Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 25
Next
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after scoring the game tying run during the inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 11, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after scoring the game tying run during the inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 11, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

2. Mookie Betts

Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts was so good in 2018 that he may have been able to wrest the AL MVP award from Mike Trout even if Trout had been able to stay healthy and play all 162 games. Trout is still the easy pick for best player in baseball, but on his best day, Betts leaves an opening for debate. The 26-year-old is a true five-tool player and one of the brightest young stars in the league.

To claim his first MVP last season, Betts hit .346/.438/.640 with 129 runs, 47 doubles, 32 home runs, 80 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He led the Major Leagues in runs, batting average and slugging percentage, and did all that in only 136 games. Had Betts been able to suit up for all 162 games, he would have challenged for a 40-40 season.

As the Red Sox look to defend their World Series title, Betts has gotten off to a slower start than he would have liked. As the end of April approaches, he is hitting just .267/.370/.485 with five home runs and 13 RBI. He has come on strong of late, however, hitting .419/.514/.742 over his most recent eight games with two homers and six RBI. His April slump will be a distant memory come September.

Betts is able to do it all on the diamond. He is the game’s best right fielder and also runs the bases nearly flawlessly. Betts has stolen 111 bases in his career but has been caught just 22 times. He is also very difficult to strike out, and has never struck out more than 100 times in a season. There are no holes in his game.

Home/MLB