MLB Rankings: Top Outfielders in 2016
The outfield position in Major League Baseball features not only the two best players in the league, but also most of the game’s young emerging stars. From speedy contact threats to slugging studs with cannons for arms, outfielders dominate the game in a variety of ways.
While Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have been cemented as the new faces of the game, other young stars like Mookie Betts and A.J. Pollock have nearly equally bright futures ahead. Heading into 2016, it’s likely that many of the game’s outfielders will contend for each league’s respective MVP trophy.
Here’s our rankings of the top outfielders in the MLB.
Honorable Mentions
A.J. Pollock
Arguably a top-five outfielder in the game, a fractured elbow will likely keep Pollock out for an extended period of time this season. When he returns though, he should continue his ascendance as one of the premiere center fielders in baseball.
Carlos Gonzalez
After dealing with injuries for much of 2013 and 2014, Carlos Gonzalez bounced back in a big way last season as he mashed 40 home runs and re-emerged as one of the faces of a downtrodden Colorado Rockies franchise.
Curtis Granderson
While Curtis Granderson will never be the player he was with the New York Yankees, he’s a consistent power source in a young New York Mets lineup. With improved plate discipline last season, Granderson should have a smooth decline as he enters his age 35 season.
Adam Eaton
In the first fully healthy season of his major league career, Adam Eaton did not disappoint. Now with added power, Eaton is a solid leadoff hitter with the ability to steal bases and get on base in a variety of ways.
Odubel Herrera
After making the jump to the majors from Double-A with the Philadelphia Phillies as a Rule 5 Draft pick, Odubel Herrera quickly emerged as one of the best players on the team. His plate discipline will need to improve, but he boasts solid speed and just enough power to get by as an above-average center fielder.
Carlos Gomez
While Carlos Gomez struggled after being traded to the Houston Astros last season, he was considered an MVP candidate as early as two seasons ago and still represents one of the better power-speed combos in baseball. At 30, Gomez is in the midst of his prime and should be poised to bounceback.
Alex Gordon
While it seemed as if Alex Gordon was ready to move on from the Kansas City Royals during the offseason, he re-upped with the team and looks poised to help the team build a dynasty. As a player that can do it all, Gordon’s value to the Royals is unquestioned.
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15. Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun had a remarkably solid 2015 season, but it doesn’t look like he’ll ever return to his days of being a feared slugger in the heart of the Milwaukee Brewers lineup. Expect another year of a near .290 average with anywhere from 20-30 home runs.
14. Justin Upton
Now with his fourth team in the Detroit Tigers, Justin Upton is looking to finally make the leap into superstardom that has eluded him for so many years. Still just 28, Upton has the tools to be one of the better hitters in the Detroit lineup. At his worst, though, he’s a .260 hitter that can hit 25 homers. It’s likely he’ll top those numbers this season.
13. Starling Marte
Starling Marte came within one home run of joining the elusive 20-20 club last season, and it’s possible he can make the leap this season. Despite his inability to draw walks, Marte finds ways to get on base and score runs – and with 81 RBI last season, he emerged as a run producer in a solid Pittsburgh Pirates lineup. Expect him to creep toward a .300 average while stealing plenty of bases in 2016.
12. Kevin Kiermaier
Despite a relatively weak bat, Kevin Kiermaier is among the league’s best defensive outfielders and looks poised to improve on all fronts as he enters his age 26 season. With a 32.0 defensive WAR and 2.2 offensive WAR, Kiermaier was among the Tampa Bay Rays best all-around players last season.
11. Adam Jones
While Adam Jones is a superstar in his own right and the undoubted face of the Baltimore Orioles, he struggled to an extent last season and saw his average dip to .269. His walk rate slightly increased, which could possibly go up again this season as he continues to mature. At the same time, however, his OBP will never be among the best in the game – and that just offsets his game changing power enough to keep him out of the top 10.
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10. Michael Brantley
After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, there’s some uncertainty as to whether Michael Brantley will be able to return as his typical self this season. It’s more than likely that his power will falter, but his knack for getting on base and doing just about everything else will make him return to elite status.
9. Jose Bautista
One of the top power threats in the game over the past five seasons, Jose Bautista enters his contract year looking poised to produce. On a deep Toronto Blue Jays team, Bautista has plenty of protection to ensure he sees enough pitches to once again top at least 40 home runs. While his average dipped to .250 last season, Bautista more than made up for it with his ability to drive in runs.
8. Jason Heyward
It’s unlikely that Jason Heyward will ever recapture the magic of his 27 homer 2012 season, but his elite defense and high contact rate have made him one of the more valuable outfielders in MLB. Now in a loaded Chicago Cubs lineup, Heyward could see a bump in offensive production, while his trademark defense will continue to be his calling card.
7. Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts emerged as a sleeper MVP candidate going forward after a quietly excellent 2015 season that saw him hit 18 homers, steal 21 bases and only strike out 12.5 percent of the time. While he doesn’t excel in any one category, Betts is a superstar in the making ready to take the reigns of the Boston Red Sox franchise.
6. Giancarlo Stanton
Injuries once again set Giancarlo Stanton back in 2015, but as per usual, he’ll likely contend for the MVP award if he stays healthy this season. It’s crazy to think he’s never topped 40 home runs, and at 26, this seems like the perfect season to check that off his list. Helping the Miami Marlins return to relevance will likely be his biggest goal, but expect another big individual stat line from the slugger.
5. Yoenis Cespedes
2016 Projected Stats: .285/.331/.549, 37 HR, 106 RBI, 97 R, 6.5 WAR
Not many saw the pure explosion in production from Yoenis Cespedes upon his arrival in New York, and he’s one of the main reasons the Mets made it to the World Series. While he’s stuck in center field, his offense will more than make up for any defensive miscues. A full season with the Mets should signal another boost in production.
Cespedes finished the 2015 season with a .291 average to go along with a .870 OPS and a career-high 35 home runs. The 30-year-old also knocked in 105 RBI while scoring 101 runs. Despite his relative inability to draw walks, Cespedes only struck out 20.9 percent of the time and managed to boost his isolated power to an impressive mark of .251. He also stole seven bases, proving that his athleticism extends beyond his cannon of an arm.
With Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson locked into the two corner outfield spots, Cespedes was forced into playing center field for most of his time in New York – and that will once again be the case in 2016. A -14.0 UZR/150 in center field doesn’t bode well, so a potential move to left or right field could be in order if things get out of hand.
But with his powerful bat, Cespedes will remain an imposing force in the middle of the Mets lineup.
4. Lorenzo Cain
2016 Projected Stats: .309/.363/.501, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 99 R, 26 SB, 6.8 WAR
Lorenzo Cain emerged as a star with the Kansas City Royals following the 2014 postseason, but it was 2015 when he truly posted the numbers to back the assertion up. A .307/.361/.477 slash line and career-high 16 home runs complemented his typical excellence on the base paths, as he stole 28 bases and scored 101 runs.
Where Cain truly shined, though, was in his refined approach at the plate. The soon-to-be 30-year old decreased his strikeout percentage from 21.5 percent to an impressive 16.2 mark, while also increasing his walks by more than one percent. His .347 BABIP was relatively high, but not enough to skew any of his stats to ridiculous numbers.
On the defensive side of things, Cain is one of the best in center field as he’s among the most athletic and speedy players in the game. But, for some reason, he’s yet to win a Gold Glove Award. With a 14.1 UZR/150 and 18 DRS last season, it’s hard to imagine Cain not garnering any consideration for the award – but with Kiermaier in the mix, competition was stiff.
Going forward, Cain should continue to fine tune his overall approach and slowly build his resume as one of the best all-around outfielders in the game. Expect him to top 20 homers this season as he looks to lead the Royals on another deep postseason run.
3. Andrew McCutchen
2016 Projected Stats: .319/.421/.543, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 91 R, 7.1 WAR
Entering his age 29 season, Andrew McCutchen seems ready to take the Pittsburgh Pirates on a deep playoff run as they look to fend off the imposing Chicago Cubs franchise. McCutchen struggled to start 2015, but quickly turned things around and finished the season with a .292/.401/.488 slash line and 23 home runs.
McCutchen’s plate discipline remained roughly the same, and he actually drew more walks than in the past despite striking out a bit more than usual. With elite on-base skills, McCutchen remains a threat to score at any given time. While his 11 steals were down from previous seasons, hitting in the middle of the order typically doesn’t call for much base running.
His athleticism did play a key role in improving his defensive metrics, however, as his UZR/150 increased to -6.1. While his defensive metrics may look rough, they don’t typically do his defensive work justice. McCutchen only committed two errors all of last season, while also recording seven outfield assists.
McCutchen looks poised to once again compete for the MVP award as the Pirates look to finally win the NL Central. Expect him to start strong and carry the roster for most of the season.
2. Bryce Harper
2016 Projected Stats: .335/.467/.661, 49 HR, 116 RBI, 102 R, 10.1 WAR
Although it’s difficult to imagine Bryce Harper topping his monstrous stat line from last season, it’s entirely possible as the 23-year-old comes into his own as a player. Harper’s .330 average and 1.109 OPS were tops in the league, while his he also mashed 42 home runs and scored 118 runs.
Harper honed in his overall approach and reaped the rewards, as his walk rate skyrocketed nearly 10 points and his strikeouts decreased by just over six percent. His .369 BABIP was a bit high, but it’s unlikely he’ll experience a significant regression in that category that would truly impact his production. If anything, Harper will only walk more as pitchers think of ways to get him out.
While his -4.5 UZR/150 in right field is less than desirable, Harper managed a 6 DRS to offset any concerns. Even if Harper were atrocious on defense – which he’s far from – his offensive production would almost always counteract it. He’s one of the more athletic right fielders, and his effort is consistent, as well.
Harper would have to do a lot to improve on his MVP 2015 season, but it’s entirely possible as he looks to achieve the next level of success in the big leagues, postseason glory.
1. Mike Trout
Projected Stats: .315/.409/.597, 45 HR, 98 RBI, 101 R, 10 SB, 9.9 WAR
Mike Trout just beats out Harper simply because he’s been consistently excellent for multiple seasons and counting. It seems as if Trout is entering the LeBron James status around the league where his greatness is overlooked. Don’t forget that he posted arguably the best season of his career in 2015, as he hit .299/.402/.590 to go along with a career-high 41 home runs and 104 runs scored.
While his base running has slowed, Trout still managed to steal 11 bases last season to contribute to his 60.4 offensive WAR. Whereas strikeouts were a major concern in seasons past, Trout decreased his strikeout percentage to 23.2 percent last season while also incrementally increasing his walk percentage.
Trout may always be a high strikeout player, but his willingness to make adjustments bodes very well for his offensive production going forward. As the best player on a meddling Los Angeles Angels team, Trout will be force to do a lot more than usual this season – and could see yet another boost in production.
Like McCutchen, Trout’s defense has never been appreciated by metrics, as his 0.3 UZR/150 and 5 DRS are far below his contributions in center field. His speed and athleticism will continue to allow him to make solid plays in the outfield and help a relatively weak outfield core surrounding him.
Next: Potential surprise teams of 2016
While his team may not be ready to compete in the playoffs this season, that likely won’t deter Trout as he looks to win yet another MVP trophy.