Predicting Individual Stat Leaders For '21 Season: Hitters

The following are my predictions for individual hitting leaders for this upcoming season. Stats included are:

H, AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB

Hits: Whit Merrifield- Royals

Merrifield led the league in hits in 2018 and 2019. Whit finished 6th in the 2020 season, collecting 70 hits in all 60 games. The Royals most consistent player season after season, Merrifield, has been a hitting machine the past three seasons. Playing in all 162 games in the 2019 season, Merrifield eclipsed 200 hits, with 206. Merrifield a career .295 hitter, is hard to bet against to lead the league in hits for another season.

My Prediction: 184 Hits

Others to Consider:

DJ LeMahieu (NYY): My Prediction-179 Hits

Trea Turner (WSH): My Prediction-176 Hits

Mookie Betts (LAD): My Prediction- 175 Hits

Freddie Freeman (ATL): My Prediction- 172 Hits

Rafael Devers (BOS): My Prediction- 170 Hits

Ozzie Albies (ATL): My Prediction- 169 Hits

Tim Anderson (CHW): My Prediction- 168 Hits

Ketel Marte (ARI): My Prediction- 167 Hits

Juan Soto (WSH): My Prediction- 167 Hits

Francisco Lindor (NYM): My Prediction- 166 Hits

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): My Prediction- 165 Hits

Jose Abreu (CHW): My Prediction- 164 Hits

Xander Bogaerts (BOS): My Prediction- 163 Hits

Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL): My Prediction- 163 Hits

David Fletcher (LAA): My Prediction- 162 Hits

Jeff McNeil (NYM): My Prediction- 162 Hits

Bo Bichette (TOR): My Prediction- 161 Hits

Charlie Blackmon (COL): My Prediction- 161 Hits

Batting Average: DJ LeMahieu- Yankees

After having an exceptional .364 batting average last season, LeMahieu is one of the best pure hitters in the game. LeMahieu has continued to hit even after his days in a Rockies uniform. It will be interesting to see how LeMahieu can follow up his batting title season. We could be looking at another batting title in LeMahieu's future.

My Prediction: .317 BA

Others to Consider:

Jeff McNeil (NYM): My Prediction- .315 BA

Juan Soto (WSH): My Prediction- .310 BA

Freddie Freeman (ATL): My Prediction- .307 BA

Alex Verdugo (BOS): My Prediction- .305 BA

Nick Madrigal (CHW): My Prediction- .303 BA

David Fletcher (LAA): My Prediction- .302 BA

Luis Arraez (MIN): My Prediction- .302 BA

Michael Brantley (HOU): My Prediction- .300 BA

Tim Anderson (CHW): My Prediction- .298 BA

Trea Turner (WSH): My Prediction- .297 BA

Mookie Betts (LAD): My Projection- .296 BA

Christian Yelich (Mil): My Prediction- .295 BA

Mike Trout (LAA): My Prediction- .295 BA

Whit Merrifield (KC): My Prediction- .294 BA

Charlie Blackmon (COL): My Prediction- .293 BA

Ketel Marte (ARZ): My Prediction- .290 BA

Runs: Mookie Betts- Dodgers

Leadoff hitters have the advantage in this statistical category. Betts is arguably the best leadoff hitter in the game and it helps that he hits in the best lineup in baseball. Betts has scored 100 or more runs since the 2016 season. Scoring 129 and 135 runs in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, I expect Betts to continue to score runs at an exceptional rate this season.

My Prediction: 123 Runs

Others to Consider:

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): My Prediction- 118 Runs

Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL): My Prediction- 112 Runs

Francisco Lindor (NYM): My Prediction- 110 Runs

Mike Trout (LAA): My Prediction- 109 Runs

Freddie Freeman (ATL): My Prediction- 106 Runs

Juan Soto (WSH): My Prediction- 104 Runs

George Springer (TOR): My Prediction- 104 Runs

Trea Turner (WSH): My Prediction- 103 Runs

Corey Seager (LAD): My Prediction- 103 Runs

Cody Bellinger (LAD): My Prediction- 102 Runs

Bo Bichette (TOR): My Prediction- 102 Runs

DJ LeMahieu (NYY): My Prediction- 101 Runs

Jose Ramirez (CLE): My Prediction- 99 Runs

Bryce Harper (PHI): My Prediction- 98 Runs

Charlie Blackmon (COL): My Prediction- 98 Runs

Tim Anderson (CHW): My Prediction- 98 Runs

Xander Bogaerts (BOS): My Prediction- 97 Runs

Trevor Story (COL): My Prediction- 96 Runs

Home Runs: Mike Trout- Angels

I had a very hard time deciding who would lead the league in home runs this season. I cannot bet against the best player of this generation to lead the league in this category, Mike Trout. Since 2017 Trout has hit at least 30 home runs. Aside from the 2016 season when he hit 29, Trout has hit 30 or more home runs every year of his career since 2012.

My Prediction: 43 Home Runs

Others to Consider:

Pete Alonso (NYM): My Prediction- 41 Home Runs

Juan Soto (WSH): My Prediction- 39 Home Runs

Joey Gallo (TEX): My Prediction-38 Home Runs

Giancarlo Stanton (NYY): My Prediction- 37 Home Runs

Bryce Harper (PHI): My Prediction- 36 Home Runs

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): My Prediction- 35 Home Runs

Nelson Cruz (MIN): My Prediction-35 Home Runs

Matt Olson (OAK): My Prediction- 35 Home Runs

Franmil Reyes (CLE): My Prediction- 34 Home Runs

Yordan Alvarez (HOU): My Prediction- 34 Home Runs

Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL): My Prediction- 33 Home Runs

Christian Yelich (MIL): My Prediction- 32 Home Runs

Manny Machado (SD): My Prediction- 32 Home Runs

Nolan Arenado (STL): My Prediction- 32 Home Runs

Jose Ramirez (CLE): My Prediction- 32 Home Runs

Luis Robert (CWS): My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

Eloy Jimenez: (CWS) My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

Aaron Judge: (NYY) My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

J.D. Martinez: (BOS) My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

Anthony Rizzo: (CHC) My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

Cody Bellinger: (LAD) My Prediction- 31 Home Runs

Mookie Betts: (LAD) My Prediction- 30 Home Runs

Francisco Lindor: (NYM) My Prediction- 30 Home Runs

Alex Bregman: (HOU) My Prediction- 30 Home Runs

Runs Batted In: Cody Bellinger- Dodgers

Overall lineup strength is the key to recognizing who can lead the league in this statistic. I had to factor in the depth and strength of each lineup. Bellinger seems like one of the most obvious candidates to lead the league in RBI. Considering Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, and Will Smith either hit in front or behind him, Bellinger is in a great spot to drive in 110 or more RBI.

My Prediction: 112 RBI

Others to Consider:

Freddie Freeman: (ATL) My Prediction- 109 RBI

Jose Abreu: (CHW) My Prediction- 108 RBI

Marcell Ozuna: (ATL) My Prediction- 107 RBI

Juan Soto: (WSH) My Prediction- 106 RBI

Mike Trout: (LAA) My Prediction- 105 RBI

Fernando Tatis Jr.: (SD) My Prediction- 103 RBI

Pete Alonso: (NYM) My Prediction- 103 RBI

Eloy Jimenez: (CHW) My Prediction- 103 RBI

Manny Machado: (SD) My Prediction- 102 RBI

Bryce Harper: (PHI) My Prediction- 101 RBI

Anthony Rendon: (LAA) My Prediction- 100 RBI

Yordan Alvarez: (HOU) My Prediction- 99 RBI

Ronald Acuna Jr: (ATL) My Prediction- 98 RBI

Jose Ramirez: (CLE) My Prediction- 98 RBI

Giancarlo Stanton: (NYY) My Prediction- 97 RBI

J.D. Martinez: (BOS) My Prediction- 96 RBI

Nolan Arenado: (STL) My Prediction- 96 RBI

Corey Seager: (LAD) My Prediction- 95 RBI

Aaron Judge: (NYY) My Prediction- 95 RBI

Christian Yelich: (MIL) My Prediction- 95 RBI

Nelson Cruz: (MIN) My Prediction- 94 RBI

Matt Olson: (OAK) My Prediction- 93 RBI

Alex Bregman: (HOU) My Prediction- 93 RBI

Mookie Betts: (LAD) My Prediction- 93 RBI

Luke Voit: (NYY) My Prediction-93 RBI

Eugenio Suarez: (CIN) My Prediction- 92 RBI

Xander Bogaerts: (BOS) My Prediction- 91 RBI

Franmil Reyes: (CLE) My Prediction- 91 RBI

Stolen Bases: Adalberto Mondesi- Royals

Mondesi stole 43 bases in 2019 and 32 bases in 2018. He led the league with 24 stolen bags in the 2020 shortened campaign. Mondesi has the best pure speed in the game and can steal bases at a very high clip.

My Prediction: 48 Stolen Bases

Others to Consider:

Trea Turner: (WSH) My Prediction- 39 Stolen Bases

Ronald Acuna Jr.: (ATL) My Prediction- 34 Stolen Bases

Myles Straw: (HOU) My Prediction- 29 Stolen Bases

Starling Marte: (MIA) My Prediction- 26 Stolen Bases

Victor Robles: (WSH) My Prediction- 25 Stolen Bases

Whit Merrifield: (KC) My Prediction- 24 Stolen Bases

Jose Ramirez: (CLE) My Prediction- 23 Stolen Bases

Fernando Tatis Jr.: (SD) My Prediction- 23 Stolen Bases

Trevor Story: (COL) My Prediction- 22 Stolen Bases

Luis Robert: (CHW) My Prediction- 22 Stolen Bases

Bo Bichette: (TOR) My Prediction- 20 Stolen Bases

Final Thoughts: Personally making these predictions is one of the most exciting things to do before the season begins. I find it fun but also challenging to predict how specific players will perform in these respective categories.

See you at the ballpark!!!

Adam