(Audacy) As we race toward the 2022 MLB season, here's Audacy Sports' countdown of the 10 best left fielders in the sport for this upcoming season.
10. AJ Pollock, Los Angeles Dodgers
AJ Pollock is one of the best left fielders in baseball right now.(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Age during 2022 season: 34
2021 statistics: .297/.355/.536 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 30 walks, .892 OPS, 137 OPS+, three defensive runs saved, zero outs above average and a 3.0 fWAR
The book on Pollock has always been that he isn't a player who's going to play 155 games a year, but when he plays, he's really productive. It was true during his seven seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it proved to be true when he posted a 3.0 fWAR in his third season with the Dodgers, his highest single-season total since 2015. Pollock can opt out of his contract after this season or return for a fifth season with the Dodgers at $10 million.
9. Eloy Jiménez, Chicago White Sox
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 25
2021 statistics: .249/.303/.437 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, 16 walks, .740 OPS, 100 OPS+, one defensive run saved, one out above average and a 0.2 fWAR
A torn left pectoral muscle limited Jiménez to just 55 games a season ago, but that came after he won a Silver Slugger award during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He may never compete for the league lead in on-base percentage, but Jiménez could very well approach 40 home runs for the White Sox if he's healthy for the entirety of the 2022 campaign.
8. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 30
2021 statistics: .248/.362/.373 with nine home runs, 51 RBIs, 70 walks, .736 OPS, 99 OPS+, -1 defensive runs saved, two outs above average and a 1.5 fWAR
Yelich won the National League MVP in 2018 and finished as the runner-up in 2019 despite a broken kneecap limiting him to only 130 games. However, since then, the three-time Silver Slugger award winner Yelich has slashed .234/.360/.392. He has continued to walk at a high clip, but after homering 44 times in 489 at-bats in 2019, he has homered just 21 times in 599 at-bats over the last two seasons. If Yelich can rediscover his power stroke in 2022, the Brewers will be a legitimate World Series contender.
7. Michael Brantley, Houston Astros
Elsa/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 35
2021 statistics: .311/.362/.437 with eight home runs, 47 RBIs, 33 walks, .799 OPS, 119 OPS+, two defensive runs saved, zero outs above average and a 2.1 fWAR
One of the most underrated players of his era, Brantley made his fifth All-Star team in 2021 as he continues to hit at a high clip. Despite some injury-riddled seasons in Cleveland, Brantley will surpass 1,600 career hits during the 2022 campaign. Even though he'll turn 35 in May, we wouldn't bet against him getting to 2,000 hits before his career is finished.
6. Joey Gallo, New York Yankees
Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 28
2021 statistics: .199/.351/.458 with 38 home runs, 77 RBIs, 111 walks, .808 OPS, 121 OPS+, three defensive runs saved (in left field), zero outs above average (in left field) and a 3.5 fWAR
Here's a guarantee -- no one will be happy with Gallo's ranking. Some will point to a batting average below the Mendoza Line as a reason that even in an era in which the metric is less valued, Gallo is ranked too high. With that said, he did lead the AL with 111 walks in 2021 while homering 38 times and playing well in both corner outfield spots in a season split between the Texas Rangers and the Yankees. Gallo was much better in Texas than New York last season, so it will be interesting to see how he will perform in his first full season as a Yankee, which also happens to be a contract year.
5. Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: .274/.356/.459 with 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, 56 walks, .815 OPS, 131 OPS+, seven defensive runs saved (in left field), zero outs above average (in left field) and a 3.3 fWAR
After a historic postseason run that saw him homer 10 times en route to the Rays winning the 2020 AL pennant, Arozarena won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2021, his first full MLB season. Additionally, he graded out well defensively, cementing his place as one of the best young outfielders in baseball.
4. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 29
2021 statistics: .266/.374/.554 with 32 home runs, 71 RBIs, 64 walks, .928 OPS, 148 OPS+, -5 defensive runs saved, -6 outs above average and a 3.1 fWAR
Schwarber responded to being non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs after the 2020 season by putting together his first career All-Star campaign in 2021, which he split between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. Schwarber parlayed that into a four-year, $79-million deal with Philadelphia, where he'll be reunited with hitting coach Kevin Long and join a loaded lineup that will also include Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Relamuto.
3. Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 30
2021 statistics: .265/.353/.481 with 25 home runs, 73 RBIs, 62 walks, .835 OPS, 124 OPS+, -1 defensive runs saved (in left field), zero outs above average (in left field) and a 3.6 fWAR
While we initially had Bryant on our countdown of the top third basemen for the 2022 season, that was before he signed a seven-year, $182-million deal with Colorado, where it appears he'll see his largest role in left field. Bryant isn't the same player he was at the outset of his career, but he provides tremendous defensive flexibility and should get a boost at the plate from playing 81 home games a year at Coors Field.
2. Jesse Winker, Seattle Mariners
Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today SportsAge during 2022 season: 28
2021 statistics: .305/.394/.556 with 24 home runs, 71 RBIs, 53 walks, .949 OPS, 140 OPS+, -5 defensive runs saved, -7 outs above average and a 3.2 fWAR
A desire to slash payroll -- and any ability to compete -- from the Reds turned into the Mariners' gain. A first-time All-Star in 2021, Winker homered 24 times, drove in 71 runs and posted a .949 OPS in 110 games. The Mariners hope he's one of the missing pieces that helps them to return to the postseason for the first time since 2001.
1. Tyler O'Neill, St. Louis Cardinals
Quinn Harris/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs, 80 RBIs, 38 walks, .912 OPS, 150 OPS+, 11 defensive runs saved, four outs above average and a 5.4 fWAR
O'Neill being at the top of this list might surprise some, but he was one of the most complete players in baseball a season ago. In addition to homering 30 times and posting a .912 OPS, O'Neill won his second consecutive Gold Glove award. O'Neill finished eighth in NL MVP voting in 2021, and the Cardinals hope he continues to establish himself as one of the senior circuit's top players.
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