Leandre: Top 30 left fielders entering 2024, 30-21
The left field position isn't the strongest in Major League Baseball. However, this group of 10 still has serious talent within it.
Among all the positions I’ve ranked so far, left field is one of the weaker ones.
Not to suggest that there isn’t talent within these 30, it’s just not as stacked a position as, say, catcher or second base.
A corner outfield spot is often reserved for a former infielder-turned-outfielder, or an aging center fielder looking to protect their body. In other cases, amateur center fielders move to a corner if it’s proven they don’t possess the necessary range.
Let’s take a look at the first 10.
30. Andrew Benintendi — Chicago White Sox
Benintendi made an All-Star team in 2022 and won a World Series in 2018, but otherwise, I think his career has left some to be desired compared to the hype around him as a prospect.
The former Golden Spikes Award winner at Arkansas, given to the NCAA’s best player, posted an 87 wRC+ in Year 1 of a five-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. Not only that, he had a 76 wRC+ after the All-Star break.
Given that Chicago is rebuilding, his status as its starting left fielder is hardly in jeopardy. However, he could certainly stand to improve from a year ago.
29. David Peralta — Chicago Cubs
It’s still hard to believe has a 30-homer season, given how little pop he’s flashed since then.
In 2018, he hit 30 bombs in 146 games. In 570 games since, he has 44.
Last year wasn’t a great one for Peralta with the Dodgers. He posted 0.1 fWAR and an 82 wRC+ in 133 games. Both the fWAR and wRC+ were the worst marks of his career.
Generally speaking, Peralta falls in the 1.0 to 1.7 fWAR range with a wRC+ hovering around the league average.
He’s also a magnetic clubhouse personality, especially during his time in Arizona. Fans flock to him and appreciate the person he is, not to mention the player.
28. Aaron Hicks — Los Angeles Angels
The 2023 season for Hicks was a tale of two for him. With the New York Yankees, he posted a 49 wRC+ and -0.4 fWAR in 28 games. Upon his release, he ended up with the Baltimore Orioles, with whom he posted a 129 wRC+ with 1.4 fWAR in 65 games.
His Spring with the Angels has been a major success, as he’s slashing .405/.532/.703 with a 225 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances. However, it’s hard to project him much higher given the struggles his last few years in New York.
27. Eddie Rosario — Washington Nationals
The 32-year-old had a massive bounce-back campaign with the Atlanta Braves in 2023. After a 62 wRC+ in 2022, he rebounded with 21 homers and a 100 wRC+ in 142 games.
Rosario became a postseason hero for the Braves during their magical run to the World Series in 2021. That said, the regular season matters in getting to the big dance. For 162 games, Rosario is who he is.
He has a great swing and he’s given a great opportunity to mentor some young talent in the Nation’s Capital this season.
26. Stone Garrett — Washington Nationals
I was shocked to see how great Garrett was in 2023.
In 2022, he exploded onto the scene with the Arizona Diamondbacks but struggled mightily as opponents adjusted to him. In 2023, he succeeded early but exploded in an abbreviated role in the second half.
In 98 plate appearances post-All-Star break, he posted a 136 wRC+ with 12 extra-base hits.
He has tremendous power, it's just a matter of what his role will be moving forward. I assume he’s used in a true platoon capacity with one of Rosario or Joey Gallo.
25. Mitch Haniger — Seattle Mariners
Nature is healing now that Haniger is on the Mariners again.
However, he was not good in his one year with the San Francisco Giants. Injuries limited him to 61 games after injuries limited him to 57 games in 2022. He’s slashing .228/.298/.398 with 17 homers and a 93 wRC+ in those 118 games.
I’m banking on Haniger returning to form in familiar territory, but I’m not entirely convinced he has that left in the tank.
24. Mark Canha — Detroit Tigers
Canha is one of my favorite under-the-radar players in baseball.
He struggled in Spring Training this year, but he remains one of the best on-base machines in the game. Since 2019, he’s tied for 16th with a .370 OBP — better than Shohei Ohtani, Jose Altuve and Ketel Marte, among others.
While the power numbers never returned to that of his 2019 campaign, he’s still good for 35 extra-base hits and 60-plus runs batted in a year.
23. Wyatt Langford — Texas Rangers
The No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft officially made his first Opening Day roster in his first full season of pro baseball.
What’s crazy is he did this for the reigning World Series champions.
In 44 professional games across four levels in 2023, Langford slashed .360/.480/.677 with 29 extra-base hits; a level of success that’s translated to his first Spring Training.
It’s not shocking he made the MLB roster for Opening Day, given his six homers and a 199 wRC+ in 19 games.
22. Jarred Kelenic — Atlanta Braves
Kelenic exploded at the start of 2023, carrying a 132 wRC+ with 25 extra-base hits through May.
That said, he posted an 82 wRC+ with 13 extra-base hits in his final 203 plate appearances. He also missed extended time after fracturing his foot from kicking a water cooler.
With Atlanta, he’s likely to platoon with Adam Duvall, which will protect Kelenic from tough southpaws. He possesses the tools necessary to be a star, it’s just a matter of consistency now.
21. Teoscar Hernández — Los Angeles Dodgers
The veteran slugger still has light tower power, but an overabundance of swing-and-miss.
With the Dodgers, he’ll have more freedom to be himself — all-or-nothing — but that doesn’t change the fact he’s regressed each of the past few seasons.
Last year, he hit exceptionally on the road but carried a high batting average on balls in play. Presumably, getting away from Seattle should help him when he makes contact. The one unsolved question is whether his strikeout problem will worsen as he ages.
Red Sox name outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela to Opening Day roster
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