Ranked: The Top Players by Position Going Into the 2020 Baseball Season

The following players are, who I think, the best at their position heading into the 2020 MLB season.

Catcher: J.T. Realmuto- Philadelphia Phillies

Over the past few seasons, Realmuto has become one of the top catchers in the game. The top offensive catcher over the last 3 seasons, he has hit for a batting average of .276, 63 home runs, 222 Runs Batted In, and has scored 234 runs. He is also very good behind the plate, throwing runners out at a 36.21 percent clip over his career. Realmuto can do it all and is the best catcher in the game headed into the 2020 season.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Gary Sanchez- New York Yankees

3. Yasmani Grandal- Chicago White Sox

4. Willson Contreras- Chicago Cubs

5. Salvador Perez- Kansas City Royals

6. Mitch Garver- Minnesota Twins

7. Will Smith- Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Yadier Molina- St. Louis Cardinals

9. Wilson Ramos- New York Mets

10. Carson Kelly- Arizona Diamondbacks

Catchers who just missed the list: Christian Vazquez- Boston Red Sox, Omar Narvaez- Milwaukee Brewers, Roberto Perez- Cleveland Indians, Jorge Alfaro- Miami Marlins

First Base: Freddie Freeman- Atlanta Braves

Freddie Freeman has been one of the most consistent players ever since he entered the league in 2010. Over his career, Freeman has a .292 Batting Average, 227 Home Runs, 805 Runs Batted In, and an On Base Percentage of .379. You can almost count on every year for Freeman to be an all star type player for the Braves and the best first basemen in the league.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Pete Alonso- New York Mets

3. Anthony Rizzo- Chicago Cubs

4. Paul Goldschmidt- St. Louis Cardinals

5. Jose Abreu- Chicago White Sox

6. Matt Olson- Oakland A's

7. Max Muncy- Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Carlos Santana- Cleveland Indians

9. Josh Bell- Pittsburgh Pirates

10. Rhys Hoskins- Philadelphia Phillies

First Basemen who just missed the list: Luke Voit- New York Yankees, Yuli Gurriel- Houston Astros, Eric Hosmer- San Diego Padres, Christian Walker- Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan McMahon- Colorado Rockies, Miguel Sano-Minnesota Twins

Second Base: Ozzie Albies- Atlanta Braves

One of the best young players in the game, Albies broke out last season hitting .295, with 24 Home Runs, driving in 86 runs, and he stole 15 bases. We haven't seen the best of Albies yet and he is only 23 years old. I am excited to see what Albies does this season and beyond.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Jose Altuve- Houston Astros

3. Keston Hiura- Milwaukee Brewers

4. Whit Merrifield- Kansas City Royals

5. DJ LeMahieu- New York Yankees

6. Jonathan Villar- Miami Marlins

7. Mike Moustakas- Cincinnati Reds

8. Brandon Lowe- Tampa Bay Rays

9. Tommy La Stella- Los Angeles Angels

10. Cavan Biggio- Toronto Blue Jays

Second Basemen who just missed the list: Jonathan Schoop- Detroit Tigers, Kolten Wong- St. Louis Cardinals, Luis Arraez- Minnesota Twins, Garrett Hampson- Colorado Rockies

Third Base: Nolan Arenado- Colorado Rockies

One of the most consistent players in the league season after season, Arenado is the best at his position without a doubt. The seven time gold glove award winner is the best defensive third basemen that I have ever seen and his hitting stats are just as good. Over the past 5 seasons, Arenado has hit 199 Home Runs, driving in 621 runs, and a Batting Average around .295. It amazes me that he has not won an MVP yet, but he certainly deserves one.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Alex Bregman- Houston Astros

3. Anthony Rendon- Los Angeles Angels

4. Rafael Devers- Boston Red Sox

5. Jose Ramirez- Cleveland Indians

6. Kris Bryant- Chicago Cubs

7. Matt Chapman- Oakland A's

8. Eugenio Suarez- Cincinnati Reds

9. Yoan Moncada- Chicago White Sox

10. Manny Machado- San Diego Padres

Third Basemen who just missed the list: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- Toronto Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson- Minnesota Twins, Justin Turner- Los Angeles Dodgers, Eduardo Escobar- Arizona Diamondbacks, Gio Urshela- New York Yankees

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor- Cleveland Indians

Mr. Smile, as he is known around the league, continues to get better and better each season. Even after missing games last season because of calf and ankle injuries, Lindor still put up 32 Home Runs with a Batting Average of .284. If he stays healthy for a full 162 game season, he may crack close to 40 Home Runs with 95 Runs Batted In. He is the best shortstop in the game and that is not going to change anytime soon.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Trevor Story- Colorado Rockies

3. Fernando Tatis Jr.- San Diego Padres

4. Gleyber Torres- New York Yankees

5. Javier Baez- Chicago Cubs

6. Trea Turner- Washington Nationals

7. Xander Bogaerts- Boston Red Sox

8. Carlos Correa- Houston Astros

9. Bo Bichette- Toronto Blue Jays

10. Tim Anderson- Chicago White Sox

Shortstops who just missed the list: Marcus Semien- Oakland A's, Corey Seager- Los Angeles Dodgers, Jorge Polanco- Minnesota Twins, Ahmed Rosario- New York Mets, Paul Dejong- St. Louis Cardinals

Outfielders: Mike Trout- Los Angeles Angels

The best player of this generation, Trout is a generational talent. Over his luxurious career, Trout has hit 285 Home Runs, has hit for a Batting Average of .305, an On Base Percentage of .419, and an OPS right at 1.000. There is nothing that Trout can't do on a baseball field. It is always a treat getting to watch him play, knowing we will see him in Cooperstown one day.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Ronald Acuna Jr.- Atlanta Braves

3. Christian Yelich- Milwaukee Brewers

4. Cody Bellinger- Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts- Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Juan Soto- Washington Nationals

7. Austin Meadows- Tampa Bay Rays

8. George Springer- Houston Astros

9. Eloy Jimenez- Chicago White Sox

10. Aaron Judge- New York Yankees

Outfielders who just missed the list: Bryce Harper- Philadelphia Phillies, Charlie Blackmon- Colorado Rockies, Starling Marte- Arizona Diamondbacks, Eddie Rosario- Minnesota Twins, Victor Robles- Washington Nationals

Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz- Minnesota Twins

Nelson Cruz has gotten better and better at the late stage of his career. Since his age 33 season, Cruz has hit at least 37 Home Runs and has driven in 100 or more runs 4 out of the last 7 seasons. Cruz is as good of a bet as any to continue hitting bombs in the windy Minnesota air this season.

How the Rest Rank:

2. J.D. Martinez- Boston Red Sox

3. Yordan Alvarez- Houston Astros

4. Giancarlo Stanton- New York Yankees

5. Jorge Soler- Kansas City Royals

6. Nick Castellanos- Cincinnati Reds

7. Khris Davis- Oakland A's

8. Kyle Schwarber- Chicago Cubs

9. Shohei Ohtani- Los Angeles Angels

10. Yoenis Cespedes- New York Mets

Designated Hitters who just missed the list: Edwin Encarnacion- Chicago White Sox, Miguel Cabrera- Detroit Tigers

Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom- New York Mets

I can't say enough about how great Jacob deGrom is. Two seasons ago, he won the Cy Young with only getting 10 wins, compared to 9 losses. Last season, it was much of the same with 11 wins to 8 losses, also taking home the award for a second straight season. It is the other pitching stats that separates deGrom from the pack. deGrom owns a career 2.62 Earned Run Average over 1101.2 career innings pitched and has a career 1.053 WHIP. In 2018, he had a 1.70 ERA, with a .912 WHIP and a FIP of 1.98, that's ridiculous!!! With very little run support from his team, deGrom makes up for it by mowing hitters down with his elite pitch arsenal. If he was on any other team (sorry Met fans), he would have up to around 20 wins a season.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Max Scherzer- Washington Nationals

3. Gerrit Cole- New York Yankees

4. Justin Verlander- Houston Astros

5. Walker Buehler- Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Jack Flaherty- St. Louis Cardinals

7. Shane Bieber- Cleveland Indians

8. Charlie Morton- Tampa Bay Rays

9. Mike Clevinger- Cleveland Indians

10. Stephen Strasburg- Washington Nationals

Starting Pitchers who just missed the list: Luis Castillo- Cincinnati Reds, Chris Paddack- San Diego Padres, Blake Snell- Tampa Bay Rays, Patrick Corbin- Washington Nationals, Zack Greinke- Houston Astros, Clayton Kershaw- Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Nola- Philadelphia Phillies

Relief Pitchers: Josh Hader- Milwaukee Brewers

Josh Hader has established himself as an elite closer the past two seasons, but specifically last season. Hader had a 2.62 ERA with 138 strikeouts and 37 saves. With his brown locks blowing in the wind and him looking down on hitters, "Haderade" is a dominant force to be reckoned with in the 9th inning.

How the Rest Rank:

2. Aroldis Chapman- New York Yankees

3. Kirby Yates- San Diego Padres

4. Roberto Osuna- Houston Astros

5. Brad Hand- Cleveland Indians

6. Kenley Jansen- Los Angeles Dodgers

7. Taylor Rogers- Minnesota Twins

8. Liam Hendriks- Oakland A's

9. Ken Giles- Toronto Blue Jays

10. Raisel Iglesias- Cincinnati Reds

Relief Pitchers who just missed the list: Edwin Diaz- New York Mets, Craig Kimbrel- Chicago Cubs, Archie Bradley- Arizona Diamondbacks, Sean Doolittle- Washington Nationals, Hansel Robles- Los Angeles Angels

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed making these rankings for the season. It will be interesting to see if the top players in the game live up to my expectations, or if some regress.