MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” Rankings Entering 2017

Each year I compile MLB Network’s “Top 100 Players Right Now” which airs annually before the regular season begins.

Beginning in 2014, I decided to supplement those rankings by giving you a place to find all of the Top 10 Right Now positional rankings as well. I continued with the 2015 rankings as well as those last year for 2016.

I’ll add to this post as the different positional episodes air on MLB Network.

On Sunday, January 15, 2017, the rankings for both Third Basemen and Second Basemen were revealed. January 22nd will feature Starting Pitchers and Left Fielders. The remaining episode order will be put here as they are announced.

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Third Basemen Right Now”

1. Josh Donaldson — Toronto Blue Jays
2. Kris Bryant — Chicago Cubs
3. Manny Machado — Baltimore Orioles
4. Nolan Arenado — Colorado Rockies
5. Justin Turner — Los Angeles Dodgers
6. Adrian Beltre — Texas Rangers
7. Kyle Seager — Seattle Mariners
8. Jung Ho Kang — Pittsburgh Pirates
9. Anthony Rendon — Washington Nationals
10. Evan Longoria — Tampa Bay Rays

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Third Basemen is Mike Lowell). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics.

Kenny: Bryant, Donaldson, Machado, Arenado, Beltre, K. Seager, Turner, Longoria, Kang, Todd Frazier (CHW)

Lowell: Donaldson, Bryant, Arenado, Machado, Beltre, K. Seager, Alex Bregman (HOU), Longoria, Turner, Jake Lamb (ARI)

Vince Gennaro (President of SABR): Donaldson, Bryant, Arenado, Machado, K. Seager, Beltre, Turner, Longoria, Lamb, Jose Ramirez (CLE)

Bill James: Donaldson, Bryant, Arenado, K. Seager, Machado, Longoria, Beltre, Turner, Martin Prado (MIA), Rendon

Mike Petriello: Bryant, Donaldson, Machado, Arenado, Beltre, Turner, K. Seager, Longoria, Lamb, Rendon

Social Media Fan Vote: Arenado, Bryant, Machado, Donaldson, Beltre, Turner, K. Seager, Ramirez, Maikel Franco (PHI), Longoria

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now”

1. Jose Altuve — Houston Astros
2. Robinson Cano — Seattle Mariners
3. Daniel Murphy — Washington Nationals
4. Dustin Pedroia — Boston Red Sox
5. Ian Kinsler — Detroit Tigers
6. Jason Kipnis — Cleveland Indians
7. D.J. LeMahieu — Colorado Rockies
8. Brian Dozier — Minnesota Twins
9. Logan Forsythe — Tampa Bay Rays
10. Ben Zobrist — Chicago Cubs

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Second Basemen is Harold Reynolds). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Altuve, Cano, Murphy, Pedroia, Dozier, Kinsler, Kipnis, Zobrist, LeMahieu, Rougned Odor (TEX)

Gennaro: Altuve, Murphy, Dozier, Kinsler, LeMahieu, Cano, Pedroia, Zobrist, Kipnis, Neil Walker (NYM)

James: Altuve, Cano, Kinsler, Pedroia, Murphy, Dozier, LeMahieu, Kipnis, Zobrist, JONATHAN VILLAR (MIL)

Reynolds: Cano, Altuve, Pedroia, Odor, Kinsler, Kipnis, Dozier, Murphy, LeMahieu, Jonathan Schoop (BAL)

Kenny: Altuve, Cano, Murphy, Kinsler, Pedroia, LeMahieu, Dozier, Kipnis, Zobrist, VILLAR

Social Media Fan Vote: Altuve, Cano, Kipnis, Javier Baez (CHC), Pedroia, Kinsler, Dozier, Murphy, Schoop, Joe Panik (SFG)

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Staring Pitchers Right Now”

1. Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
3. Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants
4. Jake Arrieta - Chicago Cubs
5. Jon Lester - Chicago Cubs
6. Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
7. Chris Sale - Boston Red Sox
8. Johnny Cueto - San Francisco Giants
9. Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
10. Zack Greinke - Arizona Diamondbacks

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Starting Pitchers is John Smoltz). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Kershaw, Scherzer, Syndergaard, Sale, Kluber, Bumgarner, Justin Verlander (DET), Yu Darvish (TEX), Cueto, Kyle Hendricks (CHC)

Gennaro: Kershaw, Syndergaard, Scherzer, Cueto, Bumgarner, Sale, Verlander, Rick Porcello (BOS), Kluber, Lester

James: Kershaw, Scherzer, Kluber, Lester, Bumgarner, Verlander, Arrieta, Sale, Cueto, David Price (BOS)

Smoltz: Kershaw, Scherzer, Verlander, Hendricks, Lester, Sale, Syndergaard, Bumgarner, Kluber, Porcello (Smoltz’s 11–20: Cueto, Sanchez, Arrieta, Carlos Martinez (STL), J.A. Happ (TOR), Tanner Roark (WAS), Price, Cole Hamels (TEX), Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Jacob deGrom (NYM))

Kenny: Kershaw, Kluber, Lester, Syndergaard, Bumgarner, Scherzer, Cueto, Sale, Verlander, Greinke

Social Media Fan Vote: Kershaw, Kluber, Bumgarner, Syndergaard, Scherzer, Sale, Verlander, Aaron Sanchez (TOR), Hendricks, Arrieta

MLB Network’s “Top 10 Left Fielders Right Now”

1. RYAN BRAUN — MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2. Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets
3. Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Khris Davis - Oakland Athletics
5. Michael Brantley - Cleveland Indians
6. Randal Grichuk - St. Louis Cardinals
7. Justin Upton - Detroit Tigers
8. Carlos Beltran - Houston Astros
9. Brett Gardner - New York Yankees
10. Adam Duvall - Cincinnati Reds

***Note: Kyle Schwarber didn’t have enough plate appearances to qualify for the Shredder’s ranking.***

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Left Fielders is Eric Byrnes). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Cespedes, Marte, BRAUN, J. Upton, Marcell Ozuna (MIA), Alex Gordon (KC), Kyle Schwarber (CHC), Gardner, K. Davis, Andrew Benintendi (BOS)

Gennaro: Cespedes, Marte, BRAUN, Schwarber, Beltran, Ozuna, K. Davis, J. Upton, Gardner, Brantley

James: BRAUN, Cespedes, Marte, K. Davis, Melky Cabrera (CHW), Matt Kemp (ATL), Beltran, Nomar Mazara (TEX), Brantley, J. Upton

Byrnes: Cespedes, Marte, BRAUN, J. Upton, K. Davis, Ozuna, Grichuk, Duvall, Beltran, Gordon (Byrnes admitted live that he’d at least put Braun at #2 after looking at it more closely, maybe even #1.)

Kenny: Marte, Cespedes, BRAUN, J. Upton, Benintendi, Brantley, Gordon, K. Davis, Ozuna, Grichuk

Social Media Fan Vote: Cespedes, Marte, Brantley, Gordon, BRAUN, Kemp, Jayson Werth (WAS), Melvin Upton Jr. (TOR), Me. Cabrera, K. Davis

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now”

1. Corey Seager - Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
3. Carlos Correa - Houston Astros
4. Trea Turner - Washington Nationals
5. Brandon Crawford - San Francisco Giants
6. Trevor Story - Colorado Rockies
7. Aledmys Diaz - St. Louis Cardinals
8. Xander Bogaerts - Boston Red Sox
9. Troy Tulowitzki - Toronto Blue Jays
10. Addison Russell - Chicago Cubs

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Shortstops is Bill Ripken). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Seager, Lindor, Correa, Crawford, Bogaerts, Russell, Turner, Andrelton Simmons (LAA), A. Diaz, Story

Gennaro: Seager, Lindor, Correa, Crawford, Russell, Bogaerts, Turner, A. Diaz, Simmons, Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM)

James: Seager, Correa, Bogaerts, Lindor, Elvis Andrus (TEX), Crawford, Russell, Jean Segura (SEA), Tulowitzki, Simmons

Ripken: Seager, Lindor, Correa, Crawford, Bogaerts, Tulowitzki, Russell, Story, Turner, Segura

Kenny: Seager, Correa, Lindor, Crawford, Turner, Bogaerts, Russell, Simmons, Story, A. Diaz

Social Media Fan Vote: Lindor, Seager, Crawford, Correa, Bogaerts, Turner, Russell, Simmons, Tulowitzki, Didi Gregorius (NYY)

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 First Basemen Right Now”

1. Paul Goldschmidt — Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Miguel Cabrera — Detroit Tigers
3. Joey Votto — Cincinnati Reds
4. Anthony Rizzo — Chicago Cubs
5. Freddie Freeman — Atlanta Braves
6. Edwin Encarnacion — Cleveland Indians
7. Matt Carpenter -St. Louis Cardinals
8. Brandon Belt — San Francisco Giants
9. Chris Davis — Baltimore Orioles
10. Jose Abreu — Chicago White Sox

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the First Basemen is Sean Casey). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Rizzo, Mi. Cabrera, Votto, Goldschmidt, Freeman, Belt, Carpenter, Encarnacion, Carlos Santana (CLE), Hanley Ramirez (BOS)

Gennaro: Votto, Rizzo, Mi. Cabrera, Goldschmidt, Freeman, Belt, Carpenter, Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo (BAL), Wil Myers (SD)

James: Votto, Goldschmidt, Mi. Cabrera, Rizzo, Freeman, H. Ramirez, Encarnacion, Belt, Abreu, Myers

Casey: Rizzo, Votto, Goldschmidt, Mi. Cabrera, Freeman, Encarnacion, H. Ramirez, Abreu, Carpenter, Eric Hosmer (KC)

Kenny: Goldschmidt, Mi. Cabrera, Votto, Freeman, Rizzo, Carpenter, Encarnacion, Belt, Abreu, H. Ramirez

Social Media Fan Vote: Rizzo, Goldschmidt, Votto, Mi. Cabrera, Freeman, Hosmer, Adrian Gonzalez (LAD), Abreu, Encarnacion, H. Ramirez

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Fielders Right Now”

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Right Fielders is Carlos Peña). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

1. Mookie Betts — Boston Red Sox
2. Bryce Harper — Washington Nationals
3. Nelson Cruz - Seattle Mariners
4. Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
5. J.D. Martinez - Detroit Tigers
6. Jose Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays
7. Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies
8. Hunter Pence - San Francisco Giants
9. Josh Reddick - Houston Astros
10. Stephen Piscotty - St. Louis Cardinals

Petriello: Betts, Harper, Stanton, Kole Calhoun (LAA), Gregory Polanco (PIT)*, Pence, Cruz, Martinez, Gonzalez, Piscotty

Gennaro: Betts, Harper, Stanton, Gonzalez, Cruz, Calhoun, Bautista, Martinez, Pence, Piscotty

James: Betts, Harper, Gonzalez, Cruz, Piscotty, Jay Bruce (NYM), Pence, Stanton, Bautista, Max Kepler (MIN)

Peña: Betts, Harper, Cruz, Martinez, Stanton, Bautista, Gonzalez, Piscotty, Calhoun, Polanco*

Kenny: Harper, Betts, Stanton, Cruz, Martinez, Pence, Polanco*, Gonzalez, Bautista, Jason Heyward (CHC)

Social Media Fan Vote: Betts, Harper, Stanton, Heyward, Calhoun, Bautista, Martinez, Bruce, Gonzalez, Pence

It was announced after filming of this episode that Gregory Polanco will be shifting to left field in 2017

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Relief Pitchers Right Now”

1. Andrew Miller - Cleveland Indians
2. Aroldis Chapman - New York Yankees
3. Zach Britton - Baltimore Orioles
4. Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Wade Davis - Chicago Cubs
6. Mark Melancon - San Francisco Giants
7. Seung Hwan Oh - St. Louis Cardinals
8. Dellin Betances - New York Yankees
9. Jeurys Familia - New York Mets
10. Will Harris - Houston Astros

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Relief Pitchers is Dan Plesac). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Miller, Jansen, Chapman, Britton, Betances, Cody Allen (CLE), Craig Kimbrel (BOS), Kelvin Herrera (KC), Oh, Edwin Diaz (SEA)

Gennaro: Britton, Miller, Jansen, Chapman, Oh, Betances, Melancon, Familia, Diaz, Davis

James: Britton, Miller, Jansen, Melancon, Chapman, Oh, Familia, Kimbrel, Alex Colome (TB), Betances

Plesac: Britton, Miller, Chapman, Familia, Jansen, Melancon, Allen, Kimbrel, Betances, Roberto Osuna (TOR)

Kenny: Miller, Britton, Jansen, Chapman, Davis, Melancon, Betances, Oh, Diaz, Ken Giles (HOU)

Social Media Fan Vote: Britton, Miller, Osuna, Derek Law (SF), Jansen, Chris Devenski (HOU), Herrera, Melancon, Diaz, Chapman

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Centerfielders Right Now”

1. Mike Trout — Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2. Christian Yelich — Miami Marlins
3. George Springer — Houston Astros
4. Jackie Bradley, Jr. — Boston Red Sox
5. A.J. Pollock — Arizona Diamondbacks
6. Adam Eaton — Washington Nationals
7. Lorenzo Cain — Kansas City Royals
8. Charlie Blackmon — Colorado Rockies
9. Kevin Kiermaier — Tampa Bay Rays
10. Dexter Fowler — St. Louis Cardinals

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Centerfielders is Preston Wilson). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Trout, Yelich, Kiermaier, Joc Pederson (LAD), Fowler, Pollock, Eaton, Blackmon, Springer, Billy Hamilton (CIN)

Gennaro: Trout, Pollock, Fowler, Bradley Jr., Odubel Herrera (PHI), Eaton, Yelich, Blackmon, Springer, Kiermaier

James: Trout, Blackmon, Yelich, Bradley Jr., Springer, Fowler, Herrera, Kiermaier, Pederson, Pollock

Wilson: Trout, Yelich, Springer, Cain, Bradley Jr., Blackmon, Eaton, Fowler, Adam Jones (BAL), Ender Inciarte (ATL)

Kenny: Trout, Bradley Jr., Pederson, Springer, Yelich, Eaton, Blackmon, Fowler, Pollock, Herrera

Social Media Fan Vote: Trout, Kevin Pillar (TOR), Kiermaier, Springer, Eaton, Inciarte, Jones, Fowler, Bradley Jr., Yelich

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MLB Network’s “Top 10 Catchers Right Now”

1. Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
2. Jonathan Lucroy - Texas Rangers
3. Yasmani Grandal - Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Wilson Ramos - Tampa Bay Rays
5. Russell Martin - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
7. Francisco Cervelli - Pittsburgh Pirates
8. J.T. Realmuto - Miami Marlins
9. Salvador Perez - Kansas City Royals
10. Welington Castillo - Baltimore Orioles

The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides six additional lists: One from Brian Kenny, and one from an MLB Network analyst (who for the Catchers is Dave Valle). They also reveal the Top 10 lists of all the members of what they call the “Sabermetrics Super Panel” which includes sabermetric pioneer Bill James, President of SABR Vince Gennaro, and Mike Petriello of MLB.com.

Also, for the first time, they allowed fans to vote on social media and compiled their rankings into a Top 10.

Here are all of the individual Top 10’s with the first mention of a player in italics and any Brewers players bolded.

Petriello: Posey, Grandal, Lucroy, Gary Sanchez (NYY), Molina, Brian McCann (HOU), Willson Contreras (CHC), Martin, S. Perez, Realmuto

Gennaro: Posey, Lucroy, Molina, Grandal, Realmuto, Contreras, Martin, S. Perez, Sanchez, Ramos

James: Posey, Ramos, Molina, Lucroy, S. Perez, Martin, Grandal, Sanchez, Contreras, Realmuto

Valle: Posey, Lucroy, Molina, Grandal, Ramos, S. Perez, Sanchez, McCann, Martin, Contreras

Kenny: Posey, Lucroy, Grandal, Molina, Sanchez, S. Perez, Martin, Stephen Vogt (OAK), Realmuto, Contreras

Social Media Fan Vote: Posey, S. Perez, Sanchez, Molina, Sandy Leon (BOS), Contreras, Roberto Perez (CLE), Martin, Ramos, Matt Wieters (FA)