The center fielders in the American League include a two-time American League MVP, last season’s World Series Mvp, and some of the best defensive players in the game today.
Here are the rankings for the projected starting American League center fielders. As a subjective list, there are instances where players can be seen as almost interchangeable as to where they should be ranked.
To see rankings for projected starting American League left fielders, click here. For National League, click here.
1. Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
- 2017 stats: 507 PA, .306 BA, 1.071 OPS, 33 HR, 25 2B, 3 3B, 72 RBI, 92 R, 22 SB
It was just another typical year for Trout in 2017 albeit in just 114 games after averaging 154 in the previous five.
He finished fourth in American League MVP voting despite missing 50 games. From 2012-16, he won two MVP trophies and was the runner-up three times. He has a .309 batting average and .987 OPS since 2012.
2. George Springer - Houston Astros
- 2017 stats: 629 PA, .283 BA, .889 OPS, 34 HR, 29 2B, 0 3B, 85 RBI, 112 R, 5 SB
Last season's World Series MVP also won a Silver Slugger and finished 13th in American League MVP voting in 2017. Springer has hit 63 home runs and scored 128 times over the last two years. He also cut down his strikeouts from 178 in 2016 to 111 in 2017.
3. Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins
- 2017 stats: 511 PA, .253 BA, .728 OPS, 16 HR, 14 2B, 6 3B, 51 RBI, 69 R, 29 SB
Very few can cover as much ground in the outfield as Buxton who won his first Gold Glove and finished 18th in American League MVP voting in 2017.
In his third year, he finally began to hit as the Twins have expected as the season went on. Before the All-Star break, he batted .216 with a .594 OPS. After was a completely different story, as he hit .300 with an .893 OPS.
4. Kevin Kiermaier - Tampa Bay Rays
- 2017 stats: 421 PA, .276 BA, .788 OPS, 15 HR, 15 2B, 3 3B, 39 RBI, 56 R, 16 SB
Considered by many to be the best defensive outfielder, Kiermaier won Gold Gloves in both 2015 and 2016.
Unfortunately, injuries limited him to 98 games last year, but he still put up his best offensive season. He put up career-bests in batting average, OPS, and home runs.
5. Dee Gordon - Seattle Mariners
- 2017 stats: 695 PA, .308 BA, .716 OPS, 2 HR, 20 2B, 9 3B, 33 RBI, 114 R, 60 SB
Gordon led the National League in steals for the third time in four years in 2017.
Not only will he make the transition to the American League this season, but he will move to a new position after spending his time at second base. While he has been a high batting average player (won the National League batting title in 2015), his lack of walks doesn’t give him a much higher on-base percentage.
6. Jackie Bradley - Boston Red Sox
- 2017 stats: 541 PA, .245 BA, .726 OPS, 17 HR, 19 2B, 3 3B, 63 RBI, 58 R, 8 SB
Still maintaining his ability to flash leather in center field, Bradley did see somewhat of a decline in nearly all of his offensive numbers. In 2016, he was able to hit .267 with an .835 OPS, 26 homers, and 30 doubles. Turning 28 on April 19, it isn't inconceivable that he can approach (or surpass) those numbers.
7. Aaron Hicks - New York Yankees
- 2017 stats: 361 PA, .266 BA, .847 OPS, 15 HR, 18 2B, 0 3B, 52 RBI, 54 R, 10 SB
It was a breakout season for Hicks in 2017 although he appeared in just 88 games. He had career-highs across the board in batting average, on-base percentage (.372), and slugging percentage (.475). His walk rate improved as well leaving him with close to the amount of bases on balls (51) as strikeouts (67).
8. Kevin Pillar - Toronto Blue Jays
- 2017 stats: 632 PA, .256 BA, .704 OPS, 16 HR, 37 2B, 1 3B, 42 RBI, 72 R, 15 SB
The American League houses plenty of incredibly gifted defensive center fielders, and Pillar is near the top of the list. While his batting average has slightly decreased from .278 in 2015, to .266 in 2016, and .256 last year, he had career-highs in homers, doubles, and slugging percentage in 2017.
9. Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles
- 2017 stats: 635 PA, .285 BA, .787 OPS, 26 HR, 28 2B, 1 3B, 73 RBI, 82 R, 2 SB
As he gets older (now 32), Jones has shown slight decline in his range that helped him win three straight Gold Gloves from 2012-14. He has remained consistent at the plate though averaging 29 home runs and a .279 batting average since 2011.
10. Bradley Zimmer - Cleveland Indians
- 2017 stats: 332 PA, .241 BA, .692 OPS, 8 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 39 RBI, 41 R, 18 SB
Zimmer was the 62nd-ranked prospect according to Baseball America prior to last season. He made his Major League Debut on May 16 of last year. Despite hitting just .143 over his last 91 at bats, there was a lot to like from him in his rookie year.
He hit 15 home runs and stole 38 bases in the minors in 2016.
11. Jon Jay - Kansas City Royals
- 2017 stats: 433 PA, .296 BA, .749 OPS, 2 HR, 18 2B, 3 3B, 34 RBI, 65 R, 6 SB
The 33-year-old Jay has remained a contact hitter throughout his career that will post high batting averages with little to no power. He may be miscast as a center fielder at this point of his career and will have the unenviable task of replacing Lorenzo Cain.
12. Delino DeShields - Texas Rangers
- 2017 stats: 440 PA, .269 BA, .714 OPS, 6 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 22 RBI, 75 R, 29 SB
After a miserable 2016 where he hit just .206, DeShields bounced back in a nice way last year. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old ever comes close to returning to his form where he stole bases at a near-Ricky Henderson level in the minors.
In 2012, he took an extra bag on the basepaths 101 times.
13. Dustin Fowler - Oakland Athletics
- 2017 stats (AAA): 313 PA, .293 BA, .871 OPS, 13 HR, 19 2B, 8 3B, 43 RBI, 49 R, 13 SB
In his major league debut with the Yankees last season, Fowler injured his knee in the first inning playing right field. He would be forced to miss the rest of the season but was the main piece acquired by the Athletics in the Sonny Gray trade. He is the 88th-ranked prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America.
14. Leonys Martin - Detroit Tigers
- 2017 stats: 138 PA, .172 BA, .513 OPS, 3 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 14 R, 7 SB
Back in 2013-14, Martin was a useful player for the Rangers. He hit .268 with 67 steals and 134 runs in the two seasons, and he also was stellar out in center field.
After two subpar seasons, he did not see that much playing time last year with the Mariners and Cubs.
15. Adam Engel - Chicago White Sox
- 2017 stats: 336 PA, .166 BA, .517 OPS, 6 HR, 11 2B, 3 3B, 21 RBI, 34 R, 8 SB
Engel was called up to the big leagues and first appeared on May 27 in 2017. The rebuilding White Sox kept putting him in the lineup despite his obvious struggles. He struck out 117 times while walking just 19.
