Matt Linder
After the piece of job past times spot, the minute base of operations seat is broad open. It is currently inwards a dry ground of transition, every bit old shoe-ins similar Chase Utley in addition to Dustin Pedroia are beingness replaced past times younger, unproven players. The electrical current crop of minute basemen does non boast a ton of elite talent at the top, but at that topographic point are quite a few players who merely missed the list.
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| si.com |
1. Jose Altuve
Altuve is far in addition to away the best minute baseman inwards baseball. He is the reigning AL MVP, thank you lot to his all-around superstar production. He is a threat on the bases, stealing xxx or to a greater extent than bags half dozen direct season. Also, every bit the 27-year old has matured every bit a hitter, his powerfulness numbers stimulate got skyrocketed. Altuve’s .547 slugging percent was higher than Kris Bryant terminal season. Additionally, he combines elite contact skills amongst an increasingly strong batting optic (.410 OBP inwards 2017). His defence strength is good, but non spectacular. However, when you lot atomic number 82 the league inwards hits iv consecutive seasons, fielding powerfulness is merely gravy.
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| Matt Hazlett - Getty Images |
2. Daniel Murphy
Over Murphy’s firstly 2 seasons amongst the Nationals, he has proven that his fantastic 2015 postseason amongst the Mets was no fluke. Since 2016, the 33-year old has hitting .335/.387/.957 patch leading the league inwards doubles both years. Murphy has battled through unopen to nagging injuries over the past times few seasons, which is a trouble for 2018, considering he is showtime the flavor on the DL. While his defence strength has never been really good, his elite offensive production makes him ane of the best minute basemen inwards baseball.
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| Dean Rutz - The Seattle Times |
3. Robinson Cano
After a downwardly twelvemonth past times “Cano standards” inwards 2017, mayhap this #3 ranking is slightly high. However, the crop is minute basemen is non peculiarly loaded amongst high-end talent, in addition to hence I am going to curl amongst the hereafter Hall-of-Famer who posted a 7.3 WAR amongst 39 abode runs merely 2 seasons ago.
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| Bruce Kluckjohn - AP |
4. Brian Dozier
The Twins’ minute baseman has emerged every bit ane of the most powerful hitters inwards baseball. Over the past times 2 seasons, Dozier has averaged 38 abode runs per year. Also, he improved his OBP to .359 inwards 2017. In improver to the strong offensive production, Dozier is threat on the bases in addition to does non wound the squad defensively.
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| Mitchell Layton - Getty Images |
5. Jonathan Schoop
Schoop had a breakout flavor inwards 2017. He clubbed a career-high 32 abode runs, patch increasing his OBP to a enterprise .338. The Orioles’ minute basemen finished minute amidst his positional peers amongst a 5.1 WAR. Schoop is also a strong defender, in addition to at solely 26 years old, at that topographic point is notwithstanding fourth dimension to fine-tune his game.
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| Bill Streicher - USA TODAY Sports |
6. Cesar Hernandez
Hernandez has been ane of the most underrated players inwards baseball game over the past times 2 seasons. Since 2016, the 27-year old has reached base of operations inwards over 37% of his plate appearances in addition to hitting .294. The Phillies’ minute baseman also stole sixteen bases inwards solely 128 games terminal flavor in addition to is a enterprise fielder. I facial expression Hernandez to earn his firstly All-Star appearance inwards 2018.
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| David Zalubowski - Associated Press |
7. D.J. LeMahieu
The Rockies’ minute baseman came downwardly to the world inwards 2017, but notwithstanding produced at a high level, hitting .310/.374/.409 terminal season. Although Coors Field mightiness inflate his numbers, LeMahieu’s hard-hit charge per unit of measurement of 41.2 percent was notwithstanding good inwards a higher house the Major League average of 33.3 percent. In improver to the enterprise offensive production, the 29-year old plays stellar defense.
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| Getty Images |
8. Javier Baez
The Cubs’ minute baseman has a ton of potential, but has yet to position it all together. He has proficient power, hitting 23 abode runs inwards 2017. However, he needs to ameliorate his plate dependent area if he wants to accept the side past times side measuring every bit a player. The 25-year old is a proficient defender in addition to has all of the tools to breakout inwards 2018.
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| latimes.com |
9. Ian Kinsler
The first-year Angels’ minute baseman is coming off a terrible offensive 2017 season, inwards which he solely hitting .236/.313/.412. However, merely 2 years ago, Kinsler finished 4th amidst his positional peers inwards WAR (6.1). Despite his struggles amongst the bat terminal year, Kinsler remained an elite defender. Also, fifty-fifty though he is 35 years old, at that topographic point are reasons to believe that terminal year’s ineffectiveness was at to the lowest degree partially due to bad luck, considering his hard-hit charge per unit of measurement stayed consistent from 2016 to 2017.
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| Getty Images |
10. Whit Merrifield
The 28 twelvemonth old had a breakout flavor for the Royals terminal season. Merrifield finished 5th inwards WAR (3.9) amidst minute basemen, thank you lot to a strong slash draw of .288/.324/.460. He also led the AL inwards stolen bases amongst 34. I would non endure surprised if he boosted his OBP inwards 2018 later gaining a total twelvemonth of experience inwards the big leagues. It is ever risky to gauge an older thespian off of ane proficient season, but at that topographic point is a lot to similar well-nigh Merrifield’s game.
Also Considered:
Joe Panik - Giants
Kolten Wong - Cardinals
Neil Walker - Yankees
Ozzie Albies – Braves
Jed Lowrie – A’s
Yolmer Sanchez – White Sox
Scooter Gennett - Reds
**All WAR stats come upward from Baseball Reference
Please cheque dorsum in ane lawsuit again tomorrow for my piece of job past times 10 3rd basemen inwards 2018.
If you lot stimulate got whatever questions, comments or criticisms experience gratis to attain out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com
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