Catcher: Brian McCann, Houston Astros.
Brian McCann has been worth every penny of his big contract.
2017 Season: 5 HR, 18 RBI, .281/.381/.461, 1.1 WAR.
While McCann isn’t a surprise in that he is a non-established name breaking out, in his first season with the Houston Astros, McCann has exceeded expectations, leading AL catchers in WAR with 1.1. His .281 AVG would be his highest since 2009, and his OBP his highest since 2006. McCann is also on pace for 24 home runs, proving that his Yankee power spike (69 home runs in three years) was not just a product of the short porch in right field.
First Base: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals. Eric Thames, Milwaukee Brewers.
Zimmerman 2017 Season: 13 HR, 34 RBI, .393/.432/.820, 2.1 WAR.
Thames 2017 Season: 13 HR, 25 RBI, .333/.439/.744, 1.8 WAR
Last season, in his first year as a first baseman, the wheels fell out from under Zimmerman, as he hit a career-low .218/.272/.370 in 115 games, and was worth -1.1 WAR for the season. After talking with Daniel Murphy over the offseason, Zimmerman, who already had one of baseball’s hardest hit ball rates in baseball last season, began to put the ball in the air more with a higher launch angle, and the results have been drastic. Despite playing with Bryce Harper, Zimmerman would probably be the NL MVP if the season ended today, leading the league in all three Triple Crown categories, hits, SLG, and OPS. After the Brewers non-tendered 2016 NL home run leader Chris Carter to sign Thames to a three-deal to play first base out of the Korean Baseball Organization, many fans were skeptical. All Thames has done since returning to America is rake, leading many to accuse him of taking PEDs. In his first 32 games back stateside, Thames has already hit 13 HR (including 10 in his first 21 games, a Brewers record) and is currently on pace for 62 for the season.
Second Base: Starlin Castro, New York Yankees.
2017 Season: 6 HR, 21 RBI, .353/.393/.543, 1.4 WAR
Last season, Castro’s first with the Yankees, his power numbers spiked, with 21 HR and 70 RBI, at the expense of 118 strikeouts to only 24 walks, and a .300 OBP. This season, Castro’s power numbers are still on last year’s pace (6 HR, 21 RBI) but he has drastically increased his plate discipline (8 walks already this season, a third of last year’s total) and is currently hitting .354 as the Yankees primary three-hitter, which would be by far a career high, as would his .393 OBP. All of last season, Castro was worth 1.3 WAR because of his lack of on-base skills, a total he has already eclipsed this season, leading the Yankees to a surprise first-place start.
Shortstop: Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds.
2017 Season: 2 HR, 13 RBI, .350/.442/.580, 1.9 WAR
If you had to guess what shortstop was leading was leading the position in WAR by 0.6 in its “golden age,” Cozart would not have been likely to be on your list. Yet so far, Cozart is on top of the leaderboard, leading the position in all three of AVG, OBP, and SLG, as well as OPS. Cozart, who’s previous career highs were .258/.310/.459, is on pace to decimate these numbers in 2017, as his bat appears to be catching up to his glove after he set a career high with 16 HR in 2016.
Third Base: Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds.
2017 Season: 7 HR, 22 RBI, .316/.395/.579, 2.3 WAR
Surprised to see two Reds on this list? Suarez is not only leading third baseman in WAR but is leading the entire NL in the stat. Defensively, he is leading the NL with 0.8 Defensive WAR and is second at the position at fielding percentage. On offense, he has done a little bit of everything, and after a breakout 2016 where he hit 21 HR, has risen his AVG, OBP, and SLG to turn him into one of the position’s elite all-around player, and currently ranks in the top five amongst third baseman in all three categories.
Left Field: Michael Conforto, New York Mets.
2017 Season: 8 HR, 21 RBI, .337/.430/.652, 1.2 WAR
After finding himself in a bench role behind Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, and Yoenis Cespedes after spring training, Conforto has taken advantage of injuries on the Mets roster and thrived. He is already halfway towards his total of last season’s 42 RBI (accumulated in 109 games) is ¾ of the way to his career high of 12 home runs, and has drastically improved his plate discipline, with a 15:23 walk to strikeout ratio. Conforto has tripled his 2016 WAR total (0.4) this season and is on pace to shatter his career highs of .270/.335/.506 as he has settled into becoming the middle of the lineup hitter the Mets always pegged him to be.
Center Field: Kevin Pillar, Toronto Blue Jays.
2017 Season: 4 HR, 9 RBI, .295/.437/.468, 0.9 WAR
Already known as one of the best defensive players in all of baseball, Pillar is on this list because of how he has elevated his offensive game for a Blue Jays team that has desperately needed it. Coming into 2017, Pillar’s career highs were .278/.314/.399, all of which he has currently bested. His .814 OPS would be a career high by over 100 points, and Pillar is also on pace to hit a career-high 19 home runs, besting his previous total by seven. If Pillar can combine this kind of offensive output with his incredible defensive ability, he will instantly become one of baseball’s best all-around players.
Right Field: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees.
2017 Season: 13 HR, 28 RBI, .317/.413/.760, 2.3 WAR
In his rookie season, Judge has shattered the already high expectations the New York media has placed on him. He is leading all of baseball with 13 HR and 2.5 WAR and has raised his AVG almost 140 points, his OBP 150 points, and his SLG by 560 points from his 2016 debut. The biggest improvement in Judge has been using all sides of the field, making a shift difficult for the opposition, and significantly improving his strikeout to walk rate from 4.67: 1 to 2:1. In 27 games last season, Judge struck out 42 times and walked 9 times; his strikeouts are down to 32 in 29 games, and his walks are up to 16. In the same frame, his home run total his tripled from 4 to 13, and his WAR has gone from a negative value, -0.4, to the best in baseball.
Right Handed Starter: Mike Leake, St. Louis Cardinals
2017 Season: 4-1, 40.1 IP, 1.79 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 27 Strikeouts, 1.9 WAR
Leake has always been known as a solid innings eater, averaging 191 innings and 31 starts with from 2012-2016, albeit with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.264 WHIP. Leake’s previous career-best was a 3.37 ERA, a mark he is currently set to shatter with an NL-best 1.79 total. Leake is also leading the MLB with a 2.53 FIP and is doing so by excelling at keeping the ball in the park, giving up only 0.2 HR/9.
Left-Handed Starter: Jason Vargas, KC Royals
2017 Season: 4-1, 37.2 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 35 Strikeouts, 2.0 WAR
From 2015-2016, Vargas made a combined 12 starts due to injuries. Finally healthy this season, Vargas has excelled, leading the AL with a 1.19 ERA, and a 347 ERA+. Vargas is excelling by setting a career high with a 5.0 K: BB ratio, and striking out batters at a career-high rate (8.4 K/9) and walking them at a career-low rate (1.7 BB/9). Like Leake, Vargas has also been able to keep the ball in the park, with a career low 0.2 HR/9 rate, which has allowed him to compensate for a two-seam fastball that averages 86.11 MPH.
Relief Pitcher: Greg Holland, Colorado Rockies
2017 Season: 0-0, 14 SV, 15.0 IP, 1.20 ERA, 0.867 WHIP, 19 Strikeouts, 0.8 WAR
After missing all of 2016 due to Tommy John Surgery, the Rockies took a chance on Holland this offseason, signing him to a one-year, $7 million dollar contract with incentives. Originally unsure if Holland would be their closer this season, the former Royal grabbed the role and has thrived, leading baseball with 14 saves and games finished, and only giving up two runs, and zero home runs despite playing his games in Coors Field.
