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The top 10 MLB center fielders headed into spring training 2017
The bar for 'the best in baseball' goes beyond center field when discussing Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Rob Tringali/Getty Images

The top 10 MLB center fielders headed into spring training 2017

There is very little that is as exciting as seeing a truly elite center fielder apply his craft. It is a position that has housed many of the greatest talents in the history of the game, as names such as Mays, Mantle, DiMaggio, Cobb and Griffey have made it home, and that is only the very tip of a substantially talented iceberg.

In today’s game, there continues to be a legendary performer that leads the pack at the position, in the now two-time Most Valuable Player Mike Trout making the position home. But there is also an increasingly diverse and emerging core at the position today, that is offering a diverse range of expertise in the various skills that make up an elite center fielder. From eye-popping defenders, to fence-beating power threats and base-bending speedsters, center field is still home to the usual collection of elite talents that provide some of the biggest thrills in the game today.

Here’s how the top of the pack breaks out against each other headed into 2017.

10. Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers


Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson celebrates after a game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on June 22, 2016. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 24-year-old slugger is still working on finding his consistency at the plate, but he remains a tremendous athlete and some already-realized power potential, with room for more. Pederson hit 25 homers last year, the second consecutive season he met the mark. He also upped his splits across the board, showing that there is plenty of room for him to continue to become more of a fixture in LA.

9. Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles


Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones looks on prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sept. 4, 2016 Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

While he is no longer at the annual MVP-contender level that he was at a few years ago, AJ10 has steadied out at an impressive, steady production rate the last few years. Over the last three years, Jones has hit between 27-29 home runs, 83 and 96 RBI and between a .746 and .782 OPS, which is a fairly impressive steadying point. And at only 31, there is no reason to believe that there will be any let down soon.

8. George Springer, Houston Astros 


Houston Astros right fielder George Springer will move to center field for the 2017 season.  Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With the addition of Josh Reddick, Springer will shift to the heart of the Astros’ outfield this year. However, he is the special type of athlete and talent that should be able to make the move seamlessly. Springer continued to provide strong power numbers, while playing in every game last season. While he has some rough edges to smooth over in his game (he’s drifting dangerously close to becoming a ‘true outcome’ player), at age 27 there is still plenty of time for him to become a more balanced product at the plate.

7. Adam Eaton, Washington Nationals 


Washington Nationals center fielder Adam Eaton laughs while taking batting practice during a spring training baseball workout Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

GM Mike Rizzo paid a steep price to acquire Eaton from the White Sox, sacrificing a pair of highly touted prospects. But upgrade opportunity was clear, as in return they added one of the game’s great catalysts to the top of their lineup. Eaton finished behind only two American League outfielders in WAR last year: Mike Trout and Mookie Betts. He has posted nearly identical lines at the plate over the past two years, which has averaged out as a .361 OBP, .791 OPS, 9 triples, 14 homers and 94 runs scored.

6. Jackie Bradley, Jr., Boston Red Sox


Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. bunts during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Feb. 26, 2017. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It was a tale of two halves for Bradley last season: a first half where he posted a .926 OPS, had a 29-game hitting streak and started the All-Star Game, followed a second half that posted a .233 average and saw him have only 21 extra base hit. Regardless of the fact, Bradley’s calling card has always been the exceptional glove that he possesses, and that did not waiver in the slightest. His 13 outfield assists led the Majors, while his 365 outs created led the AL. Bradley’s offensive spike may have been flukey, but his offensive production has more than reached a high enough level to support him as one of the top overall CFs today.

5. Dexter Fowler, St. Louis Cardinals 


St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dexter Fowler at bat against the New York Mets during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on March 1, 2017. Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

A year after being the top table setter in the game for the World Series champs, Fowler has pulled a reverse Jason Heyward and taken his talents down highway 55 to St. Louis this year. And what the Cardinals are set to receive is buffet of lead off talents that stands to add a jolt of life to the sometimes plodding Cardinal offense. Fowler is coming off a career year, that saw him post a .393 on-base %, as well as 45 extra base hits in 125 games. However, considering he owns a career OBP over .360 and has only once posted an offensive WAR total underneath 3.0 in the last five years, Fowler’s spike in production last year seems to be more of a player simply reaching his prime than a once-in-a-career outburst.

4. Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies


Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon watches his ball after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on May 31, 2016.  Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Say it’s just the Coors Field effect? Well, the bearded core of the Rockies outfield begs to differ. While Blackmon did lead all NL center fielders in all Triple Crown categories (.324, 29, 82), as well as doubles (35) and finished fifth in the NL in slugging % at .552, he became just as dangerous on the road as was in his home confines. Blackmon hit .335 at home, but had more extra base hits and a higher OPS on the road. Blackmon is balancing out his game and looks primed to continue his climb among the elite of the outfield.

3. Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays 


Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in the dugout before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park on Feb. 26, 2017. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Nothing seems to be outside of the reach of the dynamic Rays outfielder, who has made the impossible turn into the expected with his glove work over the past few years. Kiermaier took home his second Gold Glove in has many years in 2016, and no player in the game has a bigger impact without the bat in his hand than he does. Kiermaier was among the leaders in nearly every defensive metric again last year, which manifested itself as an MLB-best 3.0 dWAR despite missing nearly 60 games due to a broken hand. At the plate, he continued to turn his athletic skills into production as well, posting career-bests in on-base percentage (.331) home runs (12) and stolen bases (21).

2. Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates 


Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field on June 14, 2016. Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

While the decision to move Andrew McCutchen to right field has been seen as a slight to the former MVP, in all reality it is a recognition and acknowledgement of the fact that Marte has long been the best suited CF option in Pittsburgh. Maybe the most versatile outfield athlete in the game, Marte won his second Gold Glove in as many years in left field last season and could be the favorite to win the honor in center as well.  At the plate, he continued to round into one of best overall players in the game, checking in sixth in the NL in batting average last year and was runner up in stolen bases as well with 47. Along with his change of address in the field, he also looks to be moving down in Clint Hurdle’s lineup too, where his offensive production should yield more run production this year too. Marte is a star in the making.

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels


Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Center field Mike Trout in action during the game against the Houston Astros played at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Oct. 2, 2016. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Where did you think this all was headed? Trout has been the best player in the game since nearly the first moment he stepped on the field, but more than ever, he has pulled away from the pack at his home position as well. Trout took home his second MVP award in 2016, posting his fourth year of a WAR greater than 9 in the last five years and second year of meeting the elusive 10 WAR level over that same time span. Trout led the Majors in runs scored (123), on-base percentage (.441) and walks (116). Despite being so obviously avoided (and rightly so), Trout still hit .315, with 29 home runs, 100 RBI and a 174 OPS+, while also finding time to nearly join the 30-30 club for the second time in his young career as well.

Trout’s performance has defied age context and contemporary comparison at this point. The only proper way to understand how dominant of a level he is living at is to look towards the greatest hitters of all-time. For context on how dominant Trout’s reign has been, he became the first player since Babe Ruth to lead his league in WAR (by Baseball Reference’s formula) for five straight years and joined Barry Bonds as the only player ever to finish in the top two of MVP voting in five straight years. Seeing the heights that Trout can reach is truly history in the making, on an everyday basis.

Just a bit outside: AJ Pollock, Marcell Ozuna, Lorenzo Cain, Kevin Pillar

Up and Comer - Odubal Herrera, Phillies: The Phillies rebuild saw many a weathered veteran stripped away, the team’s vision for the future was able to begin to shine through last summer. And no young Phillie thrived more than Herrera did, who made his All-Star debut in the process. In his second season, the 25-year-old produced a .361 on-base %, while stealing 25 bases and upping his power with 15 home runs. Herrera stands to be an important foundation piece in the Phillies’ rebuild that is set to take place over the next two years.

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