Top 20 MLB position players for 2022 season

Age During 2022 Season: 28
2021 Statistics: .230/.322/.412 with 20 home runs, 63 RBIs, 58 walks, .734 OPS, 101 OPS+, four defensive runs saved, 20 outs above average and a 2.7 fWAR

Bryan Reynolds, Cedric Mullins, Brandon Lowe, Matt Olson and Manny Machado were among those who had better seasons than Lindor last year, but we think a major bounce-back is in store. First of all, Lindor was an excellent defender in his first season with the Mets, posting four defensive runs saved and 20 outs above average at shortstop. Secondly, after posting a .698 OPS in the first half of the season, Lindor rebounded with an .813 OPS after the All-Star Break. At the end of the year, 20 may very well feel too low for the four-time All-Star.

Age During 2022 Season: 25
2021 Statistics: .279/.352/.538 with 38 home runs, 113 RBIs, 62 walks, .890 OPS, 132 OPS+, -13 defensive saved, -13 outs above average and a 4.7 fWAR

Devers isn't going to win any Gold Glove Awards at third base, but he's one of the better overall offensive players in baseball right now. In 2021, Devers was an All-Star for the first time and won his first Silver Slugger Award. With two seasons left until free agency, the Red Sox would be wise to ink Devers to a long-term deal soon.

Age During 2022 Season: 32
2021 Statistics: .278/.350/.489 with 31 home runs, 83 RBIs, 66 walks, .839 OPS, 127 OPS+, -3 defensive runs saved, five outs above average and a 5.2 fWAR

Whatever questions there were about Altuve after he posted an underwhelming .629 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the star second basemen erased them by posting a 5.2 fWAR. in 2021. Already one of the greatest players in the history of the Astros, Altuve is probably another elite season or two away from having a legitimate Hall of Fame case.

Age During 2022 Season: 31
2021 Statistics: .255/.312/.494 with 34 home runs, 105 RBIs, 50 walks, .807 OPS, 121 OPS+, six defensive runs saved, 10 outs above average and a 4.0 fWAR

After eight seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Arenado homered 34 times and won his fifth Platinum Glove in his first season with the Cardinals. Now a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner and a six-time All-Star, Arenado has all-but assured his status as a future Hall of Famer. The only question now is where he fits into the pantheon of the greatest third basemen in MLB history.

Age During 2022 Season: 29
2021 Statistics: .295/.370/.493 with 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, 62 walks, .863 OPS, 127 OPS+, -5 defensive runs saved, -9 outs above average and a 5.2 fWAR

Bogaerts won his fourth Silver Slugger Award in 2021, homering 23 times, driving in 79 runs and posting an .863 OPS. While his defensive metrics suggest that a move away from shortstop may be best for all parties involved, Bogaerts' offensive production has allowed him to become one of the more valuable Red Sox of the last 25 years.

Age During 2022 Season: 32
2021 Statistics: .300/.393/.503 with 31 home runs, 83 RBIs, 85 walks, .896 OPS, 133 OPS+, two defensive runs saved, four outs above average and a 4.5 fWAR

While the Atlanta Braves didn't reward Freeman for making his fifth All-Star team and leading them to a World Series title, the Dodgers were happy to give him a six-year/$162 million deal. He'll join one of the deepest lineups in baseball history as he looks to cement himself as a future Hall of Famer.

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Age During 2022 Season: 23
2021 Statistics: .282/.364/.611 with 42 home runs, 97 RBIs, 62 walks, .975 OPS, 166 OPS+, -6 defensive runs saved (at shortstop), two outs above average (at shortstop) and a 6.1 fWAR

This will be lost on those who don't actually read it, but Tatis is only at No. 14 because a fractured wrist may very well cost him the first two months of the season. How could that not be factored in when projecting who will have the best season in 2022? The Padres will eagerly await the return of Tatis, though, because he's posted top four finishes in National League MVP voting in each of the last two seasons.

Age During 2022 Season: 24
2021 Statistics: .283/.394/.596 with 24 home runs, 52 RBIs, 49 walks, .990 OPS, 155 OPS+, two defensive runs saved, zero outs above average and a 4.2 fWAR

If not for Acuña tearing his ACL last July, he may very well have won the National League MVP Award and been in the top five of this list. The only reason Acuña isn't higher is because he's going to miss at least the first month of the season, and we don't know exactly how long it will take for him to return to 100%. Make no mistake, though, Acuña was playing at a Hall of Fame-caliber before his injury, and we expect him to return to that form for the Braves at some point.

Age During 2022 Season: 31
2021 Statistics: .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs, 102 RBIs, 66 walks, .873 OPS, 133 OPS+, 11 defensive runs saved, seven outs above average and a 6.6 fWAR

The Rangers were one of the most active teams this offseason, starting with luring Semien away from the Toronto Blue Jays for a seven-year/$175 million deal. There's risk in giving a seven-year deal to a player entering his age-31 season, but the front half of the deal should be very fruitful in Texas. Semien has been an American League MVP finalist in two of the last three seasons, and is arguably the best second basemen in baseball right now.

Age During 2022 Season: 30
2021 Statistics: .287/.373/.544 with 39 home runs, 98 RBIs, 75 walks, .916 OPS, 149 OPS+, 11 defensive runs saved, zero outs above average and a 5.5 fWAR

Judge played a full season in 2021 for the first time since winning American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, and the results were excellent. Judge homered 39 times, made his third All-Star team, won his second Silver Slugger Award and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. If Judge puts together another healthy campaign in 2022, he'll cash in as he can become a free agent after the season.

Age During 2022 Season: 28
2021 Statistics: .306/.394/.521 with 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, 48 walks, .915 OPS, 145 OPS+, zero defensive runs saved, -5 outs above average and a 3.7 fWAR

The 2020 World Series MVP received a 10-year/$325 million deal from the Rangers this offseason, with the team betting that he'll stay consistently healthy, which was his only problem during parts of seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Seager plays north of 140 games, he could easily win the American League MVP in his first year playing in the junior circuit.

Age During 2022 Season: 27
2021 Statistics: .279/.366/.485 with 26 home runs, 92 RBIs, 75 walks, .850 OPS, 131 OPS+, 20 defensive runs saved, 12 outs above average and a 5.8 fWAR

Concerns about his injury history may have caused some teams to be skeptical about making a decade-long commitment to Correa this offseason, but he's coming off of a campaign where he posted an .850 OPS and won the Platinum Glove Award as the top defender in the American League. Correa will make $35.1 million in his first season with the Twins, and could very well opt out of his deal and return to the free-agent market if he has a season similar to last.

Age During 2022 Season: 29
2021 Statistics: .266/.355/.538 with 36 home runs, 103 RBIs, 72 walks, .893 OPS, 141 OPS+, 10 defensive runs saved, seven outs above average and a 6.3 fWAR

Ramírez is quietly one of the best players of this era, having finished in the top three in American League MVP on three occasions, two of which he was the runner-up for. A three-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Ramírez is third among all position players in fWAR (28.0) over the last five seasons. He's probably the best third basemen in baseball right now, and if his long-term future isn't in Cleveland, there will be a slew of teams lined up to bid on his services.

Age During 2022 Season: 29
2021 Statistics: .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs, 84 RBIs, 100 walks, 1.044 OPS, 179 OPS+, -6 defensive runs saved, -6 outs above average and a 6.6 fWAR

Any thought that Harper would never put up another MVP-caliber season went out the window in 2021, as Harper led all players in baseball in doubles (42), slugging percentage (.615), OPS (1.044) and OPS+ (179). Harper became the 32nd player in MLB history to win multiple league MVPs, as he continues to establish himself as a future Hall of Famer.

Age During 2022 Season: 29
2021 Statistics: .328/.375/.536 with 28 home runs, 77 RBIs, 41 walks, .911 OPS, 146 OPS+, one defensive run saved (at shortstop), zero outs above average (at shortstop) and a 6.9 fWAR

In a season split between the Washington Nationals and the Dodgers, Turner led all position players with a 6.9 fWAR in 2021. One of the game's most complete players, Turner stole 32 bases last year, in addition to some of the other remarkable numbers listed above. With Corey Seager departing to join the Texas Rangers, Turner will shift back to shortstop in a contract year.

Age During 2022 Season: 23
2021 Statistics: .311/.401/.601 with 48 home runs, 111 RBIs, 86 walks, 1.002 OPS, 169 OPS+, two defensive runs saved, -3 outs above average and a 6.7 fWAR

In just about any other year, the staggering production that Guerrero put up in 2021 would have earned him the American League MVP. He had to settle for runner-up, but he's full stepped out of the shadow of his Hall of Fame father and emerged as one of the game's elite first basemen. He and the Blue Jays are legitimate World Series contenders.

Age During 2022 Season: 27
2021 Statistics: .257/.372/.592 with 46 home runs, 100 RBIs, 96 walks, .965 OPS, 158 OPS+ and a 5.1 fWAR

Let the record show, pitchers were not considered for this list, as we ranked the top 15 pitchers for the 2022 season last week. Ohtani, of course, is in a category of his own, but for this list, we only considered him as a hitter. That alone was enough to put him in the top five, following a year where he homered 46 times and drove in 100 runs, while leading the American League in triples and intentional walks. The Angels have two all-time players on their roster currently -- more on that in a minute.

Age During 2022 Season: 29
2021 Statistics: .264/.367/.487 with 23 home runs, 58 RBIs, 68 walks, .854 OPS, 128 OPS+, four defensive runs saved, -2 outs above average and a 3.9 fWAR

Betts is still on the right side of 30, and already is a five-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner and has two World Series rings. Betts won the American League MVP while playing for the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and it would hardly be surprising if he one day joins Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVPs in each league. Either way, the star right fielder has all but assured his place in Cooperstown.

Age During 2022 Season: 23
2021 Statistics: .313/.465/.534 with 29 home runs, 95 RBIs, 145 walks, .999 OPS, 175 OPS+, four defensive runs saved, five outs above average and a 6.6 fWAR

Even as the Nationals tore down the remnants of their 2019 World Series team last summer, Soto continued to put up staggering production. En route to finishing runner-up in National League MVP voting, Soto walked a staggering 145 times, the most of any player in the sport since Barry Bonds set the single-season walks record in 2004. He probably won't end up winning seven National League MVPs or becoming the Home Run King, but Soto has a lot of qualities that remind you of a young Bonds.

Age During 2022 Season: 30
2021 Statistics: .333/.466/.624 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs, 27 walks, 1.090 OPS, 195 OPS+, -4 defensive runs saved, one out above average and a 2.3 fWAR

A right calf injury limited Trout to only 36 games last season, but he put up his usual staggering production in his limited action during the 2021 season. The three-time American League MVP is already one of the greatest center fielders in MLB history, and the best player in the history of the Angels -- all before his age-30 season.