To see rankings for projected starting American League catchers, click here. For National League, click here.
To see rankings for projected starting American League first basemen, click here. For National League, click here.
To see rankings for projected starting American Leauge second basemen, click here. For National League, click here.
To see rankings for projected starting American League shortstops, click here. For National League, click here.
1. Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays
- 2017 stats: 496 PA, .270 BA, .944 OPS, 33 HR, 21 2B, 0 3B, 78 RBI, 65 R, 2 SB
The 2015 American League MVP actually finished last year with a higher OPS than that MVP season.
Donaldson missed some time with injury, and after a slow start (for him) he was completely locked in to end the year. In his last 51 games, he batted .306 with 23 home runs.
2. Jose Ramirez - Cleveland Indians
- 2017 stats: 645 PA, .318 BA, .957 OPS, 29 HR, 56 2B, 6 3B, 83 RBI, 107 R, 17 SB
After a terrific 2016 campaign, Ramirez took another step forward and finished third in American League MVP voting. He had nine more extra-base hits and seven more doubles than anyone else in the American League. Versatile in the field, he also saw a lot of action at second base last year while Jason Kipnis was injured.
3. Adrian Beltre - Texas Rangers
- 2017 stats: 389 PA, .312 BA, .915 OPS, 17 HR, 22 2B, 1 3B, 71 RBI, 47 R, 1 SB
Turning 39 on April 7, the sure-fire future Hall of Famer is still going strong.
While injury forced Beltre to wait until May 29 to make his season debut last year, he still finished with his highest OPS since 2012. A Gold Glove winner in 2016, his advanced age hasn’t stopped him from manning his position with the best of them.
4. Kyle Seager - Seattle Mariners
- 2017 stats: 650 PA, .249 BA, .773 OPS, 27 HR, 33 2B, 1 3B, 88 RBI, 72 R, 2 SB
It was somewhat of a down year offensively for Seager which shows his talent as he still hit 27 homers and 33 doubles.
He was coming off his best year in 2016 when he hit .278 with 30 home runs and 36 doubles. A Gold Glove winner in 2014, the metrics rated him as average last season.
5. Alex Bregman - Houston Astros
- 2017 stats: 626 PA, .284 BA, .827 OPS, 19 HR, 39 2B, 5 3B, 71 RBI, 88 R, 17 SB
In his first year as the Astros’ everyday third baseman, Bregman hit at an elite level after the All-Star break.
In 71 games, he had a .315 batting average and .903 OPS. He hit another four homers in the postseason as his team went on to win the World Series.
6. Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
- 2017 stats: 240 PA, .284 BA, .819 OPS, 10 HR, 14 2B, 0 3B, 30 RBI, 34 R, 3 SB
Devers made his major league debut on July 25 and showed Boston fans they have a new star in the making. Just 21 years old, he was the 18th-ranked prospect according to Baseball America heading into last year. He also hit 20 home runs in 86 games in the minors in 2017.
7. Zack Cozart - Los Angeles Angles
- 2017 stats: 507 PA, .297 BA, .933 OPS, 24 HR, 24 2B, 7 3B, 63 RBI, 80 R, 3 SB
After spending his career as a shortstop with the Reds, Cozart will make the position change to third base since he is being blocked at shortstop on the Angels by Andrelton Simmons.
His career year in 2017 enabled to make his first All-Star team as he was just a career .246 hitter entering the season.
8. Miguel Sano - Minnesota Twins
- 2017 stats: 483 PA, .264 BA, .859 OPS, 28 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 77 RBI, 75 R, 0 SB
After a superb start, Sano cooled off as the season went along. He hit .276 with a .902 OPS and 22 homers before the All-Star break. After, his numbers dwindled down to .236, .742, and seven respectively. He will never be known as a Gold Glove-caliber defender but he’s adequate enough where his bat makes him a valuable player.
9. Matt Chapman - Oakland Athletics
- 2017 stats: 290 PA, .234 BA, .785 OPS, 14 HR, 23 2B, 2 3B, 40 RBI, 39 R, 0 SB
Chapman showed he can be a potential Gold Glover for years to come in his 84-game stint last year while also providing value with his bat.
He never hit for a very high average in the minors but did have 36 home runs in 2016.
10. Mike Moustakas - Kansas City Royals
- 2017 stats: 598 PA, .272 BA, .835 OPS, 38 HR, 24 2B, 0 3B, 85 RBI, 75 R, 0 SB
Moustakas’ 38 homers last year easily set a new career-high (previous was 22) but he also graded out as a minus defender. He’s also not a high on-base guy as evidenced by his .314 on-base percentage in 2017 and his career mark of .305.
11. Tim Beckham - Baltimore Orioles
2017 stats: 575 PA, .278 BA, .782 OPS, 22 HR, 18 2B, 5 3B, 62 RBI, 67 R, 5 SB
Beckham was excellent in his 50 games for the Orioles after being traded away from the Rays. He batted .306 with 10 home runs and 13 doubles in his time with Baltimore.
An average defensive shortstop, he moves to third base this season with Manny Machado making the move to shortstop.
12. Yolmer Sanchez - Chicago White Sox
- 2017 stats: 534 PA, .267 BA, .732 OPS, 12 HR, 19 2B, 8 3B, 59 RBI, 63 R, 8 SB
Hitting for just a .224 batting average and .590 OPS in 201 games from 2014-16, Sanchez looked much improved at the plate in 2017. Splitting his time between second and third base last year, he made three errors in 45 starts at the hot corner.
13. Matt Duffy - Tampa Bay Rays
- 2016 stats (injured last year): 366 PA, .258 BA, .668 OPS, 5 HR, 14 2B, 2 3B, 28 RBI, 41 R, 8 SB
Duffy missed all of last season due to surgeries on his Achilles tendon. The 27-year-old hopes to rebound to the form that saw him earn runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 as his numbers declined the following year.
14. Brandon Drury - New York Yankees
- 2017 stats: 480 PA, .267 BA, .764 OPS, 13 HR, 37 2B, 2 3B, 63 RBI, 41 R, 1 SB
After being traded from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees, Drury is likely to start the year at third base where he has made just 34 starts in three years. He has 68 doubles and 29 home runs over the last two seasons, but also 59 walks and 203 strikeouts over that time.
15. Jeimer Candelario - Detroit Tigers
- 2017 stats: 142 PA, .283 BA, .784 OPS, 3 HR, 9 2B, 0 3B, 16 RBI, 18 R, 0 SB
Involved in a trade with the Cubs that sent Alex Avila to Chicago, Candelario played well in his short stint with the Tigers. In 27 games, he hit .330 with an .874 OPS. He hit 36 doubles and 15 home runs in 110 games at AAA in 2017.
