middle.

There have been questions about Baty’s future at third base, but he’s shown enough to quell those concerns for the time being. His arm, which was graded a 60 out of 80 by MLB Pipeline, plays well at the position and is also one of the crowning reasons behind his hypothetical move to left field earlier in the offseason. His range and overall glove work is satisfactory as well, and he has shown the eagerness to continue to improve in the field this spring.

Escobar would appear to be the front runner over Baty for the starting job at third at this point, but it’s logical to assume there will be a time-share of sorts via platoon. Both players bring their respective pros and cons, as Escobar offers experience and reliability while Baty has a higher upside and more complete skillset at the plate while likely a defensive upgrade. Nonetheless, the position battle between the two has a chance to be one of the more substantial storylines coming out of Port St. Lucie in the coming months.

The post Mets Position Battle Watch: Third Base appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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Welcome back to the NL East, Trea Turner.

The shortstop position in the NL East went through some major changes during the 2022-2023 offseason. The Phillies signed Turner to a massive 11-year, $300 million contract after winning the pennant. Meanwhile, the Braves lost Dansby Swanson to the Cubs after the Atlanta native won the 2022 Gold Glove at shortstop. With familiar faces returning and young guys trying to establish themselves, MMO has ranked the shortstops in the NL East division.

No. 5 – CJ Abrams, WSH

CJ Abrams was one of the many pieces traded over to the Nationals last summer in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. While he played in 44 games with the Padres before the trade, going to Washington allowed Abrams to play full-time at shortstop. However, in the 90 games he played in, Abrams struggled in 2022. The rookie shortstop slashed a meager .246/.280/.324/.604 and recorded a 76 OPS+. He barely made hard contact as well, recording an 85.2 average exit velocity and .077 ISO. While these numbers aren’t impressive, Abrams showcased his game-changing speed. Abrams was in the 91st percentile for sprint speed in MLB and has the potential to be a threat on the base paths in the upcoming future. The only issue is Abrams has a hard time getting on base. In 2022, Abrams had an abysmal 1.7% walk rate and hit the ball on the ground 50% of the time.

Another knock on Abrams’ game is his defense. He was horrible in every way, committing 11 errors and recording a .941 fielding percentage. The advanced metrics were ugly too, as Abrams had a -9 OAA, which landed him in the 4th percentile for OAA.

While nothing worked out for Abrams in 2022, there is still hope for the young shortstop. He slashed .310/.360/.480/.840 in Triple-A during 2022 and will be 23 for the entire upcoming season.

No. 4 – Joey Wendle, MIA

The Marlins made an interesting move when they traded away clubhouse leader Miguel Rojas to the Dodgers. While many expected former shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move to shortstop, the Marlins announced that he would move to centerfield, creating more questions surrounding the position for 2023.

As of now, the Marlin’s depth chart has Joey Wendle as their starting shortstop. While Wendle has primarily played second and third base in his career, he has played 89 games at shortstop and held his ground. He played 34 games at the position in 2022 for the Marlins, recording two OAA and six defensive runs saved.

Offensively, Wendle is an upgrade over the departed Rojas. In 2021, his last full season, Wendle recorded a 108 OPS+ and was an All-Star. Wendle also demonstrates discipline at the plate and holds a career .322 OBP. Unfortunately for the Marlins, Wendle dealt with hamstring injuries throughout the 2022 season and slashed .259/.297/.360/.658 in 101 games.

No. 3 – Vaughn Grissom, ATL

Vaughn Grissom was one of the many Braves rookies that were called up in 2022 and impressed. In 41 games, Grissom slashed .295/.353/.440/.792 and recorded a 121 OPS+, demonstrating his ability to get on base and hit for a high average, though his numbers got worse as the season went on. The one concerning part of Grissom’s bat was the inability to hit the ball hard, as he recorded an 84.6 average exit velocity.

While Grissom has proved that his bat is major-league caliber, his defense is still in question. He started 39 of 40 games at second base last season and was not particularly good, recording -3 defensive runs saved at the position. The move over to shortstop doesn’t look quite as promising either, though Braves coach Ron Washington has spent time this offseason with Grissom working on his defense.

Grissom has the potential to be an impact bat in the line-up for the Braves this upcoming season, but his job isn’t secure. On Intentional Talk earlier this offseason, Alex Anthopulous stated that Orlando Arcia will compete with Grissom for the starting spot. While his bat isn’t in the same tier as Grissom’s, Arcia has proven he can hold down shortstop defensively, which the Braves will need after losing Swanson’s Gold Glove to the Cubs.

No. 2 – Trea Turner, PHI

The Phillies filled the only hole in their lineup this offseason after locking down Turner for the next eleven years. Not only is Turner phenomenal, but he’s been debatably the best shortstop in MLB. In 2022, he slashed .298/.343/.466/.809, recorded a 121 OPS+ and 6.3 fWAR. Turner also demonstrated he’s more than a leadoff hitter last season after he hit 21 home runs and drove in 100 runs.

A true five-tool player, Turner separates himself from other shortstops by showing off his speed. The former National was in the 99th percentile of sprint speed, leading him to 27 stolen bags in 2022 and 230 for his career.

While Turner’s bat is exceptional, his defense is pedestrian. He ranked in the 48th percentile for OAA and committed 16 errors at shortstop last season. Turner’s arm wasn’t great either and he ranked in the 39th percentile for arm strength.

No. 1 – Francisco Lindor, NYM

Francisco Lindor had a desperately needed bounce-back season for the Mets in 2022. He slashed .270/.339/.449/.788, clubbed 26 home runs, drove in 107 runs, and recorded a 125 OPS+. Lindor looked more comfortable at the plate as well, and as a result, his slugging percentage raised by 30 points in 2022, resulting in nine more doubles, three more triples, and six more home runs.

Lindor also had another outstanding defensive season. He recorded 13 OAA, landing him 98th percentile of OAA, and had a 4.2 UZR. The only knock on Lindor’s defense was his arm, which was listed in the 37th percentile in baseball, but his .985 fielding percentage and nine errors proved it didn’t hurt the Mets throughout the season.

Putting Lindor over Turner wasn’t an easy decision, the two shortstops had similar numbers in 2022 and Turner is coming off four years of averaging a 131 OPS+. However, the outlier last season was defense, and at shortstop, defense holds a lot of value. Turner’s 16 errors, zero OAA, and -0.7 UZR demonstrated that he played average defense with no range. Meanwhile, Lindor’s 13 OAA, 4.3 UZR, and nine errors showed that he was a top defender at shortstop in 2022. Defense matters, and as a result, Lindor recorded a 6.8 fWAR compared to Turner’s 6.3 fWAR.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Shortstop appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Up next on the rankings is third base. With only one true standout, the top spot on this list was pretty easy to assign but the middle three can fluctuate very easily. Between prospect promotions and free agency additions this list could have three new faces at this time next year. But for now here’s how the position shakes out for 2023.

5. Jeimer Candelario, WSH

The Washington Nationals big free agent acquisition this offseason is coming off the worst season of his career. Now 29 years old, Candelario has played for the Cubs and Tigers as part of his seven year MLB career. Candelario led baseball with 42 doubles in 2021 while hitting .271/.351/.442 and flirted with a .300 batting average in the abbreviated 2020 season. Last year with the Tigers, Candelario batted .217/.272/.361 in 124 games. Steamer projects Candelario for 1.5 WAR this season, 27th most among third basemen. Additionally Steamer has his batting line at .240/.312/.404. Candelario is a negative defender at third base, finishing 2022 with a -6 outs above average, ranking in the eighth percentile. It’s likely Carter Kieboom or Jeter Downs finishes the season as their third baseman.

4. Eduardo Escobar, NYM

It’s unknown how much playing time Escobar will actually receive in 2023 but with him being the incumbent we’ll rank the NL East as him being the starter over Brett Baty. Escobar entered 2022 off an All-Star season but couldn’t replicate the success the same way. Escobar wasn’t far off from his 2021 season – 109 OPS+ vs. 106 OPS+ – but his best days do appear behind him. Projections for Esobar range due to games played. Steamer has Escobar at 109 games while The BAT has him playing in 73. Either way he should be around a 1.1 WAR player with a league-average bat. ZiPS projections heavily favor the Mets prospect over Escobar this season. Baty is estimated for a .253/.331/.424 slash line with 2.9 fWAR while Escobar is .232/.292/.417 with 1.5 WAR. Escobar is projected for 80 more plate appearances as well. If Baty is the starter and produces to that point he could jump up the rankings to No. 2 in the NL East.

3. Alec Bohm, PHI

Alec Bohm was the second worst defender at third base in baseball but his bat will push him above Escobar in these rankings. Last season, Bohm was in the fourth percentile in outs above average with -9 at the hot corner. Still, Bohm’s bat added to a deadly Philadelphia lineup with an expected batting average in the 98th percentile at .290. Bohm’s actual batting average in 2022 was .280, indicating he can reach new heights in his fourth season. Steamer projects Bohm as the 16th best third baseman next season with 2.6 WAR with a .272/.324/.416 slash line. ZiPS has Bohm worse than Baty with a 1.5 WAR and a sub-100 OPS+.

2. Jean Segura, MIA

Segura tops the list of middle-of-the-pack third basemen mainly because of all the problems he’s caused against the Mets over the years. Segura is making the full-time transition from second base to third base in Miami and projects to be just fine after patrolling second and shortstop throughout his career. Segura’s offensive profile isn’t anything exciting with Steamer putting him at a .274/.331/.393 slash line and a 2.9 WAR . ZiPS is further down on Segura with a 2.0 WAR but a similar slash of .271/.329/.387.

1. Austin Riley, ATL

A legitimate stud and probably the best position player on the Braves next season, Riley is the clear-cut choice for best third baseman in the NL East. Steamer has Riley as the sixth-best third basemen in baseball next season with a 4.4 WAR and a .274/.343/.512 slash line. Riley, like the rest of the NL East, is a poor defender, but he does criminal things to baseballs. In 2022 he was in the 96th percentile of average exit velocity, 97th max exit velocity, 95th hard hit percentage, and 96th barrel percentage. Only 26 when the season starts the All-Star and Silver Slugger should remain atop this group for years to come barring a Baty breakout or a Manny Machado free agent signing.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Third Base Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The National League East enters the 2023 campaign with a perfect blend and mixture of talent at the second base position. After a recent trade by the Marlins, both batting title winners from 2022 are in the division while another familiar face re-enters the fold following an unfortunate series of injuries. With that, here is MMO’s rankings of the NL East second baseman headed into next season.

5. Luis García, WSH

Luis García has had a peculiar start to his career. Once the Nationals No. 2 prospect, he was called up during the 2020 season at age 20 despite never appearing above Double-A. He went on to struggle as a rookie, slashing .276/.302/.366 with a 79 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR in 40 games. It was clear then and now that he was rushed to the big leagues, and his development was more or less stunted as a result. While he showed incremental improvement in 2022 with a .275/.295/.408 slash line, he still has plenty to prove in order to cement himself as a regular for Washington moving forward.

García’s profile as a hitter is unique in that his bat-to-ball skills were often lauded as his crowning trait coming up through the minors, but it simply hasn’t translated to the majors thus far. He’s posted a mediocre 74.8% contact rate over his career and put up a 22.3% strikeout rate last season. Considering the fact that he has below-average power (.401 career slugging percentage) and one of the worst walk rates in the league (2.9% in 2022), García’s offensive outlook is rather bleak as things currently stand.

Where there should be optimism, though, is in the field. García struggled immensely during his time at shortstop with -20 Outs Above Average and -2 Defensive Runs Saved total but has fared far better at second. He posted 1 OAA and 3 DRS at the position last campaign and should continue to improve with more consistent reps there now that CJ Abrams projects as the full-time starter at short.

García has some work to do to move up these rankings in the future, but the potential is there, and he has yet to receive a full body of work while still being just 22 years old.

4. Bryson Stott, PHI

Bryson Stott was thrust into a sizable role as a rookie in 2022 and performed admirably, slashing .234/.295/.358 with an 84 wRC+ and 1.4 fWAR in 127 games. While his bat lagged behind in his first taste of major-league pitching, his impact on the basepaths and with the glove made him a valuable part of a Phillies’ team that made the World Series.

Stott recorded 3 Outs Above Average and 1 Defensive Run Saved in limited action at second last season, far outweighing his production at shortstop. He also put up 12 stolen bases and a 4.7 BsR according to Fangraphs, which ranked second on the team. His sprint speed, which was in the 91st percentile according to Baseball Savant, is a further indicator of just how much of a weapon his legs are and will continue to be in the long run.

Stott’s peripherals and expected stats were not particularly good last year, highlighted by a .284 xwOBA, 36.8% hard hit rate and 4.4% barrel rate. Additionally, he failed to generate much of a power stroke despite playing his home games at one of the league’s most hitter-friendly parks, hitting 10 home runs in 466 plate appearances. He did, however, show the ability to avoid swing-and-misses with a 17.2% whiff rate and displayed increased prowess at the plate in the second half with a 106 wRC+, providing optimism that he could keep the momentum rolling into 2023.

Stott likely will never be a marquee hitter, but he doesn’t have to be in order to stay an effective player on a game-to-game basis. With newcomer Trea Turner superseding him at shortstop, Stott’s move to second base is a likely positive for his career as he looks to become a long-term solution for the Phillies.

3. Luis Arráez, MIA

Luis Arráez has one of the more distinct skill sets in the majors with his hit tool. The 2022 All-Star and American League batting champion, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins on January 20, slashed .316/.375/.420 with a 131 wRC+ and 3.2 fWAR. Arráez finished in the 100th percentile in both strikeout and whiff percentage while also ranking in the 97th percentile for expected batting average last season, speaking to just how prolific of a contact hitter he has become. Outside of that though, there are some noticeable holes in his game that drag him down to No. 3 on this list.

The Marlins announced that Arráez would be the club’s starting second baseman in 2023, shifting Jazz Chisholm Jr. to center field in the process. The decision was met with some confusion, as Arráez played just 41 games at the position last season and was also a Gold Glove finalist at first base. He put up 1 OAA and 3 DRS at second in 2022, but has stumbled there over the course of his career with -15 OAA and -2 DRS.

Arráez’s offensive profile severely lacks any sort of power element, as he hit eight home runs in over 600 plate appearances and had a hard-hit rate of just 7% in 2022. His second half was cause for concern too, as he slashed .285/.325/.389 with a 106 wRC+ after recording a 150 wRC+ in the first half. However, he has shown that he can reach base at a decent clip and posted an xwOBA that was in the 69th percentile, perhaps signaling that there is more depth than meets the eye for Arráez at the plate.

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2. Ozzie Albies, ATL

Ozzie Albies had a rough go of it in 2022. He fractured his left foot in June only to come back in September and immediately fracture his pinky sliding into second base. In his 64 games last season, he slashed .247/.294/.409 with a 93 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR. He has quickly garnered the reputation as being one of the league’s premier second basemen, and for good reason.

Albies has always been an above-average hitter, putting up 92 homers and a 106 wRC+ to go with a .271/.322/.470 slash line across his career. What makes him stand out from the rest of the pack, though, is his defense and ability on the basepaths. He has had three seasons of double-digit stolen bases while consistently recording an elite sprint speed and ranking among the top players in baserunning metrics. With the glove, Albies has recorded 22 DRS and 16 OAA while being nominated for several Gold Glove awards.

Albies is the quintessential player in many ways, providing a balance in every area of the game. However, that wasn’t quite enough to get him No. 1 honors on this list.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jeff McNeil, NYM

Jeff McNeil tops this year’s list after a 2022 season that saw him earn All-Star and NL Batting title honors while slashing .326/.382/.454 with a 143 wRC+ and 5.9 fWAR. McNeil, who was just awarded an extension for four years and $50 million, was a catalyst for the Mets’ 101-win campaign and got back on track in a big way after a disappointing 2021 season.

McNeil’s body of work isn’t all that dissimilar from Arráez’s, as both won the batting title and relied on their elite hit tools to succeed despite failing to make hard contact on a consistent basis. However, what sets McNeil apart from him, and the rest of the players on this list, is his truly elite play on both sides of the ball. He finished in the 95th percentile for OAA with 8 at second base, which was among the leaders at the position and a nice step-up for McNeil from prior years.

McNeil’s 143 wRC+ fell inside the top-15 among qualified hitters in the majors this season while his 5.9 fWAR finished just outside that range at No. 16. It was a career year for McNeil in what’s been a stellar run for him, and he will continue to be a face of the Mets’ organization for years to come.

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