Leandre: Top 30 right fielders entering 2024, 30-21
The latter third of right field isn't stacked, but there's some intriguing players that fell to this range.
The hallmark of a good right fielder is a strong-armed defender with plus power at the dish.
That’s not always the case, as will be exhibited in this group of 10.
Of the now nine positions ranked in this series, right field is the likely weakest of the group for reasons including, but not limited to, the infield conversion of Mookie Betts.
It’s still one of serious depth, though. With the emergence of analytics at the lower levels of the minor leagues, MLB organizations churn out quality ballplayers like nobody’s business.
Though right field is a weaker class, that statement is still true.
Let’s get into the top 30 entering 2024, shall we?
30. Nick Castellanos — Philadelphia Phillies
Castellanos would rank much higher if he was listed as a designated hitter. Unfortunately, that opportunity doesn’t exist for him because the Phillies have Kyle Schwarber rostered.
The 2023 season brought a return to familiar success at the plate for the veteran righty bat, but his defense remained a travesty.
In almost 1,300 defensive innings, he posted -9 defensive runs saved and -7 outs above average. He also ranked in the 36th percentile for arm strength.
While he hit at an above-average clip, a 109 wRC+ doesn’t cancel out the defense of that caliber. While he wasn’t last in WAR among right fielders, he ranks “last” on my top 30 list.
29. Manuel Margot — Minnesota Twins
As far as fourth outfielders go, Margot carved out a nice career for himself. However, he’s on his third team of the offseason and struggled mightily in Spring Training for both.
That said, from 2021 to 2022, he posted 3.9 fWAR and a 99 wRC+ in roughly 200 games played. During that stretch, he logged a .263 batting average with six DRS and seven OAA in right field.
Last year, he remained a quality fourth outfielder. I expect him to maintain that status as a player, eeking out Castellanos for 29th thanks to his defensive prowess.
28. Ramón Laureano — Cleveland Guardians
There was a time when Laureano was the hottest commodity on the trade market for outfielders. A few years back, he posted a 112 wRC+, a .335 xwOBA and 1.9 fWAR in 88 games.
Now, he’s tapered off as a hitter (91 wRC+) but is still a fine defender with a bazooka for an arm.
The gap between him and Castellanos is negligible at best. For me, however, I’d rather have a slightly below-average bat with fine defense than a slightly above-average bat with poor defense.
27. Blake Perkins — Milwaukee Brewers
After having what felt like a thousand center fielders in my top 30 ranking, the Brewers’ lone right fielder is the 27-year-old Perkins.
Last season, Perkins posted 1.2 fWAR and eight defensive runs saved (11 for all outfield positions). While his bat lagged with an 88 wRC+, the switch-hitter had 11 extra-base hits across 67 games.
I’m not sure what opportunity lies ahead for Perkins, if any, with the Brewers given the call-up for Jackson Chourio and the recovery of Garrett Mitchell, but he’s quality depth should they need him.
26. Dominic Fletcher — Chicago White Sox
Fletcher popped for 28 games with the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks last season, posting a 113 wRC+ and two defensive runs saved in 28 games.
However, now he’s a White Sox so he’s going to get more of an opportunity to play at the MLB level this year.
I’m not a huge believer in his offense, though his defense is solid in right. But in his 102 plate appearances, he had a .263 xwOBA with a .377 BABIP carrying him to his .301/.350/.441 slash line.
He could emerge as a quality MLB bat for the White Sox, I just can’t rank him higher until I see it.
25. Starling Marte — New York Mets
Injuries nuked any chance of Marte having a second consecutive good season with the Mets.
While I wanted to believe he could turn the corner and rebound in his age-35 season, his Spring Training tanked that cautious optimism.
Last year, Marte posted a 76 wRC+ and -0.3 fWAR in 86 games; a far cry from his 134 wRC+ and 2.9 fWAR in 2022. Because of that 2022 campaign, he sticks in the top 25, but barely.
24. Dairon Blanco — Kansas City Royals
I know the Royals added Hunter Renfroe this past offseason, but I think keeping Blanco out of the lineup in 2024 is a mistake.
He’s not star-quality, but in 138 plate appearances last year he had a 108 wRC+ with 1.1 fWAR and 24 stolen bases. Between MLB and Triple-A last year, he stole 71 bags.
He also posted four defensive runs saved and two outs above average in limited playing time in right field. He’s a good ballplayer despite entering the year as a 30-year-old rookie.
23. Jordan Walker — St. Louis Cardinals
Walker probably isn’t long for right field, but the man can mash the baseball.
I recognize that his overall offensive production mirrored Castellanos in some ways, as did his defense, but Walker’s young age and astronomical ceiling make him a much more appealing player entering the year.
As a 21-year-old rookie last year, Walker had a 116 wRC+ with 16 homers, 51 driven in and 19 doubles in 117 games. If he can build on that offensive success, he’ll keep climbing this mountain.
Though, again, I can’t emphasize enough how much he’d likely benefit from DHing right away.
22. Matt Vierling — Detroit Tigers
Vierling is a fine ballplayer, though he doesn’t do anything exceptionally well.
Last year, he had a 99 wRC+ with 1.2 fWAR and two defensive runs saved. While all of those numbers alone are fine, they combine to make a fairly average ballplayer.
Vierling did improve from his rookie campaign with the Phillies, but not by a ton in anything except jumping from -0.1 fWAR to 1.2.
21. Jesús Sánchez — Miami Marlins
Sánchez isn’t coming off of a crazy season in 2023, but I see big things from him in 2024.
With Jorge Soler departing for the Bay Area, there’s a greater need for run production in the middle of the Marlins’ order.
Enter Sánchez.
Last year, he posted career highs in average, on-base and runs batted in while also logging 125 games played and four defensive runs saved.
An outfield of him and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in right and center field makes for one that’s a work in progress but also one that’s incredibly exciting moving forward.
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