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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 02: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 02: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

14. J.D. Martinez

When he’s healthy, Boston Red Sox outfielder/DH J.D. Martinez is right in the conversation for most productive offensive player in baseball. Since rising to stardom with the Detroit Tigers in 2014, Martinez has hit .303/.363/.574 with 131 doubles, 134 home runs and 374 RBI in 549 games. The problem has been his health. Martinez played only 120 games in 2016 and 119 last year, but has averaged 40 homers and 111 RBI per 162 games since breaking through.

Martinez packs great power without sacrificing elite contact skills. He is not a pull-happy slugger and can spray the ball to all fields. He does strike out about once a game, which is not an eye-popping rate for a power hitter.

Down the stretch last year, Martinez went homer-for-homer with Giancarlo Stanton. He ended the year with 45 home runs in only 489 plate appearances. Prorate that out to 650 trips to the plate, and Martinez is looking at 60 dingers.

So far, so good for Martinez in Boston, as he does not look like a bust along the lines of Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez. In his first month with the team, Martinez hit .345/.392/.584 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Even if he never plays the field, this big bat is looking like a steal at under $110 million for five years.

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