MLB Networtk Radio on Sirius/XM has been doing a run-down of the Top 10 players at each position. A familiar name has appeared on this list.
He’s listed as the 10th of 10 names, but Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte was named as one of the best CF’s in baseball for 2018 today.
The @MLBNetworkRadio experts have spoken - it's the TOP TEN center fielders in Major League Baseball heading into the 2018 season, with literally no surprise at the top spot... but plenty after
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 21, 2018
Who'd we miss? Who's too high? Too low? Debate the experts all day at (866) MLB-ON-XM pic.twitter.com/b4y99bXqZs
This chart is the composite result of a survey conducted among all of their on-air hosts on the baseball channel – some long-time baseball commentators, some former executives, and several former players.
It isn’t necessarily their read on the best overall, but these represent those they expect to have the best seasons in 2018.
Happily, defensive stars Kiermaier and Inciarte didn’t take a complete back seat to the rest on the list… but it was close.
In some commentary about his rationale, one host noted this evening that his list down-graded A.J. Pollock specifically because he’s had great difficulty in just staying on the field over the past few seasons, with Games Played numbers of 112, 12, 157, and 75 over the past 4 seasons.
That’s one area where Inciarte improved in 2017, reaching 158 games played. He did miss a few more in 2016 (131 overall), but he’s been both consistently good and consistently healthy enough to be a mainstay for the Braves – and combining for a 6.6 fWAR rating since being traded to Atlanta.
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Clearly, this list is ‘Mike Trout – then everybody else’, though there are a couple of surprises on it… and one surprise for his absence.
- Tommy Pham came out of nowhere to bust a 5.9 fWAR season for the Cardinals. Now we’ll have to see if he can repeat it… which explains why he ranked only 6th.
- Byron Buxton is 5th, which is high, but the voters are drinking his koolaid and hoping he finally puts his hype together into offensive performance.
- Chris Taylor of the Dodgers. He was 4th overall as a CF last year, but it seems his time could be split a bit with some infield work. Still, he should have been mentioned.
Other notable omissions: Jackie Bradley Jr and Billy Hamilton.
Next: Hats off to MLB for this Gesture
But our Gold Glove winner made the list – and deservedly so, as he was 10th for CF’s last season, and at least two players ahead of him – Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen – won’t even be playing the same position this coming year.