MLB Players Power Rankings: Top 10 Hitters of the First Half

Who was the best hitter during the first half of the 2019 baseball season? Find out in this latest edition of MLB Players Power Rankings.

In this week’s MLB Players Power Rankings, we look back at the best hitters in the first half of 2019 season. Here’s a hint: the best hitter in baseball is really no surprise.

Before we jump into the top 10 hitters, let’s understand how we make our determinations.

1. We base our weekly rankings on a Monday through Sunday schedule. However, this week we’re going to take a look back at the first half of the season.
2. Then, using advanced stats (SLG, wOBA, wRC+, and fWAR) that best represent a players performance, we created a rubric.
3. As a tiebreaker, we delve deeper into the weekly stats.

With that being said, here are your 10-6 hitters in this week’s MLB Players Power Rankings.

10. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

Here are his first half stats: 0.534 SLG | 0.369 wOBA | 135 wRC+ | 3.6 fWAR

9. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

Here are his first half stats: 0.546 SLG | 0.384 wOBA | 137 wRC+ | 3.4 fWAR

8. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

Here are his first half stats: 0.535 SLG | 0.382 wOBA | 137 wRC+ | 3.7 fWAR

7. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Here are his first half stats: 0.559 SLG | 0.379 wOBA | 133 wRC+ | 3.8 fWAR

6. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

Here are his first half stats: 0.533 SLG | 0.387 wOBA | 149 wRC+ | 3.8 fWAR

MLB Players Power Rankings (5): Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

First Half Stats: 0.552 SLG | 0.400 wOBA | 148 wRC+ | 3.7 fWAR

In many ways, Kris Bryant is having one of baseball’s quietest seasons. To start the year, Bryant struggled mightily at the plate. Yet, somehow, he has managed to put together one of the best offensive performances this season.

With the Chicago Cubs lacking consistency, there seems to be a chance that the team could miss the postseason for the first time since 2014. It would be the first time in Bryant’s career that the team misses the playoffs.

If nothing more, the NL Central is by far MLB’s closest division. Especially considering that all teams are within 4.5 games (3.0 in the loss column) of the division lead.

This season, the former NL MVP and Rookie of the Year is posting career highs in AVG (.297) and OPS (.955). With 17 home runs through 85 games this season, Bryant is on pace to hit 30 home runs, making it the first time he hits 30 or more homers in a season since 2016, the year the Cubs won the World Series.

MLB Players Power Rankings (4): Pete Alonso, New York Mets

First Half Stats: 0.634 SLG | 0.410 wOBA | 161 wRC+ | 3.6 fWAR

The New York Mets are in the midst of perhaps the most frustratingly bad season of any team in baseball. Sure, their record isn’t as bad as the Baltimore Orioles or the Miami Marlins, but given their big budget, the team is severely underperforming and in constant flux.

There is one bright spot for the franchise, however, and that’s Pete Alonso. In 89 games this season, Alonso has hit 30 homers, tying Aaron Judge‘s home run total before the all-star break the season he broke the all-time rookie HR record of 52.

At this pace, Alonso is on track to hit 53 HR, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can actually do it.

Also, like Judge, Alonso has been selected to an All-Star game in his rookie season and will compete in the home run derby. In 2017, Judge won the contest in Miami. It’ll be interesting to see if Alonso can take on the other contestants this season.

As the Mets trek forward this season, there will no doubt be some changes coming for the organization. No matter how things pan out, Alonso looks to be an integral part, if not the centerpiece of the teams uncertain future..

MLB Players Power Rankings (3): Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

First Half Stats: 0.707 SLG | 0.451 wOBA | 180 wRC+ | 5.0 fWAR

Christian Yelich continues to be baseball’s biggest surprise since joining the Milwaukee Brewers last season. Prior to joining the Brew Crew, Yelich spent five years in Miami. In that time span, he never exceeded more than 21 home runs in 150+ games. What’s more, in those five years Yelich hit .290 with a .369 OBP and a .432 SLG.

Since joining Milwaukee, he has already exceeded his home run total from Miami and is hitting .413 / .413 / .636. Not only that, this season he is on pace to hit 55 home runs and could feasibly become a member of baseball’s 60 home run club.

Yelich has been dealing with a back issue throughout the season that has sidelined him for a few games already, so the Brewers will have to try to keep him healthy throughout the season if they seriously want to compete for a title this season.

With the Brew Crew trailing the Chicago Cubs by just 0.5 games in the division, it will be interesting to see how the NL Central plays out at the end of the season. One thing’s for sure, Christian Yelich will play an important roll in determining the fate of his team.

MLB Players Power Rankings (2): Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

First Half Stats: 0.692 SLG | 0.449 wOBA | 184 wRC+ | 5.7 fWAR

Technically speaking, Cody Bellinger could very well be the best hitter in baseball this season. However, because he is tied with the number one hitter, we had to use fWAR as a tiebreaker. Unfortunately for Bellinger, the winner of this list has a better fWAR than the planet.

This doesn’t take away from the magical season Bellinger has had for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not only that, but his magic has led to his entire team to go on an unbelievable run this season.

So far this year, the Dodgers have looked unstoppable. With a 60-32 record, the Dodgers have the best W-L% in baseball and the best run differential in baseball. They lead in their division by 13.5 games and are looking to finally cross the finish line victorious come season’s end.

There were points this season where many speculated if Bellinger could be the first hitter to hit .400 since Ted Williams. At this point, the possibility of that happening finished. However, he can finish the season hitting .300+ while producing an OPS of .700+. Those are Ruthan type numbers.

Barring any major setback, Bellinger is without a question the NL MVP.