Tonight on MLB Network, they are debuting their 2020 rankings of the best players at each position, starting with center fielders at 6:00 PM and then left fielders at 7:00 PM. They have rankings from the two hosts of the show, a panel of 3-4 experts, and then “the Shredder”, which is a computer generated list based on analytics. The Shredder list is the main one used for the show, while everyone else adds their opinions throughout the program.
We recently saw rankings from Buster Olney for these two positions. He had Bryan Reynolds ranked just outside the top ten for left field, while Starling Marte ranked seventh in center field.
In last year’s show on MLB Network, Marte was ranked eighth by the Shredder. Among the five experts/hosts, he had two fifth place finishes, one seventh and two people didn’t have him in their top ten.
Here’s the list of the 26 center fielders considered for the show:
The top center fielder in the game is ________
Reply below with #Top10RightNow! pic.twitter.com/jy0Np69VHZ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 4, 2020
Here’s the list of 26 left fielders considered for the show:
This one’s tough! #Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/IANgJb7sNA
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 5, 2020
We will be posting live updates as the shows go along. Feel free to add your rankings in the comment section below.
UPDATE: They just mentioned six center fielders who missed the top ten and Marte wasn’t listed there, so it’s safe to assume that he will be a top ten for the Shredder.
Here’s the top ten as it’s being announced:
10. Brett Gardner
9. Brandon Nimmo…interesting based on those old trade rumors
8. Aaron Hicks
7. Lorenzo Cain
6. STARLING MARTE
5. Whit Merrifield
4. Ramon Laureano
3. George Springer
2. Cody Bellinger
- Mike Trout
They paused for the last two (no suspense here really) and went to the experts. Mike Petriello from MLB.com was first up and he has Marte ranked fourth.
Sarah Langs, also from MLB.com, has Marte ranked sixth.
Ben Lindbergh, who was one of last year’s experts, has Marte seventh.
Hosts reveal: Brian Kenny has Marte sixth and Eric Byrnes has him fourth.
So Marte on six lists ranks: 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 7
Left field is up now………
The “just missed” group includes Andrew McCutchen, Ryan Braun, Marcell Ozuna, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon. So Reynolds either made it, or he is severely underrated.
Here are the top ten for left field as they are announced:
10. Giancarlo Stanton
9. David Peralta
8. Kyle Schwarber
7. Joc Pederson
6. Austin Meadows
5. Mark Canha
4. Tommy Pham
3. BRYAN REYNOLDS!
2. Michael Brantley
- Juan Soto
Experts are up now:
Petriello has Reynolds sixth
Langs has Reynolds tenth
Lindbergh doesn’t have him
Kenny has Reynolds fifth
Byrnes has him sixth.
So the Shredder has him higher than everyone else, while he ranks 5, 6, 6, 10 and unranked by everyone else.
