With the 2013 regular season approaching, it seemed fitting to rank today’s best offensive players in the National League.
Offense is more than just swinging the bat and hitting. Offense factors in contact, power, consistency, speed, and discipline. Offense can be reflected in many statistics, like home runs, stolen bases, and walks. These are just a few of the statistics factored into determining these rankings.
Age and the history of a player is a good reflection of where the player has been and where they are going. Some players could be in their prime, veterans could be on their last years or rookies could have caught the world by storm once and could be facing the sophomore slump and some just defy the odds. When determining these rankings, I have looked beyond measurements of defense. With that said…
Just missed the cut: Jason Heyward (Braves), Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers), Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies)
10. Justin Upton (Atlanta Braves) Age: 25
2012 Season:
.280/.355/.430 (Batting Average/On Base Percentage/Slugging Percentage), 107 runs scored, 17 home runs, 67 runs batted in, 18 stolen bases, 63 walks/121 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.278/.357/.475, 97 runs scored, 24 home runs, 80, runs batted in, 18 stolen bases, 68 walks/154 strikeouts
For the first time in Upton’s major league career, he will be on the same team as his older brother, B.J., and this could be the start of big things for both of them. The 25-year old outfielder was traded from the Diamondbacks and has a fresh start. The presence of B.J. around Justin should help straighten out his fluctuating career. Every other season of Upton’s six year career has been a success and now with his new environment, and maybe some friendly competitive sibling rivalry, Justin can finally figure everything out and be back in MVP discussions like in 2011.
9. Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals) Age: 20
2012 Season:
.270/.340/.477, 98 runs scored, 22 home runs, 59 runs batted in, 18 stolen bases, 56 walks/120 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.270/.340/.477, 114 runs scored, 26 home runs, 69 runs batted in, 21 stolen bases, 65 walks/140 strikeouts
The 2012 Rookie of the Year was on the baseball radar for years, even before he was drafted, and will now have his first full season in the major leagues. The 20-year old outfielder will be learning left field and showed improvement at the plate at the end of the 2012 season. Pitchers figured out how to pitch to the young five-tool outfielder during the season but he adjusted and should be able to do so throughout his career. He’s got a high ceiling and a lot of eyes on him but he has handled any ‘clown questions’ in stride.
8. Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) Age: 23
2012 Season:
.290/.361/.608, 75 runs scored, 37 home runs, 86 runs batted in, 6 stolen bases, 46 walks/143 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.270/.350/.553, 86 runs scored, 40 home runs, 101 runs batted in, 7 stolen bases, 65 walks/188 strikeouts
This young outfielder has gradually improved nearly all of his statistics since debuting in 2010. It would be easy to expect another improving season in his career but it will be a bigger challenge than it was in previous years. With the recent roster overhaul, Stanton is left with a much weaker lineup where he will be the sole power source. An increase in his walks could be expected as teams will avoid supplying the pitch to his 500-foot home run power. If he changes teams before the season ends, he could move up in ranking and in quality of team.
7. Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals) Age: 33
2012 Season:
.295/.379/.497, 95 runs scored, 27 home runs, 102 runs batted in, 4 stolen bases, 75 walks/132 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.313/.387/.536, 106 runs scored, 29 home runs, 109 runs batted in, 12 stolen bases, 66 walks/116 strikeouts
The 33-year old outfielder has spent the last three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and has been a very reliable and consistent offensive presence. He has hit at least 20 home runs in his last five seasons and has a career .313 average. He is going to be the big run producer and with his past few seasons, there’s a good chance he'll do well.
6. David Wright (New York Mets) Age: 30
2012 Season:
.306/.391/.492, 91 runs scored, 21 home runs, 93 runs batted in, 15 stolen bases, 81 walks/112 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.301/.381/.506, 101 runs scored, 26 home runs, 105 runs batted in, 21 stolen bases, 79 walks/130 strikeouts
With David Wright’s 7-year contract extension, he is likely going to spend the rest of his career as a New York Met. As the face of the franchise, he has become the core piece of their future. The Mets all-time hit record holder rebounded from an injury in 2011 with a successful 2012 campaign. He appears to be becoming a dependable bat and improved most of his offensive numbers and should expect to maintain this consistency.
5. Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants) Age: 25
2012 Season:
.336/.408/.549, 78 runs scored, 24 home runs, 103 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, 69 walks/96 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.314/.380/.503, 81 runs scored, 24 home runs, 100 runs batted in, 2 stolen bases, 62 walks/97 strikeouts
The 2012 NL MVP has become an efficient and reliable offensive threat for the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. He made an outstanding comeback season following his season-ending knee injury in 2011 that limited him to 45 games. His numbers have improved each year and could easily contend for batting titles and possibly another MVP award. The only hindrance could be his primary time at catcher, a position known for taking significant wear and tear on the body. Outside of the 2011 season, he has shown durability so there is a chance he may move up the ranking sooner than later.
4. Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers) Age: 28
2012 Season:
.303/.367/.538, 74 runs scored, 23 home runs, 69 runs batted in, 9 stolen bases, 40 walks/103 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.295/.352/.501, 98 runs scored, 27 home runs, 95 runs batted in, 28 stolen bases, 53 walks/153 strikeouts
When money is being spent in the way the Los Angeles Dodgers did this offseason, the expectations are huge. Matt Kemp will be a key piece of any efforts to be a contender this season. Recovering from shoulder surgery, it will be worth watching to see if there is any decrease in his offensive numbers. His recent reputation has seen a progressive increase in his statistics and with a full season featuring Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, the pressure is on for Kemp to be a productive force on the bases and with the bat.
3. Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) Age: 29
2012 Season:
.337/.474/.567, 59 runs scored, 14 home runs, 56 runs batted in, 5 stolen bases, 94 walks/85 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.316/.415/.553, 95 runs scored, 30 home runs, 102 runs batted in, 9 stolen bases, 95 walks/125 strikeouts
The 29-year old Canadian first baseman has been one of the best offensive players in baseball recently. He exhibited an amazing eye and hand-eye coordination with his on base percentage of the last three seasons led the league and he reached a .474 on base percentage last season. He led the league in walks the last two seasons. He needed knee surgery during the 2012 season and showed notably diminished power as he didn’t hit a home run after returning from knee surgery (35 games). It didn’t disrupt his ability to get on base though, with a .469 on base percentage in those games. His primary offense is his ability to get on base but he will be a big part of the Reds’ run production.
2. Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates) Age: 26
2012 Season:
.327/.400/.553, 107 runs scored, 31 home runs, 96 runs batted in, 20 stolen bases, 70 walks/132 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.290/.374/.484, 102 runs scored, 23 home runs, 83 runs batted in, 28 stolen bases, 79 walks/121 strikeouts
Despite 20 losing seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen has found a way to be a positive through the negatives. In 2012, McCutchen had his breakout season, leading the National League with 194 hits and finishing second for the batting title with a .327 average. With each year since he debuted in 2009, his power continues growing and he hit a career-high 31 home runs in 2012. This dual-threat on offense finished all of his four seasons with at least 20 stolen bases and now appears to be at least a 20-20 threat.
1. Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers) Age: 29
2012 Season:
.319/.391/.595, 108 runs scored, 41 home runs, 112 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases, 63 walks/128 strikeouts
162-Game Average:
.313/.374/.568, 113 runs scored, 37 home runs, 118 runs batted in, 23 stolen bases, 56 walks/126 strikeouts
A two-time 30-30 player, Ryan Braun is the best offensive player in the National League. He finished all but one season of his six year career with an average below .300 and less than 30 home runs. He led the National League with 41 home runs and is the ninth player in major league history to have a season with at least 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases. His offense is effective in making consistent contact with power and the ability to steal bases efficiently. At 29, Braun is expected to continue to be one of the most effective and impactful offensive players in baseball.
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