The Los Angeles Dodgers placed six players in MLB Network’s Top 100 Right Now entering the 2017, led by Clayton Kershaw at No. 2. He was ranked just behind Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder Mike Trout for the second time in the past four years.
The list of top 100 players right now was assembled by the MLB Network research department, and took into account stats from the past three seasons, position and accolades, and projected 2017 performance. Kershaw finished third in 2016, first in 2015, second in 2014, and fifth in 2013 and 2012.
This year, he was the lone pitcher ranked in the top 10. The Dodgers were next represented by Corey Seager, who debuted in MLB Network’s annual ranking at No. 11 overall.
Justin Turner checked in at No. 56, which is up from his standing at No. 84 entering last season. Noteworthy third basemen he placed ahead of were Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays (No. 57) and St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter (No. 58). Turner was not ranked in 2014 and 2015.
Kenley Jansen was ranked No. 65 overall after not appearing on the list heading into last season. Jansen also wasn’t ranked in 2014, and was last recognized by MLB Network in 2015 at No. 87.
Yasmani Grandal debuted at No. 90, and Adrian Gonzalez rounded out the Dodgers’ representation at No. 91. Gonzalez’s ranking continued a downward trend since 2014.
The veteran first baseman peaked in 2012 at No. 14, slipped to No. 95 the following year, climbed to No. 52 in 2014, then dropped to No. 58 in 2015 and No. 79 entering last year.
Kershaw (first), Seager (first), Grandal (third), Jansen (third) and Turner (fifth) were ranked among the top-10 players at their position entering this season by MLB Network’s The Shredder. Jansen was examined under a scope with all relief pitchers, not specifically closers.
The Chicago Cubs led all teams with nine players in the top 100. The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians tied for second with eight, Washington Nationals had seven, and the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants tied with six.
Complete ranking of MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now included below.
Rank | Player |
---|---|
1 | Mike Trout (Angels) |
2 | Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) |
3 | Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays) |
4 | Kris Bryant (Cubs) |
5 | Jose Altuve (Astros) |
6 | Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) |
7 | Manny Machado (Orioles) |
8 | Mookie Betts (Red Sox) |
9 | Bryce Harper (Nationals) |
10 | Joey Votto (Reds) |
11 | Corey Seager (Dodgers) |
12 | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) |
13 | Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks) |
14 | Max Scherzer (Nationals) |
15 | Robinson Cano (Mariners) |
16 | Anthony Rizzo (Cubs) |
17 | Buster Posey (Giants) |
18 | Freddie Freeman (Braves) |
19 | Francisco Lindor (Indians) |
20 | Carlos Correa (Astros) |
21 | Yoenis Cespedes (Mets) |
22 | Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) |
23 | Madison Bumgarner (Giants) |
24 | Noah Syndergaard (Mets) |
25 | Corey Kluber (Indians) |
26 | Edwin Encarnacion (Indians) |
27 | Adrian Beltre (Rangers) |
28 | Jake Arrieta (Cubs) |
29 | Jon Lester (Cubs) |
30 | Chris Sale (Red Sox) |
31 | Daniel Murphy (Nationals) |
32 | Ryan Braun (Brewers) |
33 | Starling Marte (Pirates) |
34 | Nelson Cruz (Mariners) |
35 | Brian Dozier (Twins) |
36 | Charlie Blackmon (Rockies) |
37 | Kyle Seager (Mariners) |
38 | Andrew Miller (Indians) |
39 | Zach Britton (Orioles) |
40 | Christian Yelich (Marlins) |
41 | George Springer (Astros) |
42 | Brandon Crawford (Giants) |
43 | Justin Verlander (Tigers) |
44 | Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox) |
45 | Trea Turner (Nationals) |
46 | A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) |
47 | Johnny Cueto (Giants) |
48 | Jacob deGrom (Mets) |
49 | Ian Kinsler (Tigers) |
50 | David Price (Red Sox) |
51 | J.D. Martinez (Tigers) |
52 | Aroldis Chapman (Yankees) |
53 | Jonathan Lucroy (Rangers) |
54 | Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) |
55 | Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) |
56 | Justin Turner (Dodgers) |
57 | Evan Longoria (Rays) |
58 | Matt Carpenter (Cardinals) |
59 | Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) |
60 | Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies) |
61 | Adam Eaton (Nationals) |
62 | Dexter Fowler (Cardinals) |
63 | DJ LeMahieu (Rockies) |
64 | Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks) |
65 | Kenley Jansen (Dodgers) |
66 | Jose Abreu (White Sox) |
67 | Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) |
68 | Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees) |
69 | Ben Zobrist (Cubs) |
70 | Brandon Belt (Giants) |
71 | Khris Davis (Athletics) |
72 | Kyle Schwarber (Cubs) |
73 | Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox) |
74 | Michael Brantley (Indians) |
75 | Carlos Carrasco (Indians) |
76 | Jason Kipnis (indians) |
77 | Jose Quintana (White Sox) |
78 | Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays) |
79 | Hanley Ramirez (Red Sox) |
80 | Gary Sanchez (Yankees) |
81 | Mark Melancon (Giants) |
82 | Dellin Betances (Yankees) |
83 | Chris Davis (Orioles) |
84 | Justin Upton (Tigers) |
85 | Wade Davis (Cubs) |
86 | Carlos Martinez (Cardinals) |
87 | Addison Russell (Cubs) |
88 | Troy Tulowitzki (Blue Jays) |
89 | Trevor Story (Rockies) |
90 | Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers) |
91 | Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers) |
92 | Lorenzo Cain (Royals) |
93 | Carlos Santana (Indians) |
94 | Anthony Rendon (Nationals) |
95 | Rick Porcello (Red Sox) |
96 | Cole Hamels (Rangers) |
97 | Yadier Molina (Cardinals) |
98 | Salvador Perez (Royals) |
99 | Wilson Ramos (Rays) |
100 | Yu Darvish (Rangers) |