MLB’s Top 5 Hitters
Other Sports | April 6, 2021
SportsCity.com
After the abbreviated 2020 Major League Baseball season, Opening Day was very exciting for all the ballclubs involved. Baseball fans are excited for what should be a tremendous season filled with a large amount of talent. There are dozens of players who have the potential to put a show on any given night on the diamond, but these five players are the best hitters as we get to play a full 162 in 2021:
5. Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Arizona Republic
Fernando Tatis Jr. is just 22 years old and is the youngest on the list. Heading into 2021, he has played just 143 games, and that is to no fault of his own. He is one of the most exciting players in the game and finished fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting last season as the seventh-youngest player in the NL. All-MLB First Teamers Tatis and Manny Machado are an unbelievable duo for the San Diego Padres to have.
4. Ronald Acuña Jr.
Bleacher Report
Another dynamic duo is on the Atlanta Braves, and the players that make up this twosome are Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman. While 31-year-old Freeman won the NL MVP in 2020, 23-year-old Acuña is ready for stardom. Braves fans – and anyone who is a fan of amazing baseball talent – should be hoping to see a duplicate performance of his 2019 season: 41 home runs, 127 runs (NL leader), 37 stolen bases (NL leader), and fifth place for NL MVP. In 2020, his 11.4 at-bats per home run were the best in the NL.
3. Juan Soto
Sporting News
In 2020, Juan Soto was unmatched, as he led all of the majors in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, and offensive wins above replacement. He also seemed to be the most feared hitter, as he was walked intentionally 12 times, four more than any other player last season. Soto made the 2020 All-MLB First Team after finishing 2019 on the All-MLB Second Team and second in the Rookie of the Year voting in his rookie season (2018). He already has one championship ring on his hand to go along with a batting title, so the sky’s the limit for the 22-year-old.
2. Mookie Betts
The Detroit News
Und
In his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie Betts won the World Series to give him two championship rings in just eight years. The former Red Sox outfielder, who was traded to Los Angeles, went for 32 home runs and 30 stolen bases in his 2018 American League MVP season. He was also an all-star in each of his final four years in Boston. In 2020, Betts finished second in the MVP voting and made the All-MLB First Team. In 2021, he and his teammate, 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger, will be fighting in the MVP race while the Dodgers look to repeat as champions.
1. Mike Trout
USA Today
It is Mike Trout’s world, and we are just living in it. While the Los Angeles Angels have yet to win a playoff game during his career, baseball is still dominated by the 29-year-old native of New Jersey. The three-time AL MVP has been selected to each of the last two All-MLB First Teams in addition to winning eight Silver Slugger awards. In the shortened 2020 season, he finished fifth in the AL MVP voting, the worst performance of his career in which he played more than 40 games. He still finished third in the AL in home runs, OPS, and offensive WAR. While Trout may be declining, his peak was so high that even if 2021 is a down year, he cannot be counted out as the top player in all of baseball yet.
Tags: MLB
