By Ranking the top 100 players in Major League Baseball isn’t easy. There are a plethora of talented players in the game right now on top of them having dramatically different positions on the field.
This task is something that MLB Network is attempting to do as spring training starts in just a couple of weeks and Opening Day shortly following. They released players 81-100 on Tuesday night and the Cleveland Guardians did have some representation on their list.
Josh Naylor was ranked as the 96th -best player in baseball heading into the 2024 season.
Jul 14, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor (22) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Without seeing the full 100-player list, this ranking already seems questionable for a player of Naylor’s caliber. The 26-year-old finished last season with career highs across the board. He had a slash line of .308/.354/.439, a .843 OPS, and also finished in the 88th percentile in outs above average.
Those are certainly some strong numbers for a player who barely cracked the list. Some familiar names to Guardians fans who were on the list ahead of Naylor are Dylan Cease (92), Nolan Jones, (87), and J.D. Martinez (85).
This isn’t been the first time that MLB Network has disrespected Naylor on one of their ranking lists. They omitted him from their top 10 first baseman list early this offseason which is still a controvertible decision.
Fans collectively have questioned the rankings that MLB Network has been releasing all offseason. Just scroll through the comments on X it won’t take long to find someone who disagrees with the order.
Even the Guardians’ X account chimed in on their displeasure.
Naylor is the type of player who feeds off the underdog mentality. Hopefully, this will just fuel an All-Star season for the first baseman.
