Best Player on Every MLB Team: AL Central
While we wait for the 2 months until Spring Training to pass, let's take a look at the best player on every team in AL Central.
Minnesota Twins - Pablo López
After being traded for Luis Arraez last offseason, Pablo López started his Twins tenure on a great note. López threw 194 innings in 2023, recording a 3.66 ERA and a career-high 234 strikeouts (third in MLB). To plead López’s case as one of the best starters in baseball, he had a 3.00 xERA compared to a 3.66 ERA, making him one of the unluckiest starters in all of MLB. With Sonny Gray heading to St. Louis, Pablo López will be the ace of the Twins staff for the next few years.
Detroit Tigers - TBD
With Eduardo Rodriguez heading southwest to Arizona and Michael Lorenzon being traded to the Phillies at the deadline, it’s unclear who the Tigers best player is at the moment. The Tigers signed pitchers Andrew Chafin, Kenta Maeda, and Jack Flaherty this offseason to add depth to their young squad, so we’ll have to wait to see who the best player is.
Cleveland Guardians - José Ramírez
The Guardians won 16 fewer games in 2023 than in 2022, but that didn’t mean that José Ramírez didn’t have another elite season. Ramírez was named an All-Star for the fifth time in his 11-year career and finished top 10 in AL MVP voting for the fourth straight season. Part of the reason why Ramírez is so good is because he can hit the ball out of the park while barely striking out. Ramírez had just a 10.6 strikeout percentage (98th percentile) and hit 24 home runs. With Ramírez under contract with the Guardians through 2028, Guardians fans will enjoy building their franchise around him.
Chicago White Sox - Luis Robert Jr.
The Chicago White Sox are a mess, but they have some pieces that their front office can use in trades to help rebuild. Their most significant piece right now is Luis Robert Jr. Since debuting in 2020, Robert is batting .279 with 74 home runs and 84 doubles in 1,403 at-bats. In 2023, Robert hit a career-high 38 home runs, the third-best in the American League. He also plays excellent defense in center field along with his elite power. Robert placed in the 98th percentile in range and 95th percentile in fielding run value. Whether Robert Jr. is a White Sox or on a different team, he’ll be considered one of the best young players in baseball.
Kansas City Royals - Bobby Witt Jr.
In a year where the Royals won less than 60 games, Bobby Witt Jr. continued to impress. In Witt Jr.’s second MLB season, he recorded a 120 OPS+ in 694 plate appearances and hit 30 home runs. Witt Jr. had an impressive 49 stolen bases and placed in the 94th percentile in fielding run value. It’s safe to say that Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the best all-around players in MLB, and he’s only 23!