MLB Best Tools 2022: Managers, Scouts & Executives Vote On Baseball’s Best Talent
Image credit: Freddie Freeman (Photo By Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images Via Getty Images)
The 2022 rookie class is one of the strongest in memory.
It’s also one of the toolsiest.
A total of four rookies finished top three in a Best Tools category in the American or National league this season. In a testament to the forecasting skill of minor league managers, all four players won the same category as prospects last season.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was voted Fastest Baserunner in the AL this season, after taking that category—plus four others—in the Double-A Texas League a year ago.
Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez finished third in AL voting for both Fastest Baserunner and Most Exciting Player, the latter of which he won in the High-A Northwest League last year.
In the NL, Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz drew acclaim for Best Infield Arm and Braves center fielder Michael Harris II for Best Defensive Outfielder. Each won that category in a minor league in 2021, Cruz in the Double-A Eastern League and Harris in the High-A South Atlantic League.
Each year, Baseball America distributes Best Tools ballots to every MLB team to be completed by managers, coaches, scouts or front office executives.
| Category | American League | National League |
| Best Hitter | Yordan Alvarez, Astros | Freddie Freeman, Dodgers |
| Best Power | Aaron Judge, Yankees | Pete Alonso, Mets |
| Best Bunter | Cedric Mullins, Orioles | Victor Robles, Nationals |
| Best Strike-Zone Judgment | Yandy Diaz, Rays | Juan Soto, Padres |
| Best Hit-And-Run Artist | David Fletcher, Angels | Jose Iglesias, Rockies |
| Best Baserunner | Jose Ramirez, Guardians | Mookie Betts, Dodgers |
| Fastest Baserunner | Bobby Witt Jr., Royals | Trea Turner, Dodgers |
| Most Exciting Player | Shohei Ohtani, Angels | Trea Turner, Dodgers |
| Best Pitcher | Justin Verlander, Astros | Sandy Alcantara, Marlins |
| Best Fastball | Justin Verlander, Astros | Zack Wheeler, Phillies |
| Best Curveball | Justin Verlander, Astros | Max Fried, Braves |
| Best Slider | Andres Muñoz, Mariners | Sandy Alcantara, Marlins |
| Best Changeup | Shohei Ohtani, Angels | Devin Williams, Brewers |
| Best Control | Justin Verlander, Astros | Aaron Nola, Phillies |
| Best Pickoff Move | Robbie Ray, Mariners | Max Fried, Braves |
| Best Reliever | Emmanuel Clase, Guardians | Josh Hader, Padres |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Jose Trevino, Yankees | JT Realmuto, Phillies |
| Best Defensive 1B | Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays | Freddie Freeman, Dodgers |
| Best Defensive 2B | Jonathan Schoop, Tigers | Tommy Edman, Cardinals |
| Best Defensive 3B | Matt Chapman, Blue Jays | Nolan Arenado, Cardinals |
| Best Defensive SS | Andrew Velazquez, Angels | Dansby Swanson, Braves |
| Best Infield Arm | Matt Chapman, Blue Jays | Manny Machado, Padres |
| Best Defensive OF | Byron Buxton, Twins | Mookie Betts, Dodgers |
| Best Outfield Arm | Aaron Hicks, Yankees | Mookie Betts, Dodgers |
| Best Manager | Dusty Baker, Astros | Buck Showalter, Mets |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Best Hitter
1. Yordan Alvarez, Astros
2. Luis Arraez, Twins
3. Rafael Devers, Red Sox
Best Power
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Yordan Alvarez, Astros
3. Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Best Bunter
1. Cedric Mullins, Orioles
2. Nicky Lopez, Royals
3. Andres Gimenez, Guardians
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Yandy Diaz, Rays
2. Alex Bregman, Astros
3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. David Fletcher, Angels
2. Elvis Andrus, Athletics
3. Luis Arraez, Twins
Best Baserunner
1. Jose Ramirez, Guardians
2. Shohei Ohtani, Angels
3. Marcus Semien, Rangers
Fastest Baserunner
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
2. Byron Buxton, Twins
3. Jorge Mateo, Orioles
Most Exciting Player
1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels
2. Byron Buxton, Twins
3. Julio Rodriguez, Mariners
Best Pitcher
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Shane McClanahan, Rays
3. Dylan Cease, White Sox
Best Fastball
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
3. Clay Holmes, Yankees
Best Curveball
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Shane McClanahan, Rays
3. Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Best Slider
1. Andres Muñoz, Mariners
2. Dylan Cease, White Sox
3. Alek Manoah, Blue Jays
Best Changeup
1. Shohei Ohtani*, Angels
2. Kevin Gausman*, Blue Jays
3. Kendall Graveman, White Sox
* Splitter instead of changeup
Best Control
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Corey Kluber, Rays
3. Shane McClanahan, Rays
Best Pickoff Move
1. Robbie Ray, Mariners
2. Zach Plesac, Guardians
3. Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Best Reliever
1. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
2. Jorge Lopez, Twins
3. Clay Holmes, Yankees
Best Defensive C
1. Jose Trevino, Yankees
2. Christian Vazquez, Astros
3. Austin Hedges, Guardians
Best Defensive 1B
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
2. Ty France, Mariners
3. Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles
Best Defensive 2B
1. Jonathan Schoop, Tigers
2. Andres Gimenez, Guardians
3. Trevor Story, Red Sox
Best Defensive 3B
1. Matt Chapman, Blue Jays
2. Josh Donaldson, Yankees
3. Jose Ramirez, Guardians
Best Defensive SS
1. Andrew Velazquez, Angels
2. Carlos Correa, Twins
3. Jorge Mateo, Orioles
Best Infield Arm
1. Matt Chapman, Blue Jays
2. Carlos Correa, Twins
3. Jonathan Schoop, Tigers
Best Defensive OF
1. Byron Buxton, Twins
2. Michael A. Taylor, Royals
3. Kevin Kiermaier, Rays
Best Outfield Arm
1. Aaron Hicks, Yankees
2. Ramon Laureano, Athletics
3. Adolis Garcia, Rangers
Best Manager
1. Dusty Baker, Astros
2. Kevin Cash, Rays
3. Brandon Hyde, Orioles
The Astros keep churning out victories, both on the field and in player development
The faces change. The results do not.
The Astros won the 2017 World Series and played for a championship in 2019 and 2021. In between, Houston reached the American League Championship Series in 2018 and 2020.
Even as stars like Gerrit Cole, George Springer and Carlos Correa have departed as free agents over the years, the Astros have kept right on rolling.
In 2022, Houston is once again an AL power.
The reasons are myriad, but it helps that Yordan Alvarez has become perhaps the most dangerous offensive force in the AL and that a 39-year-old Justin Verlander has pitched like a Cy Young Award winner in his first post-Tommy John surgery season.
Yordan Alvarez
Best Hitter (#1)
Best Power (#2)
Best Strike-Zone Judgment (#3)
Justin Verlander
Best Pitcher (#1)
Best Fastball (#1)
Best Curveball (#1)
Best Control (#1)
Alex Bregman
Best Strike-Zone Judgment (#2)
Dusty Baker
Best Manager (#1)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Best Hitter
1. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Best Power
1. Pete Alonso, Mets
2. Austin Riley, Braves
3. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Best Bunter
1. Victor Robles, Nationals
2. Trent Grisham, Padres
3. Daulton Varsho, D-backs
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Juan Soto, Padres
2. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
3. Max Muncy, Dodgers
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Jose Iglesias, Rockies
2. Miguel Rojas, Marlins
3. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
Best Baserunner
1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
2. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
3. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Marlins
Fastest Baserunner
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers
2. Oneil Cruz, Pirates
3. Tyler O’Neill, Cardinals
Most Exciting Player
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers
2. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
3. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Best Pitcher
1. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
2. Max Fried, Braves
3. Corbin Burnes, Brewers
Best Fastball
1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies
2. Carlos Rodon, Giants
3. Ryan Helsley, Cardinals
Best Curveball
1. Max Fried, Braves
2. Aaron Nola, Phillies
3. David Robertson, Phillies
Best Slider
1. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
2. Max Scherzer, Mets
3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies
Best Changeup
1. Devin Williams, Brewers
2. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
3. Pablo Lopez, Marlins
Best Control
1. Aaron Nola, Phillies
2. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
3. Miles Mikolas, Cardinals
Best Pickoff Move
1. Max Fried, Braves
2. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
3. Patrick Corbin, Nationals
Best Reliever
1. Josh Hader, Padres
2. Edwin Diaz, Mets
3. Ryan Helsley, Cardinals
Best Defensive C
1. JT Realmuto, Phillies
2. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
3. Will Smith, Dodgers
Best Defensive 1B
1. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
3. Christian Walker, D-backs
Best Defensive 2B
1. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
2. Jake Cronenworth, Padres
3. Brendan Rodgers, Rockies
Best Defensive 3B
1. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates
3. Manny Machado, Padres
Best Defensive SS
1. Dansby Swanson, Braves
2. Miguel Rojas, Marlins
3. Willy Adames, Brewers
Best Infield Arm
1. Manny Machado, Padres
2. Oneil Cruz, Pirates
3. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Best Defensive OF
1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
2. Harrison Bader*, Cardinals
3. Michael Harris II, Braves
* Traded to Yankees, Aug. 2
Best Outfield Arm
1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
3. Hunter Renfroe, Brewers
Best Manager
1. Buck Showalter, Mets
2. Craig Counsell, Brewers
3. Dave Roberts, Dodgers
Stars and depth help the Dodgers dominate both NL competition and Best Tools voting
Great teams are composed of great players.
And great players tend to catch the attention of MLB managers, who for 33 consecutive seasons have cast votes in Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey.
Some of the toolsiest teams in Best Tools balloting history are obvious.
- The mid-1990s Braves and their rotation headed by Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
- The late ’90s Yankees dynasty led by homegrown stars Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams.
- The audaciously talented 1997 and ’98 Mariners, with Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez all at the peak of their powers.
In the future, we may look back at the 2022 Dodgers in a similar light. Led by superstars Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, Los Angeles could seemingly do no wrong this season—and that includes Best Tools voting.
The trio of Betts, Freeman and Turner combined to win seven National League Best Tools categories. Clayton Kershaw, Will Smith, Max Muncy and manager Dave Roberts finished top three in various other categories.
All told, Dodgers occupied 14 of the 75 total places—nearly 20%—of this year’s National League Best Tools winners.
Mookie Betts
Best Hitter (#3)
Best Baserunner (#1)
Most Exciting Player (#2)
Best Defensive OF (#1)
Best OF Arm (#1)
Freddie Freeman
Best Hitter (#1)
Best Defensive 1B (#1)
Trea Turner
Fastest Baserunner (#1)
Most Exciting Player (#1)
Clayton Kershaw
Best Control (#1)
Best Pickoff Move (#2)
Will Smith
Best Defensive C (#3)
Max Muncy
Best Strike-Zone Judgment (#3)
Dave Roberts
Best Manager (#3)
Comments are closed.