The early-season leaderboards at all times characteristic a mixture of each acquainted and shocking names.
The identical is true of our newest Hitter Power Rankings, which embody 5 holdovers from our earlier version and 5 new faces. It stays to be seen which of those scorching starters have endurance over the course of a six-month season, however for the time being, these are one of the best of one of the best with the bat.
Here are the outcomes from our voters, who took into consideration each observe report and up to date efficiency in making their alternatives. All stats are up to date by Wednesday’s video games.
1. Mike Trout, Angels (Last ballot: 2)
Trout was second behind Aaron Judge in each of our first two 2023 polls, and now he’s obtained the highest spot. As ordinary, Trout’s constant brilliance on the plate is tough to fathom. At age 31, he’s slashing .311/.415/.578 (173 OPS+), in contrast with an almost an identical profession line of .303/.415/.587 (176 OPS+).
2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (not ranked)
He’s baaaaack. Acuña was one of many best possible gamers within the sport earlier than sustaining a critical knee harm halfway by the 2021 season. He wasn’t fairly the identical after returning final yr however is having no such points in ‘23. Acuña entered Thursday main the NL in hits (37), runs (22), complete bases (58) and steals (13), whereas batting .363/.449/.569. He looks like a critical 40-40 menace once more.
3. Max Muncy, Dodgers (not ranked)
Let Muncy’s season be a lesson in how shortly one can shed a “slow start.” Through 9 video games, he was 4-for-33 (.121) with one homer. Over his subsequent 13 video games earlier than happening the paternity record on Tuesday, he went 14-for-38 (.368) with 10 large flies to seize the Major League lead (11).
4. Jarred Kelenic, Mariners (not ranked)
As excessive as Kelenic’s struggles had been over his first two large league seasons (a .168 common and .589 OPS), he’s nonetheless solely 23 years outdated. And there’s a motive he was a top-10 general Draft decide and consensus top-10 prospect. Now Seattle is being rewarded for its endurance. With a brand new swing paying dividends, Kelenic homered in three straight video games from final Saturday by Tuesday and entered Thursday main the AL in slugging (.688).
5. Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (9)
If Chapman’s first season in Toronto was a little bit of a disappointment, his follow-up has been something however. Thanks partly to a revamped method, the third baseman started Thursday with AL leads in common (.364), OBP (.446), OPS+ (207) and complete bases (58). That’s opportune timing for one of many greatest names in subsequent offseason’s free-agent class.
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (4)
The previous week has been eventful for Vlad Jr., who arrived within the Bronx for a sequence and firmly reiterated his intent to by no means play for the Yankees. That, after all, led to Yankees followers serenading him with boos, however that hardly bothered Guerrero. He homered twice within the sequence, serving to Toronto take two out of three.
7. Luis Arraez, Marlins (5)
The man is only a hit machine. He received the AL batting title in 2022, and following an offseason commerce to Miami, he’s in early place to win the NL batting title in ‘23. Arraez has a .421 average, with 10 multi-hit games. He’s batting .386 in opposition to fastballs, .467 in opposition to breaking balls and .471 in opposition to offspeed pitches.
8. Wander Franco, Rays (not ranked)
Reminder: He solely turned 22 years outdated on March 1. At an age when most gamers are nonetheless within the Minors — and even school — Franco is enjoying his third Major League season and thriving for a group that has been one of the best within the Majors up to now. The switch-hitter has a 160 OPS+ and entered Thursday main the Majors with 12 doubles.
9. Brandon Marsh Phillies (not ranked)
Amid all the large names on the roster, it’s Marsh who has been the Phillies’ greatest hitter — and greatest general participant — within the early going. Acquired from the Angels finally yr’s Trade Deadline to fill a gap in heart discipline, Marsh made some key changes on the plate this offseason that led to a .351/.435/.703 slash line over his first 23 video games.
10. Aaron Judge, Yankees (1)
The king of the Hitter Power Rankings going again to his historic 2022 marketing campaign, Judge led our first two polls of ‘23 earlier than a stoop practically dropped him out of the highest 10 this time round. The reigning AL MVP was caught in a 5-for-34 (.152) stretch earlier than a three-hit, two-double sport on Wednesday — his thirty first birthday — boosted his slugging proportion again to .522.
Also receiving votes: Randy Arozarena (Rays), Brandon Nimmo (Mets), Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals), James Outman (Dodgers), Yordan Alvarez (Astros), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Patrick Wisdom (Cubs), Sean Murphy (Braves), Corbin Carroll (D-backs), Mauricio Dubón (Giants), Masataka Yoshida (Red Sox), Adolis García (Rangers), Anthony Volpe (Yankees)
Voters: David Adler, Brett Blueweiss, Paul Casella, Doug Gausepohl, Thomas Harrigan, Sarah Langs, Travis Miller, Ricardo Montes de Oca, Brian Murphy, Efrain Ruiz, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon, David Venn
Content Source: www.mlb.com