MLB Players Power Rankings: Top 10 Hitters in Week-8

Who was the best hitter during Week-8 of the baseball season? Find out in this latest edition of MLB Players Power Rankings.

In this week’s MLB Players Power Rankings, we see some familiar faces as well as some new ones. However, before we jump into this week’s top 10 hitters, let’s understand how we make our determinations.

1. We base our weekly rankings on a Monday through Sunday schedule. Therefore, these rankings are for the week beginning on May 13th through May 19th.
2. Then, using advanced stats (SLG, wOBA, wRC+) that best represent a players performance, we created a rubric.
3. As a tiebreaker, we used fWAR to determine which player is ahead of who.
4. If the tiebreaker is a tie, then we delve deeper into the weekly stats.

With that being said, let’s find out who the 10-6 ranked hitters are.

10. Harold Ramirez, Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins are well on their way to one of the worst MLB seasons in history. It’s not all bad, however, as players like Ramirez are beginning to give whatever Marlins fans remain a glimmer of hope for a better future. Since joining the club, in 41 PA, Ramirez has produced an impressive .992 OPS.

Here are his Week-8 stats: 0.750 SLG | 0.541 wOBA | 249 wRC+ | 0.6 fWAR

9. Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins

This season, the Twins look ready for a postseason run. Currently, they’re on pace to break the home run record set by the New York Yankees just last season, and Eddie Rosiario is playing a huge role in the team’s success. He already has 16 HR this season and leads the league in RBI with 45.

Here are his Week-8 stats: 0.852 SLG | 0.543 wOBA | 248 wRC+ | 0.6 fWAR

8. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte returns to the MLB Players Power Rankings after missing it in weeks 6 and 7. Despite his stats have decreased quite a bit since he last appeared on this list, there is no question that Marte is establishing himself as a star on the rise.

Here are his Week-8 stats: 0.889 SLG | 0.536 wOBA | 239 wRC+ | 0.7 fWAR

7. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

After a monster rookie season in 2018, Soto struggled a bit to start the year. In Week-8, however, Soto established that he will not be the victim of a sophomore jinx.

Here are his Week-8 stats: 0.885 SLG | 0.568 wOBA | 260 wRC+ | 0.6 fWAR

6. Wilson Ramos, New York Mets

Wilson Ramos was regarded as one of Brody Van Wagenen’s best signings this offseason, which made Ramos’ slow start all the more painful. In Week-8, however, Ramos returned to his power hitting ways, slugging .864 in 7 games for the New York Mets.

Here are his Week-8 stats: 0.864 SLG | 0.565 wOBA | 266 wRC+ | 0.6 fWAR

MLB Players Power Rankings (5): Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

Week-8 Stats: 0.929 SLG | 0.607 wOBA | 288 wRC+ | 0.9 fWAR

Placing Anthony Rizzo 5th on this list was by far the toughest decision to make. Especially considering that he has a better fWAR than the four and three ranked hitters.

The fact of the matter is that while his traditional stats were better than the four and three ranked players, his advanced stats fell just short of the #4 slot. That’s not to say that Rizzo isn’t a better player, however.

In fact, throughout his career, Anthony Rizzo has been one of the most understated and underrated players in MLB. In nine big league seasons, seven of which he played full seasons, Rizzo has essentially averaged 30/100 each season. Not only that, but he also gets on base at a .370 clip and is slugging .859 for his career.

In all, since becoming the everyday first baseman for the Chicago Cubs in 2013, Rizzo ranks 18th overall in fWAR (26.3). Among first basemen, he ranks only behind Paul Goldschmidt (33.7 fWAR), Freddie Freeman (30.4 fWAR), and Joey Votto (28.7).

This season, Rizzo’s numbers are up across the board. In just 47 games (less than 1/3 of the season), he already has 14 HR, 40 RBI, and is slashing .285/.400/.587. At 30-21, the Chicago Cubs are in first place in the NL Central. They lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 1.5 games.

MLB Players Power Rankings (3): Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

Week-8 Stats: 1.000 SLG | 0.613 wOBA | 293 wRC+ | 0.8 fWAR

In Week-8, Rafael Devers returns to the top 10 list and this time, he has catapulted up to the three slot, and deservedly so. At one point this season, it was debated whether Devers was a bust, but since then he has established himself as a force to be reckoned with the in the already deep Red Sox lineup.

In a roster that includes the likes of Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and Chris Sale just to name a few, Devers has the 2nd best fWAR according to FanGraphs. What’s more, defensively, Devers has made vast improvements as well.

If Devers can manage to continue to improve his game, the Red Sox can rest assured that their future is in good hands. With J.D. Martinez set to potentially test free agency after this season and Betts’ future with the Sox hanging in the balance – he can become a free agent after 2020 – Devers could potentially become the face of the organization.

So far, that’s not looking like such a bad proposition.

MLB Players Power Rankings (2): Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

Week-8 Stats: 1.077 SLG | 0.669 wOBA | 313 wRC+ | 0.9 fWAR

For four consecutive seasons, Nolan Arenado has hit at least 35 HR and 110 RBI. This has been good enough to earn him a Silver Slugger in each of the last four seasons. To reward him, the Colorado Rockies rewarded Arenado with an 8-year, $260M deal, making him the richest third baseman in the game based on AAV ($32.5M).

Many folks will diminish Arenado’s talent by pointing out his home/away splits, and while that is a legitimate qualm, I propose to you: how many Rockies players have ever done what Arenado is currently doing now?

This season, Arenado seems to have taken that criticism to heart. So much so, that while his overall stats are better at home, his away stats are nothing to sniff at either. In fact, he has more HR (9) away than he does at home (6) and he features a .931 OPS away from Coors Field.

Not only is he an elite hitter, defensively he and Machado rank one and two over at third base over the last 5-6 years. Currently, Arenado has a six-year Gold Glove streak. With Machado playing a full season in the National League, it’ll be interesting who gets the Gold Glove this season.

MLB Players Power Rankings (1): Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins

Week-8 Stats: 1.190 SLG | 0.692 wOBA | 348 wRC+ | 0.9 fWAR

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This season, the 26-year old Max Kepler has arrived… in a big way. Approaching the first 1/3 of the season, Kepler already has 12 HR and 33 RBI. To put this in perspective, his career highs are 20 HR and 69 RBI, each accomplished in separate full seasons.

With Rocco Baldelli taking over the helm left behind by Paul Molitor, the Minnesota Twins are looking like a fresh organization. They have the record to prove it too.

Currently, the Twins have the best record in baseball (36-16) and the best-run differential (+111). This is due in part to a massive increase in power production – the Twins lead MLB with 104 HR – and their overall ability to get on base (4th ranked).

It is also due in part to the emergence of players like Jorge Polanco, who has been ranked on this list before, and Max Kepler who makes his second appearance on this top 10 list. He first appeared in Week-4 and ranked 6th overall. Now, after a 3-week absence, Kepler is back… and he’s #1.

To accomplish this feat, Kepler ranked 1st in MLB in traditional stats, such as AVG (.571) and OBP (.600), as well as advanced stats like SLG, wOBA, and wRC+.