2018 Positional Top 10: Right Field
Matt Linder
Right field is an extremely top heavy position, with a clear top four players. After those guys, the final six spots are wide open. There is a combination of stars, emerging players and established veterans. Enjoy this final top 10 installment!
1. Aaron Judge
Although it was tough to rank the Yankees’ phenom atop this list after only his rookie season, that one season was impossible to ignore. Judge was the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and finished second in the AL MVP voting. The 25-year old smashed 52 home runs, second only to Giancarlo Stanton, and finished third in OBP (.422). Keep in mind, these eye-popping numbers include an extremely poor month of August. Also, despite his mountainous 6’7” 280 lb frame, Judge is a very good defensive right fielder. There is no reason to believe Judge will not produce at a superstar level again in 2018.
2. Bryce Harper
The only reason Harper is not atop this ranking is injuries. He only played in 111 games last season and also missed significant time in 2014 and 2015. When healthy, he is one of the game’s best players. In 2017, the 25 year old hit .319/.413/.595 with 29 home runs. A healthy Harper is good for baseball, so let’s hope fans get to see a full season from the star in 2018.
3. Mookie Betts
Betts is one of the most well-rounded players in baseball. He is coming off a down season in 2017, only hitting .264/.344/.459 with 24 home runs. The Red Sox right fielder is just two years removed from finishing second in the AL MVP voting. Betts is one of the best fielders in baseball, irrespective of position and is an elite base runner. I expect the 25-year old to have a bounce back 2018.
4. J.D Martinez
Martinez will be a teammate of Betts after signing a lucrative deal with Boston this off-season. He will get most of his at-bats DHing, but he is a right fielder by trade. The 30-year old had a career year in 2017, hitting .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs. If he can come anywhere close to replicating last season’s production in the upcoming years, Boston will have certainly gotten its money’s worth.
5. Avisail Garcia
The White Sox right fielder had a breakout season in 2017. Garcia hit .330/.380/.506 with 18 home runs across 136 games. The 26-year old made some adjustments in his swing in order to cut down on his strikeout rate and it showed in his performance. Although I don't expect him to hit .330 again in 2018, I would not be surprised to see his home run total climb into the mid-20s.
6. Yasiel Puig
Puig might be the most enigmatic player in baseball. His talent is unquestionable, it is just matter of harnessing it. The Dodgers’ right fielder seemed to get back on track in 2017, hitting .263/.346/.487 with a career-high 28 home runs. He also plays very good defense, thanks to his athleticism and rocket arm. Due to his overall inconsistency, there is no way of knowing whether the 27-year will put up another strong season, but I have a feeling that last year was a positive turning point in his career.
7. Domingo Santana
Santana made a strong impact in his first full big league season. The Brewers’ right fielder hit .278/.371/.505 with 30 home runs and 15 stolen bases. There are still areas for improvement for Santana. He struck out 178 times in only 151 games and his defense is not particularly good. However, he is a young player with time for development and the bat is valuable enough on its own.
8. Andrew McCutchen
The former MVP and superstar now calls San Francisco home. McCutchen rebounded nicely from a poor 2016 and hit .279/.363/.486 with 28 home runs. Although the 31-year old has not graded out well defensively over the past few seasons, I think the move from centerfield to right field should help him. I expect McCutchen to have another strong season in 2018.
9. Dexter Fowler
Fowler is one of the most consistent and underrated performers in baseball. The Cardinals’ right fielder hit .264/.363/.488 with a career-high 18 home runs. The 32-year old possesses excellent on-base skills, evidenced by his .365 career OBP. Fowler is a very good defensive right fielder due to his plus range and centerfield experience. He is not showing any signs of slowing down and I expect another solid year for Fowler.
10. Jay Bruce
After being dealt from the Mets at the 2017 trade deadline, he re-signed with New York this off-season. Between his time with the Mets and Indians, he hit .254/.324/.508 with a career-high 36 home runs. Bruce also had a very solid ALDS performance with Cleveland. The 31-year old does not provide much value on the bases or in the field, but the power was too much to leave him off this list.
Also Considered:
Mitch Haniger - Mariners
Josh Reddick – Astros
Max Kepler - Twins
**All WAR stats come from Baseball Reference
If you have any questions, comments or criticisms feel free to reach out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com
Right field is an extremely top heavy position, with a clear top four players. After those guys, the final six spots are wide open. There is a combination of stars, emerging players and established veterans. Enjoy this final top 10 installment!
 |
| Jim McIsaac - Getty Images |
1. Aaron Judge
Although it was tough to rank the Yankees’ phenom atop this list after only his rookie season, that one season was impossible to ignore. Judge was the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and finished second in the AL MVP voting. The 25-year old smashed 52 home runs, second only to Giancarlo Stanton, and finished third in OBP (.422). Keep in mind, these eye-popping numbers include an extremely poor month of August. Also, despite his mountainous 6’7” 280 lb frame, Judge is a very good defensive right fielder. There is no reason to believe Judge will not produce at a superstar level again in 2018.
 |
| UPI |
2. Bryce Harper
The only reason Harper is not atop this ranking is injuries. He only played in 111 games last season and also missed significant time in 2014 and 2015. When healthy, he is one of the game’s best players. In 2017, the 25 year old hit .319/.413/.595 with 29 home runs. A healthy Harper is good for baseball, so let’s hope fans get to see a full season from the star in 2018.
 |
| Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports |
3. Mookie Betts
Betts is one of the most well-rounded players in baseball. He is coming off a down season in 2017, only hitting .264/.344/.459 with 24 home runs. The Red Sox right fielder is just two years removed from finishing second in the AL MVP voting. Betts is one of the best fielders in baseball, irrespective of position and is an elite base runner. I expect the 25-year old to have a bounce back 2018.
 |
| MLB.com |
4. J.D Martinez
Martinez will be a teammate of Betts after signing a lucrative deal with Boston this off-season. He will get most of his at-bats DHing, but he is a right fielder by trade. The 30-year old had a career year in 2017, hitting .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs. If he can come anywhere close to replicating last season’s production in the upcoming years, Boston will have certainly gotten its money’s worth.
 |
| Winslow Townson - Getty Images |
5. Avisail Garcia
The White Sox right fielder had a breakout season in 2017. Garcia hit .330/.380/.506 with 18 home runs across 136 games. The 26-year old made some adjustments in his swing in order to cut down on his strikeout rate and it showed in his performance. Although I don't expect him to hit .330 again in 2018, I would not be surprised to see his home run total climb into the mid-20s.
 |
| Richard Mackson - USA TODAY Sports |
6. Yasiel Puig
Puig might be the most enigmatic player in baseball. His talent is unquestionable, it is just matter of harnessing it. The Dodgers’ right fielder seemed to get back on track in 2017, hitting .263/.346/.487 with a career-high 28 home runs. He also plays very good defense, thanks to his athleticism and rocket arm. Due to his overall inconsistency, there is no way of knowing whether the 27-year will put up another strong season, but I have a feeling that last year was a positive turning point in his career.
 |
| Benny Sieu - USA TODAY Sports |
7. Domingo Santana
Santana made a strong impact in his first full big league season. The Brewers’ right fielder hit .278/.371/.505 with 30 home runs and 15 stolen bases. There are still areas for improvement for Santana. He struck out 178 times in only 151 games and his defense is not particularly good. However, he is a young player with time for development and the bat is valuable enough on its own.
 |
| Patrick Smith - Getty Images |
8. Andrew McCutchen
The former MVP and superstar now calls San Francisco home. McCutchen rebounded nicely from a poor 2016 and hit .279/.363/.486 with 28 home runs. Although the 31-year old has not graded out well defensively over the past few seasons, I think the move from centerfield to right field should help him. I expect McCutchen to have another strong season in 2018.
 |
| Getty Images |
9. Dexter Fowler
Fowler is one of the most consistent and underrated performers in baseball. The Cardinals’ right fielder hit .264/.363/.488 with a career-high 18 home runs. The 32-year old possesses excellent on-base skills, evidenced by his .365 career OBP. Fowler is a very good defensive right fielder due to his plus range and centerfield experience. He is not showing any signs of slowing down and I expect another solid year for Fowler.
 |
| Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports |
10. Jay Bruce
After being dealt from the Mets at the 2017 trade deadline, he re-signed with New York this off-season. Between his time with the Mets and Indians, he hit .254/.324/.508 with a career-high 36 home runs. Bruce also had a very solid ALDS performance with Cleveland. The 31-year old does not provide much value on the bases or in the field, but the power was too much to leave him off this list.
Also Considered:
Mitch Haniger - Mariners
Josh Reddick – Astros
Max Kepler - Twins
**All WAR stats come from Baseball Reference
If you have any questions, comments or criticisms feel free to reach out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com
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