In the spirit of MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” positional rankings that appear every offseason, I have decided to embark on my own journey to rank the best players at each position. These rankings fluctuate year-to-year and people’s subjective views on positional rankings can lead to many disagreements and much debate but this activity is always fun.
I’ll navigate my way through each position, moving next to the best right fielders right now. Prior to each write-up, I will explain my methodology to give readers an understanding of where I’m coming from. For each position, I’m looking at a wide range of factors, including recent success, track records, trends, age, injury history, etc. You can find my other top 10 lists below.
In regards to my right field rankings I will list here, the most important factors I am looking at are recent success, track record, age and durability. This group is seriously stacked at the top with three of baseball’s best players but the list does get a little more interesting after that. Several players who have the potential to be near the top have either been hurt or experienced down levels of offensive production recently. It’s still a strong group overall but the potential is even higher for this group.
Listed below each right fielder is their Fangraphs version of Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) from 2019 along with their positional raking, their three-year stretch of fWAR from 2017 to 2019, their 2020 Steamer WAR projection and their age. These four tidbits give us a good idea not only about recent success but also help project what they may do in the upcoming seasons.
*Kudos to the YouTube Channels “MVPLF” , Nicks Highlights, Sports Productions, Made the Cut and MLB for providing highlights on each player that I utilized in these rankings. Also a special shoutout to Fangraphs and Baseball Reference for the numbers provided.*
1. Mookie Betts (BOS)
- 2019 fWAR: 6.3 (third)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 22.4 (first)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 6.6 (first)
- Age: 27
The top of this list is insanely talented, featuring three former MVPs who are in the midst of their primes. Betts grabs the top spot because he has a longer track record of elite performance compared to the two players behind him and is the owner of one of the best seasons in recent MLB history. Betts was “only” third in WAR among right fielders last year, hitting .295/.391/.524 with a 135 wRC+.
The performance was a steep decline from his 2018 season where he posted the fourth-best WAR (10.4) of any single season this century and the best non-Barry Bonds season. A steep decline still allowed Betts to post a top 10 season by a position player and his track record puts him in the conversation as the best non-Trout player in baseball. Over 794 career games, Betts has racked up 37.2 WAR thanks to his .301/.374/.519 line, 135 wRC+, 139 home runs and 126 stolen bases.
Betts is in the midst of trade rumors given his expensive price tag (projected $27.7 million in arbitration) and his free agency looming (FA after 2020). We’ll get a gauge on how he’s valued potentially as soon as this offseason (via trade) or next offseason when he potentially signs the biggest free agent contract ever.
2. Christian Yelich (MIL)
- 2019 fWAR: 7.8 (t-first)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 20 (second)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 5.6 (second)
- Age: 28
Yelich was a very good player with the Marlins who wasn’t quite in the elite tier of players based on his power output. Since his trade to the Brewers prior to the 2018 season, he’s been baseball’s fourth-most valuable position player by WAR (15.4) thanks in part to his power explosion. After hitting 55 home runs in parts of five seasons with the Marlins, he’s crushed 80 home runs in two seasons in Milwaukee.
After winning National League MVP in 2018 (7.6 WAR and 166 wRC+), he was on pace to win it again in 2019 (7.8 WAR and 174 wRC+) until he fractured his kneecap in early September. Since the All Star break in 2018, Yelich has been baseball’s best player, posting a ridiculous .342/.436/.705 line with a 190 wRC+, 69 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 13.2 WAR in 195 games.
Much like Betts, Yelich not only has an argument for baseball’s best right fielder but also the best non-Trout player in baseball. At 28 years old, Yelich should continue producing at monstrous levels.
3. Cody Bellinger (LAD)
- 2019 fWAR: 7.8 (t-first)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 15.4 (fourth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 5.3 (third)
- Age: 24
Bellinger’s resume at the age of 24 is quite impressive: 2019 NL MVP, 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, 2018 NLCS MVP, 2x All-Star, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. His most recent season was his best yet, a year he set career-highs in WAR (7.8), wRC+ (162), home runs (47), batting average (.305), on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.629).
Perhaps most encouraging about Bellinger’s game was his massive plate discipline improvements and stellar defense in right field. After striking out 146 times and walking 64 times in his rookie 2017 season, he struck out just 108 times while walking 95 times last year. In right field, Bellinger racked up 19 Defensive Runs saved while throwing out the second most runners of any outfielder (10). Bellinger turned himself into a perfect player last year which is highlighted well by his Statcast numbers.
Bellinger is a legitimate superstar who could very well be the most valuable Dodgers player in the upcoming decade. The fact that he ranks third on this list isn’t an indictment on him but rather a testament to how stacked this group is.
4. Aaron Judge (NYY)
- 2019 fWAR: 4.6 (t-fourth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 18 (third)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 5.2 (fourth)
- Age: 27
Judge’s injuries the last two years (missed 110 games) have limited his overall production but he’s still clearly one of baseball’s most talented players, a true monster at the plate and a plus defender in right field. Since his first full season in 2017, Judge ranks sixth among position players in WAR (18) and third in wRC+ (157).
At 6’7″ 282 lbs, Judge is an absolute beast who barrels up baseballs better than anybody in baseball. Judge has ranked first in average exit velocity each of the past three years and routinely hits baseballs 400+ feet. Judge also owns fantastic plate discipline as the owner of the second-best walk rate since 2017 (16.5 percent). What’s perhaps more impressive about Judge is his athleticism that leads to plus defense in right field (+8 Outs Above Average in 2019).
The only knock on Judge to this point has been his injuries the past few years. Sure, his strikeout rate is high (career 31.6 percent rate) but that doesn’t impact his overall contributions as a hitter. This is a true superstar who is a MVP candidate if he can stay healthy for 130-140-ish games.
5. Bryce Harper (PHI)
- 2019 fWAR: 4.6 (t-fourth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 12.8 (fourth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 4.3 (fifth)
- Age: 27
You know it’s a crowded group when a 27-year-old who recently signed to the biggest free agent contract ever (13 years, $330 million) and is on a sure Hall of Fame track (35.1 WAR) ranks fifth at his position. Since he debuted as a teenager in 2012, he is baseball’s seventh-most valuable player by WAR and has hit .276/.385/.512. Harper is a true star regardless of the narrative that fans have created around him.
True, Harper has only been truly elite one season in his career (9.3 WAR in 2015) but he’s reached 4+ WAR five times by age 27. The expectations have been set so high for Harper that anything below Troutian levels have felt like a disappointment and have led to the “overrated” label. MLB players seem to agree with that overrated label but even if that’s the case, he’s still one hell of a player.
Harper is not just one of the most exciting and polarizing players in the sport now but in recent baseball history. Love him or hate him, Harper is one of the true faces of baseball and one of the most talented players on the planet.
6. Max Kepler (MIN)
- 2019 fWAR: 4.4 (sixth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 8.6 (seventh)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 3.5 (sixth)
- Age: 26
Kepler played a massive role in the Twins’ resurgence last year and established himself as one of the best right fielders in all of baseball. In 132 games, Kepler hit .252/.336/.519 with a 121 wRC+ and belted 36 home runs. Gifted with plus athleticism, Kepler was also a stalwart in right field, ranking 15th in Outs Above Average (7).
After settling in for a few years as a roughly league-average regular, Kepler’s bat took a huge step forward and became a force in the Twins record-breaking season. Kepler started to make real changes in 2018 but saw the real results come in 2019: less strikeouts, more walks, more fly balls, harder-hit baseballs. Pair that with his fantastic defense (39 Outs Above Average since 2016) and you have a very good player.
Kepler’s team-friendly deal will pay him just $29 million over the next four years covering his age 27-30 seasons, making him one of the more valuable players in baseball. Kepler is a stud and should continue providing for the Twins in a big way.
7. Michael Conforto (NYM)
- 2019 fWAR: 3.7 (eighth)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 11.1 (sixth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 3.1 (seventh)
- Age: 26
Conforto churned out another quality season in Queens, hitting .257/.363/.494 with a 126 wRC+ and 3.7 WAR. This marked the third straight season of 3+ wins, a time period in which Conforto has been baseball’s sixth-most valuable right fielder by WAR (11.1). At just 26 years old, Conforto should continue to be a force in the middle of the Mets lineup.
Conforto has established a pretty consistent baseline for who he is. Over the last three years, he’s ranged between 27-33 home runs, posted walk rates between 13-13.2 percent and strikeout rates between 23-25.7 percent. Other than his BABIP (Batting Average On Balls In Play) fluctuating a bit, this has been an super consistent player, a guy capable of belting 30 home runs, getting on base and playing a competent right field.
Conforto is a very good player and is about as predictable as any 26-year-old player you can find in baseball.
8. Austin Meadows (TBR)
- 2019 fWAR: 4 (seventh)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 4.2 (17th)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.7 (eighth)
- Age: 24
Think the Pirates regret the trade that sent Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and prospect Shane Baz in exchange for Chris Archer? Along with Glasnow, Meadows was a huge part of the Rays’ success in 2019 and their path to Game 5 of the ALDS. In his age-24 season, Meadows hit .291/.364/.558 with 34 home runs, a 142 wRC+ and 4 WAR in 138 games.
Meadows has always been capable of reaching these heights but injuries in the minors not only prevented him from getting to the majors sooner but also may have played a factor in his trade to the Rays. With two straight seasons of 100+ games, Meadows has now found his groove in the majors as a guy who crushes baseballs (25th in barrels last year).
Meadows is a plus runner but has posted negative defensive numbers, the only real flaw in his MLB game so far. At just 24 years of age, the Rays have a very good player on their hands.
9. Mitch Haniger (SEA)
- 2019 fWAR: 1.1 (25th)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 8.1 (eighth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 2.3 (ninth)
- Age: 28
Haniger was the only Mariners player who even warranted consideration on any top 10 lists, a sign that their club is several years away from meaningful contention. Haniger himself is quite the player who has established a solid track record but is coming off an injury-filled 2019 season that included a lower back injury and ruptured testicle (ouch).
It is worth noting that Haniger also missed 68 games in 2017 on top of missing 99 games last year. However, in the 316 games he’s played over the last three years, he is a top 10 right fielder by WAR (8.1) and has hit a robust .271/.351/.486 with a 128 wRC+. If Haniger can find a way to stay healthier, he can be a perennial All-Star candidate and quality everyday right fielder.
With the Mariners in the midst of a down period, Haniger could find himself on the trade block and would likely warrant a huge return. That could give us a good idea of how teams value his services.
10. Charlie Blackmon (COL)
- 2019 fWAR: 2 (14th)
- 2017-2019 fWAR: 11.4 (fifth)
- 2020 Steamer WAR Projection: 1.8 (15th)
- Age: 33
At 33 years old, Blackmon continues to rake (even accounting for Coors Field) and is coming off a season where he hit .314/.364/.576 with 32 home runs and a 125 wRC+. Blackmon has now been worth 2+ wins in five straight years, including a few years of elite production (11.3 WAR from 2016-2017). As long as Blackmon continues to hit, he should be a candidate for this list.
However, Blackmon’s defensive issues have become a serious problem and that’s even considering his move from center field to right field. After posting a dreadful minus 8 Outs Above Average in center field in 2018, he somehow got worse in 2019 with the move to right field, posting minus 9 Outs Above Average. Blackmon is essentially a DH at this point trying to make it work in right field but the defensive numbers don’t lie.
Were the Rockies in the American League, Blackmon would almost certainly be an everyday DH now. That’s not the case, however, so Blackmon will continue to rake but will have his overall value capped by his dreadful defense.
Just missed the list
- Adam Eaton (Injuries have led him to only playing 269 games last three years but still a quality player)
- Nicholas Castellanos (Monster second half and led MLB with 58 doubles; poor defense makes him a better DH candidate)
- Jorge Soler (Popped 48 home runs in a full 162-game season)
- Brian Anderson (Hey! A Marlins sighting! Anderson is a fine and steady everyday player)
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