MLB’s Top Players at every Position in 2022: Right Field
We’ve covered a lot in this series of top players at every position. We’ll cover DH and pitching in the future, but for now, we will wrap up the position players with the last spot in the outfield: right field.
1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are a team loaded with talent head-to-toe. Betts stands out, being one of the leaders of this juggernaut. Betts is the team leader in home runs (35), runs scored (117), and WAR (6.4.) He hit 35 homers, which is actually a career-high for Betts. His OPS+ sits at 136, and while he probably won’t win MVP, he’ll get some votes.
2. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
There are a lot of reasons why the Astros were the best team in the AL, and Tucker was one of them. The 25-year-old made his first All-star appearance of his career, and he’s starting to break out into a superstar. He hit 30 homers for the second year in a row, this time hitting 107 RBIs. Tucker broke out the wheels this season, stealing 25 bases which is a career high. It was a career year defensively as well. Tucker had 13 DRS with five OAA for the season. These damn Astros are going to continue to be good, especially since Tucker hasn’t even hit his prime yet.
3. Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
Soto honestly didn’t have his best season in 2022, but the blockbuster trade to send him to San Diego still makes him valuable. His WAR was 5.6, a dip from his 7.1 last year but still an elite level. The power was still there as he mashed 27 homers. It’s the batting average that has been on a slight decline, as it was only .242. The good news for Soto and Padre fans is he did walk a ton. In fact, he leads all of MLB in walks with 135. We’ve seen what Soto can do, and he’s barely 23-years-old. He’ll figure it out.
4. Starling Marte, New York Mets
It was unfortunate for the Mets and Marte when he was out for a month with a finger injury. After an amazing 2021 with 47 steals, Marte wasn’t able to exactly put up the same results. Nonetheless, he still did Marte things that included hitting on base, stealing bases, and playing good defense. He hit 16 home runs, the most in his career since 2019. He was only able to steal 18 bases, but the right fielder still hit .292 and struck out under 100 times. It wasn’t eye-catching, but Marte was also able to collect three DRS throughout the season. Age will begin to get to him, but so far it doesn’t seem to be.
5. Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels
This one definitely came out of nowhere. He did wonders for me in fantasy, but overall, Ward really did have a breakout season for a losing Angels team. Before this season, Ward had never hit over eight home runs. He went off and hit 23 of them, paired with 65 RBIs and 135 OPS+. He was a -0.5 WAR player entering 2022 and broke out as a 3.8 WAR player in 2022. Don’t expect this level to stick around, but for 2022 he was easily a top-five right fielder.
6. Hunter Renfroe, Milwaukee Brewers
Renfroe has been one of the better power hitters in the sport his whole career. 2022 was no different, as he hit 29 home runs with 72 RBIs and 23 doubles. The slash is pretty good as well, at .255/.315/.807. His 2.7 WAR this year is the best of his career, and he posted a decent defensive year with two defensive runs saved and 210 putouts. It was not a playoff year for the Brewers, but at least Renfroe has been playing consistent.
7. Adolis García, Texas Rangers
We heard García’s name first in 2021 when he broke out of nowhere and hit over 30 home runs. It was a very slight dip this year, but García was still an amazing hitter in the Rangers offense. He hit 27 homers this time and reached the 100 mark in RBIs with 107. He batted an even .250 with career-highs in walks (40) doubles (34) and stolen bases (25.) He was another slugger who hit the ball hard, with an 86% hard hit percentage and an average exit velocity of 92. His arm makes him elite in that defense as well, as savant also recorded that García has thrown a ball 98 miles an hour from the outfield.
8. Teoscar Hernández, Toronto Blue Jays
Hernández is another veteran in a young Blue Jays lineup who can mash home runs. He broke out in 2021 but still kept his numbers up this season. In 131 games, he hit 25 home runs, 35 doubles and batted .267 on the year. It was the second-best year of his career going off WAR, as his for 2022 was 2.7. Like Garcia, Hernandez is another outfielder who hits it hard. An average exit velocity of 96 mph, with an amazing 94 barrel percentage, which is batted ball with the perfect combination of exit velocity and launch angle.
9. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
We wouldn’t expect Acuna to be so low in the rankings. After tearing his ACL in 2021, Acuña was still playing with some aggravation this year. It’s easy to say that’s why he had a down year, but it wasn’t a complete bust. He still had a decent 2.8 WAR, alongside 29 stolen bases and a 114 OPS+. Only hitting 15 homers and 50 RBIs was still enough to bag Acuña his third All-Star selection. The Braves were eliminated in the first round in 2022, but sure enough, they’ll be back and will have a fully healthy Acuña.
10. Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
In only his second year of being an everyday player, Santander had himself a career year for the O’s. His 33 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 2.1 WAR are all career highs for the 27-year-old. His strikeout percentage also took a big dip, dropping from 23.1% last year to 18.9% this year. His below average defense makes him better suited for DH, but he played 84 games in right field and was a key part in a magical Orioles season that just fell short of the playoffs.
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