MLB: Picking the best player at each position for 2022
The MLB All-Star game is where the so-called best players come together and play a game. However, sometimes it can be seen as a popularity vote instead of a greatness vote. With the 2022 regular season coming to an end, it is a good time to create the best lineup with the best players in the game of this season. All of these decisions are difficult, however it is still one amazing lineup.
Here are the best players at each position across MLB
Catcher: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
With two games left for the Dodgers, they are currently at league-high 110 wins. Winning that many games does not come from just one or two players, but with every single player. Amongst all of the MLB catchers, Smith has the most RBI, second-most homers, and third-most hits. Defensively, Smith has the third-lowest errors amongst the starting catchers with just three, and has only allowed four passed balls all season.
When you think of the Dodgers, you think of Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, and Freddie Freeman, but Will Smith has had a lot to do with their 110 wins.
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
First base has three tough choices. Between Freddie Freeman, Pete Alonso, and Paul Goldschmidt, Goldschmidt is the best all-around player at first this season. One of the candidates for the National League MVP, Goldschmidt has the second-best batting average among first basemen, second-most RBI, and third-most hits. Defensively, Goldschmidt is tied with just one other player with the lowest errors. The Cardinals are a very good team, and what Goldschmidt has been doing this year is a major reason why.
Second Base: Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
The Mets are a very good team, but McNeil is usually not one of the first few names thought of when talking about the Mets. Between Max Scherzer, Jacob DeGrom, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil belongs in their category for this season. The pure contact second baseman does not hit home runs, which may be one of the reasons he is not getting as much recognition as he should. McNeil has the highest batting average amongst second basemen, the most hits, and second-most doubles. Defensively, compared to everyday second basemen, he has the lowest errors with three.
Jeff McNeil is one of those players that may not get the recognition due to his lack of home runs, with just eight, but he gets on base, as he is tied seventh in runs scored.
Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Jose Ramirez is the best all-around third baseman in all of baseball. A little over a month ago, the pick probably would have been Nolan Arenado or Austin Riley, but Ramirez is once again proving that he is one of the best in the game. Batting .280, Ramirez has the most RBI amongst all third basemen … and it isn’t close. The Guardians can easily credit their September dominance and ability to make the playoffs because of Ramirez’s play.
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
Bogaerts has been dominating all year long, both at the plate and in the field. Currently, he has the highest batting average amongst shortstops, highest OBP, and third-most doubles. Defensively, he has the third-fewest errors with 10. Shortstops will always have higher error numbers. One of the other top shortstops this year, Trea Turner, had 16 errors, and the league high is Javier Baez at 26.
The Bogaerts talk is just beginning. He could opt-out of his contract and hit free agency. As much as the best shortstop free agent (Corey Seager) last season got paid (10 years, $325 million), it will be interesting to see what happens with Bogaerts.
Left Field: Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
This was difficult. Between Andrew Benintendi, who dominated the first half of the season, Mark Canha, Ian Happ, and Yordan Alvarez, Kwan has been the most consistent left fielder, both offensively and defensively. Not selecting Alvarez was even more difficult, but he played more games at DH than left field.
The rookie sensation, Kwan has been dominating at the plate since the beginning of the season. Kwan started off the season on fire, and hasn’t slowed down since. It took him until his sixth game to register a swing and a miss. He saw 116 pitches before his first swing and miss. Kwan currently has the second-highest batting average amongst left fielders, the lowest strikeouts, most hits, and fourth-most runs. Defensively, he has the second-most putouts behind Ian Happ. Between rookies Julio Rodriguez and Adley Rutschman, Steven Kwan should definitely be considered as a strong AL Rookie of the Year candidate, as he is the best left fielder in baseball this season.
Center Field: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
This one seems pretty obvious as Judge has tied Roger Maris for most homers in a single season by a Yankee, and is still hoping for 62. Judge has also been in the race for the Triple Crown, one of the most prestigious awards a player can have, showing pure dominance. If Judge continues his career in center field, it hurts to say that he may be better than Mike Trout right now, and it may stay like that for years to come.
Right Field: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
This one was also a little difficult. Between Betts, Kyle Tucker, and Ronald Acuña Jr., and Taylor Ward, Betts has once again shown to be the most consistent, all-around right fielder. Ward has had an amazing breakout season, with the second-highest batting average amongst right fielders. Betts, however, has posted a .271 batting average, which is the fourth-highest, and has the fourth-most homers, fourth0most RBI, and the most hits and doubles.
As expected from Betts, his defense is outstanding. It is so difficult for an outfield to help turn a double play, and Betts has the league-high with four. As a comparison, no right fielder has had four double plays since Kole Calhoun and Yasiel Puig in 2018.
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
It is hard to not choose Shohei Ohtani here. However, when you think of a great all-around DH, you want someone who not only hits home runs, but also has a good batting average and OBP. Alvarez has the most homers from all DHs this season, the highest batting average, highest OBP, and highest slugging. He is a fantastic hitter, who not only drives in runs, but can still get on base.
Starting Pitcher: Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
It is hard to not put Justin Verlander on here. However, Verlander (170 innings) has pitched in significantly less innings than Alcantara (228.2). Alcantara has the seventh-best WHIP, fifth-best ERA, and league-high six complete games, three more than anyone else. The last time a pitcher had six complete games or more was Chris Sale in 2016 with six. It is so difficult to keep the pitch count low, strike out batters, and still be able to throw a complete game. Alcantara should be the NL Cy Young winner, as he is the best pitcher in baseball right now.
Relief Pitcher: Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
Between Emmanuel Clase, Kenley Jansen, Liam Hendriks, and Edwin Diaz, Diaz is the most dominant closer in baseball. Despite him having the eighth-most saves and appearing in 16 less games than Clase, he is doing something that neither of the other closers are doing. Diaz has the most strikeouts and has allowed only nine runs in 47.1 innings. As Jansen and Hendriks are still very good, Jansen has allowed 25 runs in 63 innings, and Hendriks has allowed 22 runs in 57.2 innings. The fact that Diaz has allowed less than 10 runs is absurd.
At the end of the season, Diaz is a free agent, and he will be paid a lot because of what he brought to the Mets in 2022.
dark. Next. The 5 most disappointing teams of 2022
Note: All statistics before play on Tuesday, October 4.