MLB: Picking the best player at each position for 2022
By Eric Rubin
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.
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Note: All statistics before play on Tuesday, October 4.