In December 2021, it looked like the 2022 Major League Baseball season would be canceled due to a work stoppage. Luckily, the owners and players were finally able to reach an agreement, allowing you to make MLB picks today.
MLB has not done a good job of marketing its top players, but there are some stars who don’t need much marketing. This has always been a league with legendary performers taking the field, and that is no different in 2022.
Putting together a list of the best MLB players is a challenge, especially when narrowing down that list to just ten players. That said, here are the ten best players currently wearing an MLB uniform.
10. Carlos Correa
The 10th spot on this list could have been claimed by a number of different players, but Carlos Correa is the choice here. Correa, who left the Houston Astros for the Minnesota Twins over the offseason, is one of the best shortstops in baseball and always seems to step up his play in the playoffs.
9. Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr. missed most of the 2021 season and then saw his Atlanta Braves win the World Series without him. Acuna will be making his on-field return in 2022, where his raw talent and ability will make the Braves a title contender again.
There is still room for the 24-year-old Acuna to improve, so he will likely move up this list in future seasons.
8. Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts can do it all, cementing himself as one of the best outfielders in the game. Betts is the spark plug in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, while all of that protection surrounding him allows the superstar to see some great pitches.
Betts always presents a running threat when he gets on base, giving him another tool to use against opponents.
7. Jacob deGrom
We have come to the first, and only, starting pitcher on the list. While there is always going to be debate about the best position players, there is no argument for New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom not being the best pitcher in baseball.
While deGrom is virtually unhittable when he is on the mound, the only knock on him is that he sometimes struggles to stay healthy.
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might be the best hitter on this list, but he doesn’t always play the field. The fact that Guerrero spends most of his time as the Designated Hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays knocks him down a bit, but it’s hard to argue with his greatness at the plate.
If the 23-year-old slugger stays healthy, he could end up setting a few MLB records down the road.
5. Bryce Harper
It wasn’t long ago that Bryce Harper was considered the best player in baseball. Although he still sits near the top of this list, Harper hasn’t been as great since putting on the Philadelphia Phillies uniform.
That said, the 2021 National League MVP still puts up numbers that are better than most of his competitors.
4. Fernando Tatis Jr.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is another player that has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, keeping him from reaching his full potential. But the San Diego Padres star is as good in the field as he is at the plate, approaching the game with a flair for the dramatic.
Tatis might be the most talented player in baseball, but he still has to prove his greatness.
3. Juan Soto
Juan Soto entered the league in the shadow of former teammate Harper, but he is unquestionably the best player on the Washington Nationals. Soto has a terrific eye at the plate and can enact serious damage when he decides to swing.
Soto’s defense isn’t quite elite yet, which serves as the only flaw keeping him away from the top spot on this list.
2. Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani is the modern-day Babe Ruth, and he is actually breaking some old records set by “The Great Bambino.” The former Japanese League star has had little trouble since breaking into the big leagues, using his unique two-way ability to be a terrific pitcher and feared hitter.
Ohtani is usually penciled into the top spot in the Los Angeles Angels batting order each game, including those games in which he pitches. By the time the 2023 season starts, Ohtani might actually be number one on the list.
1. Mike Trout
If Mike Trout wouldn’t have missed so much time with injuries in his career, he would be well on his way to shattering some historic MLB records. But with how astonishingly good he is, the 30-year-old Trout might still play long enough to etch his name in the record books.
Before Ohtani arrived and drew some of the attention away, the Angels star proved himself as a clear five-tool player. Trout’s best skill is his hitting ability, mashing for both power and average. He also possesses impressive speed when he’s on the basepaths.
