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The 2024 MLB season is less than one month away, and that means regular season baseball is almost back. Before the season officially begins with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on March 20 in Seoul, South Korea, let's take a look at the best players at every position heading into the year.
The closest thing we get to the best players in the sport playing with one another is the MLB All-Star Game. However, sometimes those athletes are on opposite teams.
Instead, in this article, we're going to build the perfect MLB lineup all on one team. Some of these choices were extremely difficult to narrow down, so others might have different opinions. Nevertheless, let's dive in and find out who the best players are in the MLB at every position.
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SP: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
If you asked anyone who the best pitcher in baseball was before the 2023 season, the answer likely would have been Corbin Burnes. However, following a strong 2023 campaign, New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole has once again emerged as the best pitcher in the majors.
Cole led the American League last year with a 2.63 ERA to go with a 15-4 record, two shutouts, and 222 strikeouts across 209 innings pitched. The right-hander ranked first in the AL in several categories last year, including ERA, WHIP (0.98), batting average against (.206), and IP.
Gerrit Cole is looking to snap the Yankees' 15-year World Series drought in 2024. 👀 https://t.co/ugq1ig6DpE pic.twitter.com/Si3zZHv6ih
— theScore (@theScore) February 29, 2024
The 33-year-old will enter the 2024 season as the best pitcher in baseball and shows no signs of slowing down. Cole has finished with a 3.25 ERA or less in five of the past six seasons.
RP: Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
Imagine facing Cole for eight innings, then Devin Williams comes in to close out the game. It's a nightmare scenario for any hitter in baseball. Williams entered the 2023 season as a full-time closer for the first time in his career. It's safe to say the right-hander did not disappoint.
Williams finished the year with a 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 36 saves, and 87 strikeouts across 58 2/3 IP. The Brewers closer was electric all year and blew only four saves in 2023. He's the No. 1 relief pitcher in the majors with consecutive seasons of 85-plus strikeouts and an ERA less than 1.95.
C: Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman has quickly established himself as the top backstop in the game. After just two seasons, Rutschman has passed other catchers like J.T. Realmuto and Will Smith. It might be closer than most people think, but the 26-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.
Last season, Rutschman totaled career highs in almost every category after playing in 154 of 162 possible games. He finished the year with a .277 average, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 31 doubles, and 92 walks. Not to mention, the young catcher also posted elite numbers behind the plate. His blocks above average (seven), framing (five), and pop time (1.91) all ranked in the top 20%.
The sky is the limit for Rutschman in his third MLB season. The switch-hitting catcher made his first All-Star appearance in 2023 and finished ninth in the American League MVP Voting.
1B: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
It's hard to argue against Freddie Freeman being the best first baseman in baseball. All the guy does is hit. In 2023, Freeman finished with a .331 average, 29 HR, 102 RBI, 59 doubles, and 211 total hits. The 34-year-old first baseman also totaled a career-high 23 stolen bases last year.
Freeman is one of the most consistent hitters in the majors, and that won't stop in 2024. He has hit at least .300 at the plate in four straight seasons and seven of the past eight. Bryce Harper is probably right behind him on this list, but it's pretty obvious the Dodgers slugger is at the top.
2B: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Second baseman Mookie Betts has been a consistent bat in Los Angeles for the past four years. However, Betts took his offensive game to a new level in 2023, which included him having his best season in a Dodgers uniform. The seven-time All-Star hit .307 at the plate with 39 HR, 107 RBI, and 40 doubles.
Mookie Betts' first home run of #SpringTraining! pic.twitter.com/q0mgzvTEIu
— MLB (@MLB) March 1, 2024
It was a strong 2023 campaign for Betts, who saw his numbers jump up from prior seasons. His 39 HRs were a career high, while his 107 RBI were the second most of his career, and his .307 average was his best since 2018. There was no stopping Betts last year, and that should continue into this year.
SS: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
What a season Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager put together. Despite missing 40-plus games with a hamstring issue in April and a thumb injury in July, Seager delivered one of his best seasons at the plate. The left-hitting slugger hit .327 with 33 HRs, 96 RBI, and 42 doubles.
Seager was likely not at the top of this list just a couple of years ago, but since signing with the Rangers in 2022, he has taken his game to new heights. Over the past two seasons, he has combined for 66 HRs, 179 RBI, and a .281 batting average. The Rangers shortstop also won World Series MVP in 2023 after hitting three HRs in just five games.
3B: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Choosing the third base selection here was one of the toughest choices. It ultimately came down to Jose Ramirez and Austin Riley. However, going with the Ramirez felt like the better choice -- even despite a down year in 2023. The Guardians third baseman didn't have his typical hitting numbers, as he saw his home run and RBI numbers drop from the prior year.
Ramirez, though, still hit .282 at the plate with 24 HRs, 80 RBI, 36 doubles, and 28 stolen bases. Across the board, those are solid numbers for the four-time Silver Slugger. The 31-year-old has also shown that he can play defense at a high level. His six outs above average ranked in the top 11% in baseball in 2023. The veteran is still the top third baseman in the majors, but Riley is a very close second.
LF: Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Determining the best three outfielders was tougher than I thought. However, we're going to start off by sticking Juan Soto in left field. Soto played 156 of 162 games in left field last season, and while his primary position with the Yankees will be right field, we want to utilize him in our lineup.
Soto has everything you look for in a hitter. He most importantly has the power -- where he hit 35 HRs and 109 RBI in 2023 -- but he also has the patience to wait for his pitch. The left-handed slugger has led the league in walks in three straight seasons. Last year, he walked 132 times, or on 18.6% of his plate appearances.
Sweet swingin' Soto. 😤 pic.twitter.com/1b70KBgt5C
— MLB (@MLB) February 26, 2024
The 25-year-old is one of the best outfielders in baseball, and he will continue to grow at the plate. With Soto getting the left field spot, that means Yordan Alvarez will be left off this list.
CF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Jones might not have seen many reps in center field last season, but he sure will in 2024. Judge is expected to be the team's primary center fielder this upcoming year, so that makes him the perfect selection here. He started 17 games there for the Yankees in 2023.
Judge might not have had his strongest season in 2023, as he dealt with a nagging toe injury. However, he still hit 37 HRs, 75 RBI, and 16 doubles behind a .267 average. The 31-year-old slugger couldn't quite repeat his record-breaking 2022 season, where he hit 62 HRs and 131 RBI. Despite that, though, he's the best center fielder in baseball when healthy -- right in front of Mike Trout.
RF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves
This should come as no surprise to anyone, but Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is the best right fielder in the game. Acuna won his first National League MVP award last season and his third Silver Slugger award. Both were extremely deserving for the Venezuelan native.
Acuna hit .337 at the plate with 41 HRs, 106 RBI, 35 doubles, 217 hits, 149 runs scored, and 73 stolen bases. His .337 average was second only behind Luis Arraez (.354), while his stolen bases, hits, runs scored, and OBP (.416) were all the best in baseball. There was no stopping the 26-year-old at the plate in a career year.
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
There is no designated hitter better than Shohei Ohtani in the majors. Ohtani hit .304 at the plate with 44 HRs, 95 RBI, and 26 doubles behind another MVP season in 2023. The slugger also stole 20 bases last year, further showcasing how he can do everything on the field.
Shohei Ohtani's last few months...
• inks $700 million contract
• joined in LA by close friend, Yamamoto
• gets married
• hits a HR in #Dodgers spring debutAbsolutely winning at life.
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) March 1, 2024
Ohtani is a fantastic pitcher, but his hitting puts him in a whole other tier. Over the past three seasons (2021-2023), he has hit 124 HRs, 290 RBI, 82 doubles, 22 triples, and 57 stolen bases. Those numbers are truly impressive for the Japanese native. Now, he'll be hitting atop a Dodgers lineup that features both Freeman and Betts.
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