Introduction: 

It took years and years of hard work. It was their drive, ambition, and belief in themselves. The Best of the Best. Continuing their level of success is just as difficult, if not more. Making any professional sports league is incredibly difficult, and few out of the cluster emerge to the highest level of professional baseball. For Major League Baseball players, nothing has come easy. Some have more connections or opportunities than others, but the system filters the great from the good. This piece is designed to identify the best traits in the MLB and will co-examine what separates the elite from the average MLB player through condensed statistical analysis and player evaluation.

Guidelines:

Filtering pitchers from hitters was the main component of this project. WAR (Wins above Replacement) and other analytical methods may compare players on the same scale, but it is best to separate and conquer. Players are comparable to those who do similar tasks. Pitching and hitting are complete opposites with ability and skill, so people should treat them differently. For those who intend on ranking pitchers to hitters, that is the purpose of the overall top ten list. When dissecting the great players, the tiniest criticism is their main criticism. None of their weaknesses mean they are not successful players- they comprise the best professional baseball league and amongst the best in the world- but used as a means of rank and separation from others. Relief pitchers were their own category since they operate in much smaller sample sizes, and it is not right to compare them to starting pitchers. 

Why some statistics were taken off: 

Appealing to fans of new and old was a challenge. Traditional and non-traditional statistics are included, with some omitted due to being included in the calculations of others. For example, pitchers’ innings totals are a statistic, but strikeouts are not necessary if K/9 is available, making strikeouts redundant. In some cases, statistics (2B, 3B, HR for position players) and (W/L, GS, CG, etc. for pitchers) help explain the story of a general statistic. Therefore, this project aims to allow statistics to speak for themselves, with added analysis to explain the reasoning between putting the players in their respective ranks. If a player sustained an injury in 2021, their last full season (most likely 2019), statistics were used.

Notable Omissions:

1. Marcus Semien

Elite Skills: Semien emerged onto the scene in his first season in Toronto and proved that he deserves to be in contention as one of the best players in baseball. With monstrous power and a solid glove, the new Texas Rangers' second baseman is arguably the best second baseman.

Omitted Reason: MS has been a productive player in his time with Oakland and this past season in Toronto, but this was the first he was amongst the game’s best. Another season at second base and continuing to be a powerful presence would go a long way towards establishing the Rangers slugger into an established superstar.

2. Zack Wheeler

Elite Skills: Zack Wheeler is in the same boat as Semien in the fact he has been a productive player with breakout seasons in recent years. Wheeler’s velocity as a starting pitcher is tenacious and difficult for hitters to get the barrel around.

Omitted Reason: Wheeler needs more seasons of success before putting him in the next tier. He has the skills necessary but results matter at the end of the day, and Zack must put up productive results.

3. Josh Hader

Elite Skills: Without a doubt, the best reliever in MLB, Hader has nasty stuff, to put it mildly. Fastball and slider are two aces up his sleeve to get hitters to look foolish in the box.

Omitted Reason: Given the numerous tremendous players in MLB Hader deserved to be in the vicinity. A lack of a traditional closing role omits Josh from the list.

4. Fernando Tatis Jr.

Elite Skills: When healthy, Tatis Jr. is a monster at the plate, capable of taking any pitcher deep. Positional versatility also helps.

Omitted Reason: Defense can be an issue with ‘Nando accumulating bunches of errors. Staying healthy is also an issue since Tatis Jr. has not played 140 games in his career, despite three MLB seasons.

5. Kevin Gausman

Elite Skills: Sinker/slider/splitter pitcher, the latter of which is one of the best pitchers in the game. Gausman emerged with the Giants in 2021 and parlayed that success into a hefty contract with the Blue Jays.

Omitted Reason: Much like Wheeler, Gausman has only found his way in MLB recently. More success is necessary before taking his success for granted.

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10. Robbie Ray

Elite Skills: The AL Cy Young Award winner, Robbie Ray led the American League in strikeouts, with a lower ERA than Cole, despite pitching more innings. It comes down to prioritization, and in this case, Ray proved (for now) he is one of the best pitchers in professional baseball.

Rank Reason: Ray has an up and down career on his resume and hopes these past few seasons indicate his ability. Due to last season alone, Ray deserves a spot.

9. Bryce Harper

Elite Skills: Bryce was the Phillies' offense after the All-Star break, resulting in the National League’s MVP Award. Playing with heart and hustle, Harper has a chance to go down in Cooperstown, provided he maintains his transcendent level of play.

Rank Reason: Bryce played in an NL that, aside from Juan Soto, did not have many position player MVP candidates. Harper would not have won the MVP if he played in the American League.

8. Corbin Burnes

Elite Skills: Burnes has a tumultuous start to his MLB career, up until the pandemic-shortened season when he set the MLB world on fire. Burnes had his first season of success in 2021 and should figure to be a top-of-the-line pitcher for years to come.

Rank Reason: More seasons of play at a high level should force Burnes higher on the list. For now, Burnes slides into a solid eight rank.

7. Mike Trout

Elite Skills: The quintessential five-tool player and future Hall of Famer, Trout is as talented as they come.

Rank Reason: Trout has not played more than 140 games since 2016 and has legitimate injury concerns. Therefore, he should not be considered the best player in baseball until he plays an entire season in MLB without injury.

6. Salvador Perez

Elite Skills: The best power-hitting catcher in MLB, Perez remains as terrific a hitting catcher in baseball.

Rank Reason: Proving that 2021 was not a fluke from a power standpoint is at the top of Perez’s priorities. Improving his stat line should cement Perez’s case as an elite MLB player.

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5. Jacob DeGrom

Elite Skills: The most talented pitcher when healthy, there is no questioning DeGrom’s ability. Upper 90s fastball, wipeout slider, and a looping curveball, there is nothing hitters can take it easy against DeGrom.

Rank Reason: DeGrom was out for half of 2021 with a mild forearm strain. It is reasonable to see the Mets ace ease into starting once the season begins.

4. Max Scherzer

Elite Skills: Scherzer is intimidating on the mound and can dominate using any one of his pitches. With no injury history and a decade of dominance, Scherzer gets the nod over DeGrom.

Rank Reason: Scherzer suffered arm stiffness and did not pitch much in the playoffs. Hopefully, it was a minor scare for the new Mets ace, but if he quells injuries, Scherzer is golden on the mound.

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Elite Skills: Guerrero Jr. is the best power hitter in MLB. He rose to the occasion in 2021 by leading the league in home runs. Finishing a close second to Ohtani in the MVP race, it took a once-in-a-lifetime talent to edge out Vlad Jr.’s stupendous season.

Rank Reason: Guerrero Jr. is not a perfect defender and does not play a taxing position. Maintaining his 2021 production would prove that Guerrero is on the fast track towards becoming an all-time great.

2. Shohei Ohtani

Elite Skills: “Shotime” is a unicorn, and there is no player like him in the big leagues. No other player pitches as dominantly and hits as proficiently as the Angels hybrid superstar.

Rank Reason: Ohtani does not play the field when he hits, which is the only flaw in his game. It is a pick your trait situation, and Ohtani may be the most well-rounded player, but there is nobody who does what Juan Soto does.

1. Juan Soto

Elite Skills: Soto does everything he does well. There are no flaws to his game. The Nationals' right fielder prioritizes getting on base, which is averse to what the rest of MLB does.

Rank Reason: Standing on his own, with power, speed, and a cannon for an arm, Juan Soto deserves the mantle of baseball’s best player.