The Best of the Best: MLB’s Top 15 Hitters in 2022
Every MLB player deserves their share of recognition. Here are Justin Krebs’ top 15 MLB hitters in order at the start of the 2022 MLB season, part of The Best of the Best series. Enjoy!
Notable Omissions
1. Teoscar Hernandez
Elite Skills: Teoscar Hernandez is a budding superstar that already realized his offensive potential. Hernandez and Vlad Jr. form one of the best duos in MLB from a positional player standpoint.
Omitted Reason: Hernandez is a tremendous offensive player but has below-average defensive capabilities. If he improves his defense in the future, Teoscar will continue to prove that he is one of the best MLB players.
2. Yordan Alvarez
Elite Skills: Similarly to Hernandez, Yordan Alvarez’s bat is one of the best in the big leagues. When he is hot, Alvarez is one of the most feared hitters in MLB.
Omitted Reason: Yordan has a poor throwing arm and suspect defense. Moving him to the designated hitter spot full-time alleviates his defensive issues. If he focuses full-time on hitting, he’s an immediate candidate for next year’s list.
3. Max Muncy
Elite Skills: Reinventing yourself in any professional sports league is not easy. With the help of advanced analytical data, Max Muncy put together quite a few seasons of elite power total amid defensive versatility after a slow start to his career.
Omitted Reason: Muncy’s defense needs improvement—he can play multiple positions adequately, but perhaps a more defined role would allow his defensive skills to improve, specifically his range.
4. Nick Castellanos
Elite Skills: Nick Castellanos is a power-hitting contributor with the ability to hit for average. He is a formidable bat in a contending lineup and has the rare contact ability with the advent of power.
Omitted Reason: Castellanos’ defense is suspect at third base and in the outfield. With many full-time designated hitter positions available with the addition of the Designated Hitter to the National League, the free-agent position player’s offense has room to grow with less focus on defense.
5. Austin Riley
Elite Skills: Austin Riley’s tall right-handed offensive production is a natural fit in the Braves offense and was one of the driving contributors behind their 2021 World Series victory. Riley is a solid defender who can make the flashy play from time to time.
Omitted Reason: This was AR’s first 162 game MLB season, playing 80 games in 2019 and 51 in 2020 (COVID-19 shortened season). If he stays healthy and continues to develop his talented skills, Riley has a legitimate chance of making this list come next year.
15 through 11
15. Jose Ramirez
Elite Skills: Ramirez is the best switch hitter in MLB and has had offensive success throughout his career. A solid defender, Ramirez has all the tools to be a perennial MVP candidate.
Rank Reason: Arenado gets the edge over Ramirez due to his defensive prowess, but Ramirez can also play the outfield. Ramirez is a slight offensive upgrade over Arenado, but Arenado’s defense cements him as the better player.
14. Nolan Arenado
Elite Skills: Arenado is the clear-cut frontrunner for the best defensive third baseman. Accompanied by a terrific power bat, the Cardinals slugger is the best in the league at the hot corner.
Rank Reason: Arenado’s defense puts him over Ramirez, who is no defensive slouch, but favored power (35 home runs) over contact (.255 average). A full off-season set in St. Louis promises big things from the future Hall of Fame third baseman.
13. Freddie Freeman
Elite Skills: Freeman is a tremendous first baseman that should reflect in his free agency. The 2021 World Series Champion is one of the best hitters in the league and a superb defender.
Rank Reason: His skills did not diminish in 2021, but Freeman’s numbers speak to a small-down year from an RBI standpoint. It is a nitpick, but Freeman deserves his spot on this list due to his track record and contributions.
12. Jose Abreu
Elite Skills: Jose Abreu is one of the best power hitters in MLB and is a run-producing machine. No pitcher wants to face the White Sox slugger and is a significant presence in their lineup.
Rank Reason: Abreu is not the best defender but can play a solid first base. The White Sox will take anything out of Abreu’s defense to compensate for his elite hitting skills.
11. Matt Olson
Elite Skills: Olson can swat the ball as proficient as any left-handed hitter, with a penchant for knocking in runs, and provides a strong defensive presence at first.
Rank Reason: Olsen is the best first baseman not named Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and should be a future MVP candidate. Since first base is not as taxing as other positions, players ahead of him get the nod with terrific offensive output and play more strenuous spots on the diamond.
10 through 6
10. Aaron Judge
Elite Skills: Aaron Judge is a top-five right fielder in MLB and can slug amongst the best MLB players. Armed with a cannon, Judge is a terrific defender and offensive powerhouse.
Rank Reason: Judge did not have as high an offensive season as others on this list, and his defense was impacted slightly by playing in center field rather than his usual right field spot. The Yankees are squeezing their bats on the field due to a lack of a “true” starting center fielder.
9. Rafael Devers
Elite Skills: Raffy’s pull power is one of the best traits in the MLB and a better offensive statistical season than Judge. Devers is an elite power hitter and plays with more excitement than the average MLB player.
Rank Reason: Rafael’s defense is far from perfect, with people harping on his errors. His middle-of-the-order bat compensates for his (at best) league-average defense.
8. Fernando Tatis Jr.
Elite Skills: ‘Nando is a slugger who brings energy to an often-called "boring" game, which many argue it needed. Bat flips aside, Tatis Jr.'s power is legitimate and can go deep any given at-bat.
Rank Reason: Akin to Devers, Tatis Jr.’s defense lends itself to the excitement of the game, along with an abundance of errors. Shifting positions from shortstop to center field does not help with a switch back to shortstop. His bat more than makes up for his defense.
7. Marcus Semien
Elite Skills: Semien broke out the Toronto playing field on a one-year deal with 45 home runs and 102 RBIs. With absolute power and solid defense in his first season at second base, MS has jumped up the list.
Rank Reason: Marcus must prove 2021 and 2019 are indicative of his ability rather than before, in which a lack of consistent power and defense threatened his full-time status. If he has another season at a high level, Semien is a top-five MLB player.
6. Bryce Harper
Elite Skills: The 2021 NL MVP was the best offensive player in his league, which notably had less production than its AL counterpart. Harper remains as productive as ever and brings a drive not many have. At this point, Harper has a shot at the Hall of Fame if he continues his productivity for the next five to ten years.
Rank Reason: If he played in the American League, Harper would not have been in the MVP conversation but took advantage of a lack of offensive competition in the NL.
5 through 1
5. Mike Trout
Elite Skills: Mike Trout is the quintessential five-tool player that all players hope to be. When he is on the field, he is a top-three MLB player.
Rank Reason: Getting on the field is the question. Trout is terrific, but there is a legitimate durability concern for someone who has not played close to a complete season since 2016
4. Shohei Ohtani
Elite Skills: Headlined by his pitching and hitting abilities in MLB, Ohtani’s offensive power alone is enough to put him among the best MLB player.
Rank Reason: Ohtani is a transcendent talent but can strike out on occasion (189 times in 2021). He does not play the field enough to assess his defensive skills. But when you are hitting 40+ bombs and pitching around a 3.00 ERA, you are doing something right.
3. Salvador Perez
Elite Skills: The best catcher in MLB, and it is not close. Perez had a monstrous offensive season and was in the home run race. No runner wants to test their speed against the Royals backstop.
Rank Reason: Only two players had better offensive seasons than Perez, and they are the top five players in the league. Strikeouts are a concern as well for Perez.
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Elite Skills: Vlad is the best power hitter in baseball and broke out in 2021 with 48 bombs, 111 RBI, and a .311 batting average. Defensively, Vlad Jr. showed he plays first base adequately after concerns about his third base defense.
Rank Reason: Vlad Jr. may have the best power totals in the league, but he has to continue to play at a high level in future seasons.
1. Juan Soto
Elite Skills: When not many prioritize getting on-base, Juan Soto shuffles in the spotlight. With comparisons to Barry Bonds, the only way to “win” against Soto is to walk him, in which case you are playing into his game.
Rank Reason: Soto has no flaws, has played at a high level for all his MLB career, and stands out because of his unique on-base ability.
Complete List:
Reference Page
Baseball Reference