With the core returning from a team that boasted the best record in baseball and finished one win shy of a World Series championship, the Los Angeles Dodgers had seven players named in the MLB Network ‘Top 100 Right Now’ for the 2018 season.
That’s up from last year’s number of six, but second-most in the National League and still trails the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals who each had eight players in the annual rankings. Within the NL West, the Colorado Rockies had four, and Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants each had three in the top 100.
Like with the network’s 2017 rankings, Kershaw again is the first pitcher to appear on the list and the only to crack the top 10. However, he tumbled a bit, falling from second overall to No. 6.
The Dodgers are next presented by Corey Seager at No. 18th, Cody Bellinger (30th), Justin Turner (31st), Kenley Jansen (39th), Chris Taylor (86th) and Yasiel Puig (94th).
Seager fell from last year’s No. 11 ranking, while Turner made another jump. He was ranked 84th entering the 2016 season, then No. 56 heading into last year. Turner was not ranked in 2014 and 2015.
Similarly, coming off a second consecutive season in which he won the Trevor Hoffman Award, Jansen shot up from his previous No. 65 ranking. He was also recognized by MLB Network in 2015 at No. 87, but fell off the list for 2016.
Bellinger’s and Taylor’s breakout campaigns earned them debuts on the Top 100 Right Now. Meanwhile, Yasmani Grandal, who made his first appearance on the list at No. 90 heading into last season, has fallen off completely for 2018.
And though he is no longer part of the Dodgers organization, so too has Adrian Gonzalez. It further adds to what’s been a downward trend in his ranking since 2014.
The Chicago Cubs, again a favorite to reach the World Series, placed six in the Top 100 Right Now, while the Cleveland Indians are represented by six players.
Heading into last season the Cubs paced all teams with nine players in the top 100. The Boston Red Sox and Indians tied for second with eight, Nationals had seven, and the Giants tied with the Dodgers with six.
Complete ranking of MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now included below.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Trout (Angels) |
| 2 | Jose Altuve (Astros) |
| 3 | Bryce Harper (Nationals) |
| 4 | Joey Votto (Reds) |
| 5 | Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees) |
| 6 | Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) |
| 7 | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) |
| 8 | Kris Bryant (Cubs) |
| 9 | Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays) |
| 10 | Carlos Correa (Astros) |
| 11 | Max Scherzer (Nationals) |
| 12 | Corey Kluber (Indians) |
| 13 | Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks) |
| 14 | Freddie Freeman (Braves) |
| 15 | Aaron Judge (Yankees) |
| 16 | Charlie Blackmon (Rockies) |
| 17 | Francisco Lindor (Indians) |
| 18 | Corey Seager (Dodgers) |
| 19 | Mookie Betts (Red Sox) |
| 20 | Manny Machado (Orioles) |
| 21 | Chris Sale (Red Sox) |
| 22 | Jose Ramirez (Indians) |
| 23 | Anthony Rizzo (Cubs) |
| 24 | George Springer (Astros) |
| 25 | J.D. Martinez (Red Sox) |
| 26 | Gary Sanchez (Yankees) |
| 27 | Buster Posey (Giants) |
| 28 | Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) |
| 29 | Justin Verlander (Astros) |
| 30 | Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) |
| 31 | Justin Turner (Dodgers) |
| 32 | Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals) |
| 33 | Justin Upton (Angels) |
| 34 | Daniel Murphy (Nationals) |
| 35 | Anthony Rendon (Nationals) |
| 36 | Brian Dozier (Twins) |
| 37 | Robinson Cano (Mariners) |
| 38 | Jose Abreu (White Sox) |
| 39 | Kenley Jansen (Dodgers) |
| 40 | Madison Bumgarner (Giants) |
| 41 | Edwin Encarnacion (Indians) |
| 42 | Andrew Miller (Indians) |
| 43 | Luis Severino (Yankees) |
| 44 | Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox) |
| 45 | Yoenis Cespedes (Mets) |
| 46 | Christian Yelich (Brewers) |
| 47 | Trea Turner (Nationals) |
| 48 | Nelson Cruz (Mariners) |
| 49 | Noah Syndergaard (Mets) |
| 50 | Carlos Carrasco (Indians) |
| 51 | Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks) |
| 52 | Jacob deGrom (Mets) |
| 53 | Jonathan Schoop (Orioles) |
| 54 | Eric Hosmer (Padres) |
| 55 | Adrian Beltre (Rangers) |
| 56 | Andrelton Simmons (Angels) |
| 57 | Alex Bregman (Astros) |
| 58 | Willson Contreras (Cubs) |
| 59 | Tommy Pham (Cardinals) |
| 60 | Carlos Santana (Phillies) |
| 61 | Lorenzo Cain (Brewers) |
| 62 | Matt Carpenter (Cardinals) |
| 63 | Andrew McCutchen (Giants) |
| 64 | Dallas Keuchel (Astros) |
| 65 | Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) |
| 66 | Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) |
| 67 | Yu Darvish (Cubs) |
| 68 | Byron Buxton (Twins) |
| 69 | Khris Davis (Athletics) |
| 70 | Josh Reddick (Astros) |
| 71 | Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) |
| 72 | Jake Arrieta (Free agent) |
| 73 | Carlos Martinez (Cardinals) |
| 74 | Didi Gregorius (Yankees) |
| 75 | Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) |
| 76 | Marwin Gonzalez (Astros) |
| 77 | Ryan Braun (Brewers) |
| 78 | Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox) |
| 79 | Michael Conforto (Mets) |
| 80 | Adam Eaton (Nationals) |
| 81 | DJ LeMahieu (Rockies) |
| 82 | J.T. Realmuto (Marlins) |
| 83 | Corey Knebel (Brewers) |
| 84 | Wade Davis (Rockies) |
| 85 | Elvis Andrus (Rangers) |
| 86 | Chris Taylor (Dodgers) |
| 87 | Kyle Seager (Mariners) |
| 88 | Jean Segura (Mariners) |
| 89 | Zack Cozart (Angels) |
| 90 | Avisail Garcia (White Sox) |
| 91 | Jay Bruce (Mets) |
| 92 | Justin Smoak (Blue Jays) |
| 93 | Brett Gardner (Yankees) |
| 94 | Yasiel Puig (Dodgers) |
| 95 | Kyle Schwarber (Cubs) |
| 96 | Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays) |
| 97 | James Paxton (Mariners) |
| 98 | Robbie Ray (Diamondbacks) |
| 99 | Chad Green (Yankees) |
| 100 | Shohei Ohtani (Angels) |
