Newest MLB Place-by-Place Participant Rankings, September 2024 Version

Who has been the very best of the very best at every place on the diamond throughout the 2024 MLB season?

That is the query at hand every month with our positional participant rankings, casting apart earlier efficiency and future expectations to focus solely on manufacturing throughout the present season.

With one month to go within the common season, there’s a vital pattern dimension to drag from when assessing every place, although there’s additionally nonetheless loads of room for shuffling based mostly on cold and hot streaks over the previous month.

Let the talk start.

Word: Included in parenthesis after every participant’s identify is the place they ranked in final month’s model of this text, which will be discovered here.

Prime 10 Catchers

1. William Contreras, MIL (2)
2. Cal Raleigh, SEA (4)
3. Salvador Perez, KC (6)
4. Adley Rutschman, BAL (1)
5. Yainer Diaz, HOU (9)
6. Austin Wells, NYY (NR)
7. Willson Contreras, STL (NR)
8. Tyler Stephenson, CIN (NR)
9. Will Smith, LAD (3)
10. Patrick Bailey, SF (7)

-The Milwaukee Brewers have the largest division lead in baseball, but the roster is missing a bona fide famous person. Catcher William Contreras is perhaps the closest factor the staff has to a MVP candidate, and he’s hitting .286/.362/.475 for a 130 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 20 dwelling runs, 80 RBI and 3.9 WAR in 131 video games.

-Rookie Austin Wells is hitting .318/.405/.546 with 12 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in 132 plate appearances for the reason that All-Star break. The 25-year-old hit simply .216 with a .687 OPS within the first half, however he has clearly turned a nook on the plate whereas additionally offering better-than-expected protection.

Prime 10 First Basemen

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1)
2. Bryce Harper, PHI (2)
3. Freddie Freeman, LAD (3)
4. Christian Walker, ARI (4)
5. Pete Alonso, NYM (7)
6. Josh Naylor, CLE (5)
7. Michael Busch, CHC (6)
8. Matt Olson, ATL (NR)
9. Carlos Santana, MIN (9)
10. Vinnie Pasquantino, KC (NR)

–Vladimir Guerrero Jr. acquired off to a rocky begin this season, hitting .229/.331/.348 in 136 plate appearances throughout the first month of the 12 months, however he has put up MVP-caliber numbers since that time. In 453 plate appearances since Might 1, he’s batting .348/.415/.614 with 33 doubles, 24 dwelling runs and 77 RBI.

-Slugger Carlos Santana retains plugging alongside in his age-38 season, posting a 110 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 18 dwelling runs and 56 RBI whereas taking part in on a one-year, $5.25 million deal. He has quietly racked up 319 dwelling runs, 1,067 RBI and 37.7 WAR over 15 seasons within the massive leagues.

Prime 10 Second Basemen

1. Ketel Marte, ARI (1)
2. José Altuve, HOU (2)
3. Marcus Semien, TEX (3)
4. Luis García Jr., WAS (5)
5. Jonathan India, CIN (6)
6. Brandon Lowe, TB (10)
7. Andrés Giménez, CLE (7)
8. Brice Turang, MIL (4)
9. Nico Hoerner, CHC (9)
10. Brendan Rodgers, COL (NR)

-Regardless of taking part in simply 12 video games in August whereas nursing an ankle harm, Ketel Marte remains to be a straightforward selection for the highest spot amongst second basemen. The 30-year-old has a career-high 156 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 30 dwelling runs, 81 RBI and 5.9 WAR in 116 video games, and he ought to present up on loads of NL MVP ballots so long as he can put the harm points within the rearview.

-Slugger Brandon Lowe has handled accidents points all through his profession, however when wholesome, he’s as productive as any second baseman within the league. He has performed in solely 83 video games this 12 months, however with a 126 OPS+ and 16 dwelling runs he has nonetheless made a significant affect. Will the Rays transfer him this offseason with a $10.5 million membership possibility looming?

Prime 10 Third Basemen

1. José Ramírez, CLE (2)
2. Rafael Devers, BOS (1)
3. Matt Chapman, SF (4)
4. Alec Bohm, PHI (3)
5. Josh Smith, TEX (5)
6. Alex Bregman, HOU (NR)
7. Mark Vientos, NYM (10)
8. Manny Machado, SD (9)
9. Austin Riley, ATL (8)
10. Ryan McMahon, COL (7)

-This 12 months’s Guardians lineup is the very best supporting solid that José Ramírez has had in years. Due to the added safety, he has already logged the second 30/30 season of his profession, hitting .276/.333/.531 with 31 doubles, 33 dwelling runs, 104 RBI and 34 steals. The 31-year-old stays baseball’s most underappreciated famous person.

-The Mets have used six totally different Opening Day starters at third base within the final eight years relationship again to David Wright’s last begin in 2016, together with former high prospect Brett Baty this season. It appears to be like like they’ve discovered a long-term reply in Mark Vientos, who’s hitting .276/.332/.540 for a 144 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 21 dwelling runs and 57 RBI in 346 plate appearances after beginning the 12 months at Triple-A.

Prime 10 Shortstops

1. Bobby Witt Jr., KC (1)
2. Gunnar Henderson, BAL (2)
3. Francisco Lindor, NYM (3)
4. Elly De La Cruz, CIN (5)
5. Corey Seager, TEX (6)
6. Masyn Winn, STL (7)
7. Willy Adames, MIL (NR)
8. Carlos Correa, MIN (8)
9. Zach Neto, LAA (NR)
10. Trea Turner, PHI (9)

–Bobby Witt Jr. is having an all-time nice season on the shortstop place, hitting .341/.393/.609 with 185 hits, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 28 dwelling runs, 95 RBI, 115 runs scored and 27 steals in an 8.7-WAR marketing campaign. The 24-year-old leads all certified hitters with a .393 common with runners in scoring place.

-After making his MLB debut final season lower than a 12 months after he was drafted, Zach Neto has taken a big step ahead this 12 months, posting a 111 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 20 dwelling runs, 66 RBI, 25 steals and 4.2 WAR in 131 video games. The 23-year-old has additionally posted terrific defensive metrics (10 DRS, 1.1 UZR/150) at shortstop.

Prime 10 Left Fielders

1. Steven Kwan, CLE (1)
2. Jurickson Profar, SD (2)
3. Teoscar Hernandez, LAD (5)
4. Riley Greene, DET (4)
5. Ian Happ, CHC (NR)
6. Jackson Chourio, MIL (8-LF)
7. Bryan Reynolds, PIT (3)
8. Tyler O’Neill, BOS (7)
9. Colton Cowser, BAL (10)
10. Brandon Marsh, PHI (8)

-Already one among baseball’s greatest contact hitters, Steven Kwan has taken his energy manufacturing to a different degree this season, elevating his slugging share by 70 factors whereas greater than doubling his profession whole with 13 dwelling runs. The 26-year-old is hitting .303/.367/.443 with 16 doubles, 13 dwelling runs, 41 RBI and three.4 WAR whereas incomes an All-Star Recreation begin.

-Nonetheless the youngest participant to seem in a MLB recreation this 12 months, Jackson Chourio took his lumps over the primary two months of the season, however he has appeared the a part of a famous person on the rise for the reason that begin of June. The 20-year-old is hitting .312/.359/.517 with 30 extra-base hits and 12 steals over his final 71 video games, together with a 449-foot blast off the scoreboard at American Household Discipline earlier this week.

Prime 10 Middle Fielders

1. Aaron Choose, NYY (1)
2. Jarren Duran, BOS (2)
3. Jackson Merrill, SD (5)
4. Brenton Doyle, COL (4)
5. Heliot Ramos, SF (3)
6. Byron Buxton, MIN (7)
7. JJ Bleday, OAK (6)
8. Jazz Chisholm Jr., NYY (8)
9. Daulton Varsho, TOR (NR)
10. Jacob Younger, WAS (10)

-The AL chief in dwelling runs (51), RBI (123), on-base share (.464), slugging share (.725), OPS+ (227), whole bases (342) and WAR (9.7), Aaron Choose is nearly actually on his option to a second AL MVP award within the final three years. Will he take down his personal AL report of 62 lengthy balls from 2022?

–Jackson Merrill has steadily bridged the hole to Paul Skenes within the NL Rookie of the Yr race, hitting .326/.358/.630 with 22 extra-base hits, eight dwelling runs and 31 RBI in 37 video games for the reason that All-Star break. The 21-year-old has additionally offered regular protection (-1 DRS, 9.2 UZR/150) whereas studying to play middle area on the fly.

Prime 10 Proper Fielders

1. Juan Soto, NYY (1)
2. Anthony Santander, BAL (3)
3. Seiya Suzuki, CHC (4)
4. Wilyer Abreu, BOS (6)
5. Lawrence Butler, OAK (10)
6. Jake McCarthy, ARI (9)
7. Kyle Tucker, HOU (2)
8. Fernando Tatis Jr., SD (5)
9. Alec Burleson, STL (7)
10. Kerry Carpenter, DET (NR)

-In his first season with the Yankees, Juan Soto has already set a brand new career-high mark with 37 dwelling runs whereas hitting .293/.422/.592 for a 181 OPS+ and tallying extra walks (109) than strikeouts (94) in a 7.4-WAR marketing campaign. Somebody is probably going going to provide him $500 million this offseason. Will or not it’s the Yankees?

-It appears to be like just like the Athletics have discovered a keeper in Lawrence Butler, who’s hitting .254/.311/.502 for a 131 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 19 dwelling runs, 52 RBI and 12 steals in 347 plate appearances. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round choose within the 2018 draft, the identical 12 months the staff wasted the No. 9 total choice on Kyler Murray.

Prime 10 Designated Hitters

1. Shohei Ohtani, LAD (1)
2. Yordan Alvarez, HOU (4)
3. Marcell Ozuna, ATL (3)
4. Brent Rooker, OAK (2)
5. Kyle Schwarber, PHI (5)
6. Joc Pederson, ARI (6)
7. J.D. Martinez, NYM (8)
8. Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (9)
9. Jorge Soler, ATL (NR)
10. Andrew McCutchen, PIT (10)

–Shohei Ohtani has already grow to be the sixth member of baseball’s unique 40/40 membership with 43 dwelling runs and 43 steals via 132 video games, and he’s on tempo to grow to be the primary 50/50 participant within the historical past of the game. All indicators level to him including a 3rd profession MVP award to his trophy case, and his first with out stepping onto the pitcher’s mound.

-Already one among baseball’s most efficient hitters throughout the first half of the season, Yordan Alvarez is hitting .354/.444/.639 with 9 dwelling runs in 35 video games for the reason that All-Star break. With Kyle Tucker lacking vital time, his manufacturing in the course of the lineup has been much more essential.

Fast word: The time period “utility participant” is just not meant to be a slight in any means. In immediately’s recreation, it carries a special that means than it did years in the past when a utility man was typically somebody on the finish of the bench. The next 10 gamers are all primarily on a regular basis guys, simply with out one set place. The flexibility they supply is extraordinarily helpful.

Prime 10 Utility Gamers

1. Mookie Betts, LAD (4-SS)
2. Jordan Westburg, BAL (1)
3. Willi Castro, MIN (2)
4. Matt Vierling, DET (NR)
5. Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS (8)
6. David Fry, CLE (3)
7. Ryan O’Hearn, BAL (7-DH)
8. Spencer Steer, CIN (7)
9. Brendan Donovan, STL (5)
10. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT (4)

–Mookie Betts is again to taking part in proper area after lacking 45 video games with a fractured hand, however he opened the season taking part in primarily shortstop for the primary time in his profession. He has managed to pile up 4.3 WAR in simply 89 video games, and he’s hitting .299/.393/.486 with 36 extra-base hits in 405 plate appearances.

-Among the best under-the-radar performances of 2024 belongs to Matt Vierling, who has a 108 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 15 dwelling runs, 50 RBI and a couple of.5 WAR in 119 video games for the Tigers. The 27-year-old has break up his time between middle area (401.0 innings), third base (311.1 innings), proper area (147.0 innings) and left area (67.0 innings) whereas serving as one of many high run producers within the Detroit lineup.

Prime 10 Proper-Handed Beginning Pitchers

1. Zack Wheeler, PHI (2)
2. Hunter Greene, CIN (7)
3. Logan Gilbert, SEA (4)
4. Paul Skenes, PIT (5)
5. Jack Flaherty, LAD (6)
6. Seth Lugo, KC (1)
7. Corbin Burnes, BAL (3)
8. Dylan Stop, SD (8)
9. Ronel Blanco, HOU (9)
10. Hunter Brown, HOU (NR)

-The five-year, $118 million deal that Zack Wheeler signed with the Phillies previous to the 2020 season has turned out to be one of the profitable nine-figure offers ever given to a pitcher. Because the begin of that contract, his 23.7 WAR leads all pitchers, and he could possibly be on his option to successful a long-awaited first Cy Younger Award with a 2.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 176 strikeouts in 160.2 innings.

-The subsequent 10 who simply missed the lower, listed alphabetically: Erick Fedde (STL), Luis Gil (NYY), Tyler Glasnow (LAD), Tanner Houck (BOS), Michael King (SD), Reynaldo López (ATL), Bryce Miller (SEA), Aaron Nola (PHI), Brady Singer (KC) and Logan Webb (SF).

Prime 10 Left-Handed Beginning Pitchers

1. Tarik Skubal, DET (1)
2. Chris Sale, ATL (2)
3. Cole Ragans, KC (4)
4. Framber Valdez, HOU (NR)
5. Garrett Crochet, CWS (5)
6. Shōta Imanaga, CHC (6)
7. Ranger Suárez, PHI (3)
8. Max Fried, ATL (9)
9. Tyler Anderson, LAA (7)
10. Cristopher Sánchez, PHI (10)

-The Tigers opted to carry onto Tarik Skubal on the commerce deadline, and now they might have their first Cy Younger winner since Max Scherzer in 2013. The 27-year-old made a powerful return from flexor tendon surgical procedure final 12 months, and this season he presently sits atop all three AL pitching Triple Crown classes, going 15-4 with a 2.58 ERA and 193 strikeouts in 160.1 innings.

-The subsequent 10 who simply missed the lower, listed alphabetically: Andrew Abbott (CIN), Nestor Cortes (NYY), Andrew Heaney (TEX), Yusei Kikuchi (HOU), Sean Manaea (NYM), David Peterson (NYM), Carlos Rodón (NYY), Blake Snell (SF), Justin Steele (CHC) and Ryan Weathers (MIA).

Prime 10 Setup Relievers

1. Griffin Jax, MIN (4)
2. Hunter Gaddis, CLE (1)
3. Ryan Walker, SF (NR)
4. Jeff Hoffman, PHI (6)
5. Cade Smith, CLE (3)
6. Matt Strahm, PHI (7)
7. Jason Adam, SD (NR)
8. Tyler Holton, DET (9)
9. Alex Vesia, LAD (5)
10. Bryan Hudson, MIL (2)

-With a 1.69 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 77-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58.2 innings, Griffin Jax has been lights out behind the Twins bullpen. The 29-year-old has eight saves and 21 holds in 61 appearances, and he has restricted opposing hitters to a .171/.219/.257 line and solely 10 extra-base hits in 226 plate appearances.

-The subsequent 10 who simply missed the lower, listed alphabetically: Dylan Floro (ARI), Kevin Ginkel (ARI), Tim Herrin (CLE), Daniel Hudson (LAD), Joe Jiménez (ATL), Justin Martinez (ARI), David Robertson (TEX), JoJo Romero (STL), Tayler Scott (HOU), Ryan Thompson (ARI)

Prime 10 Closers

1. Emmanuel Clase, CLE (1)
2. Raisel Iglesias, ATL (4)
3. Kirby Yates, TEX (2)
4. Tanner Scott, SD (6)
5. Ryan Helsley, STL (9)
6. Mason Miller, OAK (8)
7. Andrés Muñoz, SEA (7)
8. Robert Suárez, SD (3)
9. Carlos Estévez, PHI (5)
10. Chad Inexperienced, TOR (NR)

-Nearer Emmanuel Clase is having an all-time nice season behind baseball’s greatest bullpen in Cleveland, changing 40 of 43 save probabilities with a 0.71 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and simply 35 hits allowed in 63.1 innings. He throws his cutter 81.1 p.c of the time and averages a blistering 99.5 mph together with his signature pitch.

-Veteran Chad Inexperienced took over as Toronto’s nearer when Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic elbow surgical procedure at the start of July. The 33-year-old has transformed all 16 of his save alternatives whereas logging a 1.61 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and .174 opponents’ batting common in 44 appearances.