If you happen to have a look at an inventory of the highest left fielders in 2024, you’ll discover a number of the finest hitters in baseball proper now. You would possibly even discover some gamers who will sooner or later be among the many greatest left fielders in MLB history. But when we had been going to make an inventory of the most effective left fielders for 2024, who would make the lower?
Greatest MLB Left Fielders for the 2024 Season
With so many nice hitters manning left area, limiting an inventory of the highest left fielders for 2024 to only 10 gamers is tougher than you would possibly assume.
Don’t overlook that we needed to think about every participant’s defensive expertise a bit of as effectively. Naturally, we don’t count on everyone to agree with us. Nonetheless, that didn’t cease us from rating the ten finest left fielders in 2024.
10. Lourdes Gurriel
After flying a bit of beneath the radar through the season, through the playoffs, the entire baseball world obtained to see simply how helpful Lourdes Gurriel was to the Diamondbacks final 12 months.
He set new career-highs in each doubles and homers in 2023 after which had six extra-base hits in 17 postseason video games. He in all probability isn’t going to be among the many elite left fielders within the sport. However there’s no cause why he can’t replicate final season’s success in 2024.
9. Austin Hays
After getting an all-star invitation final summer time, it’s clear that Austin Hays is a giant a part of Baltimore’s resurgence. He’s been holding it down in left area for the Orioles for the final three years and is contemporary off the most effective season of his profession.
There’s little doubt that he’ll proceed to be a dependable contributor within the Baltimore lineup in 2024 as effectively.
8. Alex Verdugo
It appears as if the Yankees are going to place Alex Verdugo in left area this season, which must be a great match for him. He figures to be one of many higher defensive left fielders in baseball and will see an uptick in his energy from enjoying at Yankee Stadium.
Even when the house runs don’t come, Verdugo has hit 30-plus doubles in three straight seasons. Plus, he’s going to be 27 on opening day, so it’s doubtless we haven’t seen the most effective of Verdugo but.
7. Christian Yelich
Sadly, Christian Yelich is way faraway from the participant he was when he took dwelling MVP honors in 2018. However even when his energy numbers are nonetheless down, he nonetheless swings a great bat.
Yelich produced an OPS of .817 final 12 months regardless of a mere 19 dwelling runs. He’s additionally averted the IL in back-to-back seasons, so even at age 32, the Brewers can count on him to be an above-average left fielder this season.
6. Steven Kwan
Simply two years into his MLB profession, Steven Kwan already has two Gold Gloves and has grow to be a fan favourite in Cleveland. In fact, his protection is arguably Kwan’s finest instrument. In any case, he has simply 11 dwelling runs over two seasons, so he’s restricted in that space in comparison with the typical left fielder.
However don’t sleep on his pace, as Kwan was in a position to contribute 36 doubles, seven triples, and 21 stolen bases final season, and there’s a lot of worth in that.
5. Evan Carter
Now we have to venture a bit of bit with Evan Carter as a result of he has simply 102 profession at-bats, and that features the playoffs. Consider he hit .300 with an OPS of .917 through the playoffs final season. His regular-season numbers had been even higher, as he hit .306 with 5 homers in simply 23 video games.
The man gained’t even flip 22 till the top of August. Admittedly, it was a small pattern measurement, however Carter has an opportunity to blossom right into a star this season.
4. Teoscar Hernandez
Including Teoscar Hernandez was a considerably underrated transfer by the Dodgers this offseason – no less than in comparison with their different additions. In any occasion, they’ve added the most effective pure energy hitters within the sport. Hernandez hit 16 dwelling runs through the shortened 2020 season and hit no less than 22 homers in each different season since 2018.
Granted, he’s going to lose some factors defensively. However Hernandez can be a two-time Silver Slugger winner who ought to have a giant 12 months contemplating the assistance he’ll have round him within the Los Angeles lineup.
3. Ian Happ
Defensively, Ian Happ is about nearly as good because it will get in left area, incomes Gold Glove honors in back-to-back seasons. The switch-hitter has additionally supplied loads of consistency within the Chicago lineup in recent times.
Happ contributed 60 extra-base hits and an OPS of .791 in 2023. For a participant with an elite glove, that’s greater than sufficient to place Happ among the many finest left fielders in baseball.
2. Brandon Nimmo
Regardless of creating into an above-average heart fielder, it appears like Brandon Nimmo might get the majority of his enjoying time in left area in 2024. There’s nothing improper with that as a result of he’ll instantly be among the many finest in baseball.
Nimmo has continued to make strides all through his profession and has completed 5 of the final six seasons with an OPS of .800 or increased. He additionally tied his career-high in doubles final season with 30 whereas setting a brand new career-high with 24 homers. Nimmo is true in his prime proper now, so whether or not he’s in left area or heart area, he’ll be an enormous asset for the Mets in 2024.
1. Randy Arozarena
Given his versatility and uncooked energy, Randy Arozarena will get a slight edge over Nimmo as the most effective left fielder in MLB proper now. Granted, he’s hit much more doubles than dwelling runs over the previous few seasons.
However Arozarena has additionally put collectively three straight 20-20 seasons. On the heels of his first all-star choice final 12 months, Arozarena appears primed for one more productive season with the Rays.
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