Baseball's Current Top 10 Hitters
Albert Pujols and David Ortiz Are Baseball's Best Hitters.
Feb 13, 2007 James Lincoln Ray
Baseball's Top 10 Hitters.
1. Albert Pujols: He is simply the best hitter in the game. No way around it. Pujols has played six years and put up numbers that exceed those enjoyed by Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and even Ted Williams. That is impressive. Whether starting a real Major League team or a fantasy one, Pujols is the consensus No. 1 Overall Pick.
2. David Ortiz: Even Yankee fans adore Big Papi as much as they fear his bat. Ortiz is the best clutch hitter in the game. Since 2003, he has averaged .294 BA, 43 HR, 131 RBI, 103 Runs, and a .605 Slugging %. Awesome, just awesome.
3. Alfonso Soriano: Since 2002, Soriano has had four 30-30 seasons. He has also had one 40-40 season, which was only the fourth of its kind. His five year averages are staggering for a leadoff hitter: a .291 BA, 38 HR, 103 Runs, 98 RBI, 41 SB, and 353 Total Bases.
4. Alex Rodriguez: Yes, he had a "sort of" down year last season. But let's not write off what might be the best hitter of all time, okay? He did hit .291 with 35 HR and 121 RBI. Nobody except Manny Ramirez has posted the 162 game averages that Alex has for his career: .305 BA, 43 HR, 125 RBI, 126 Runs, 192 Hits, and a .959 OPS. Those are averages over a 12 year career. So far, his 2007 is shaping up to be a record setting year as A-Rod is on pace to hit 64 home runs.
5. Ryan Howard: Ryan Howard is special. First, he won the Rookie of the Year in 2005, when he played only 88 games! Then, last year, he flirted with history (the non-steroid kind) when he smacked 58 Home Runs to go along with his .313 Average and 149 RBI. This year, the sky is the limit. Howard is so young and so good that he may just head next year's list of Baseball's Top 10 Hitters.
6. Vladimir Guerrero: Career Averages of: .325, 38 HR, 117 RBI and 106 Runs scored. He can also steal bases, rifle a guy out at home plate, and sports one of the coolest names in baseball. Vlad had another great season in 2006, and it sure looks like he has at least a couple more of those left in him.
7. Manny Ramirez: While everyone loves Big Papi, they all seem to forget the man who hits next to him in the Red Sox batting order. For over a decade, Manny's career 162 game averages are eerily similar to A-Rod's numbers: .314 BA, 42 HR, 132 RBI, and 112 Runs Scored. That is almost Ruthian: Almost.
8. Travis Hafner: Hafner is another new kid whose stock is still rising. He is already great, averaging .303 with 34 HR and 112 RBI over his three full seasons in baseball. Look for him to step it up to 40 HR and 125 RBI.
9. Chase Utley: Utley has become a .300 hitter who averages 30 Home Runs, 100 RBI, 120 Runs scored and 40 doubles. He is going places. Watch for him to take it to an even higher level this year.
10. Derek Jeter: His skills transcend just his plate appearances. But his plate appearances are still pretty damn awe-inspiring. Last year, Jeter hit .343 with 126 Runs Scored and 97 RBI, out of the No. 2 spot in the Yankees' order. He gets 200 hits, 40 Doubles, scores 120 Runs and bats well over .300 just about every single year. He is also second only to Orti z in the clutch category. If the game is on the line, and you need a hit, Jeter is your man.
Well, that's it. The Pre-Season Rankings of Baseball's Top 10 Hitters in Baseball for 2007. Let's see how it plays out.
Read more Suite101.com Baseball, including these articles about the Five Best Closers Ever and the Top 100 Fantasy Players.
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