MLB Best Tools 2019: Managers, Scouts & Executives Vote On Baseball’s Best Talent
Image credit: Mike Trout (Photo by Tom DiPace)
Baseball America has tracked Best Tools winners in the American and National leagues continuously since 1988. In that time, no player has medaled—placed in the top three—in balloting for all five of the traditional scouting tools: hit, power, run, field and arm.
In fact, just seven players in 32 years have medaled in four of the five tools, indicating the difficulty of the task. These “four-dimensional” superstars include all-time greats like Ichiro, A-Rod, Griffey and Trout—players so iconic that they are identifiable by one name. Nolan Arenado is also a member of the club and might one day be viewed in a similar light.
But the other two members of the club might surprise you. One is Jose Reyes, who so thoroughly dominated the fastest baserunner, best defensive shortstop and best infield arm categories in the 2000s that he has a top 20 total for career Best Tools “medal” points, using an Olympics’ 5-3-1 scoring system.
The seventh four-dimensional superstar is former Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, our 2011 Major League Player of the Year. While Kemp is not nearly so decorated—he never won a Best Tools category—he picked up stray “silver” and “bronze” medals for four of the five tools at various points during his peak seasons.
The following 2019 Best Tools winners are working on active streaks ranging in length from two seasons to eight.
Eight straight
Mike Trout — Most Exciting Player (AL)
Six straight
Nolan Arenado — Best Defensive 3B (NL)
Billy Hamilton — Fastest Baserunner (AL/NL)
Five straight
DJ LeMahieu — Best Defensive 2B (AL/NL)
Joey Votto — Best Strike-Zone Judgment (NL)
Four straight
Mike Trout — Best Hitter (AL)
Three straight
Chris Sale — Best Slider (AL)
Max Scherzer — Best Slider (NL)
Two straight
Javier Baez — Best Infield Arm (NL)
Matt Chapman — Best Defensive 3B (AL)
Matt Chapman — Best Infield Arm (AL)
Josh Hader — Best Reliever (NL)
Max Scherzer — Best Pitcher (NL)
Mike Trout — Best Strike-Zone Judgment (AL)
Trea Turner — Best Baserunner (NL)
Below are the 2019 winners, followed by voting results for each category.
Category | American League | National League |
Best Hitter | Mike Trout, Angels | Christian Yelich, Brewers |
Best Power | Joey Gallo, Rangers | Pete Alonso, Mets |
Best Bunter | Billy Hamilton, Royals | Victor Robles, Nationals |
Best Strike-Zone Judgment | Mike Trout, Angels | Joey Votto, Reds |
Best Hit-And-Run Artist | Elvis Andrus, Rangers | Yadier Molina, Cardinals |
Best Baserunner | Adalberto Mondesi, Royals | Trea Turner, Nationals |
Fastest Baserunner | Billy Hamilton, Royals | Trea Turner, Nationals |
Most Exciting Player | Mike Trout, Angels | Cody Bellinger, Dodgers |
Best Pitcher | Justin Verlander, Astros | Max Scherzer, Nationals |
Best Fastball | Justin Verlander, Astros | Josh Hader, Brewers |
Best Curveball | Charlie Morton, Rays | Aaron Nola, Phillies |
Best Slider | Chris Sale, Red Sox | Max Scherzer, Nationals |
Best Changeup | Yonny Chirinos, Rays | Luis Castillo, Reds |
Best Control | Justin Verlander, Astros | Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers |
Best Pickoff Move | Matt Boyd, Tigers | Julio Teheran, Braves |
Best Reliever | Aroldis Chapman, Yankees | Josh Hader, Brewers |
Best Defensive Catcher | Christian Vazquez, Red Sox | J.T. Realmuto, Phillies |
Best Defensive 1B | Matt Olson, Athletics | Anthony Rizzo, Cubs |
Best Defensive 2B | DJ LeMahieu, Yankees | Kolten Wong, Cardinals |
Best Defensive 3B | Matt Chapman, Athletics | Nolan Arenado, Rockies |
Best Defensive SS | Francisco Lindor, Indians | Nick Ahmed, D-backs |
Best Infield Arm | Matt Chapman, Athletics | Javier Baez, Cubs |
Best Defensive OF | Byron Buxton, Twins | Harrison Bader, Cardinals |
Best Outfield Arm | Ramon Laureano, Athletics | Cody Bellinger, Dodgers |
Best Manager | Bob Melvin, Athletics | Dave Roberts, Dodgers |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Best Hitter
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Alex Bregman, Astros
3. Michael Brantley, Astros
Best Power
1. Joey Gallo, Rangers
2. Aaron Judge, Yankees
3. Mike Trout, Angels
Best Bunter
1. Billy Hamilton, Royals
2. Dee Gordon, Mariners
3. Delino Deshields Jr., Rangers
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Alex Bregman, Astros
3. Carlos Santana, Indians
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Elvis Andrus, Rangers
2. Whit Merrifield, Royals
3. David Fletcher, Angels
Best Baserunner
1. Adalberto Mondesi, Royals
2. Whit Merrifield, Royals
3. Billy Hamilton, Royals
Fastest Baserunner
1. Billy Hamilton, Royals
2. Terrance Gore, Royals
3. Byron Buxton, Twins
Most Exciting Player
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Alex Bregman, Astros
Best Pitcher
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Charlie Morton, Rays
3. Gerrit Cole, Astros
Best Fastball
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
3. Gerrit Cole, Astros
Best Curveball
1. Charlie Morton, Rays
2. Trevor Bauer, Indians
3. Blake Snell, Rays
Best Slider
1. Chris Sale, Red Sox
2. Justin Verlander, Astros
3. Ryan Pressly, Astros
Best Changeup
1. Yonny Chirinos, Rays
2. Mike Minor, Rangers
3. John Means, Orioles
Best Control
1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Chris Sale, Red Sox
3. Mike Leake, Mariners
Best Pickoff Move
1. Matt Boyd, Tigers
2. Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays
3. Zach Plesac, Indians
Best Reliever
1. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
2. Brad Hand, Indians
3. Ryan Pressly, Astros
Best Defensive C
1. Christian Vazquez, Red Sox
2. Roberto Perez, Indians
3. Jeff Mathis, Rangers
Best Defensive 1B
1. Matt Olson, Athletics
2. Mitch Moreland, Red Sox
3. Ronald Guzman, Rangers
Best Defensive 2B
1. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
2. Brandon Lowe, Rays
3. Jose Altuve, Astros
Best Defensive 3B
1. Matt Chapman, Athletics
2. Alex Bregman, Astros
3. Gio Urshela, Yankees
Best Defensive SS
1. Francisco Lindor, Indians
2. Andrelton Simmons, Angels
3. Marcus Semien, Athletics
Best Infield Arm
1. Matt Chapman, Athletics
2. Carlos Correa, Astros
3. Andrelton Simmons, Angels
Best Defensive OF
1. Byron Buxton, Twins
2. Kevin Kiermaier, Rays
3. Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
Best Outfield Arm
1. Ramon Laureano, Athletics
2. Kevin Kiermaier, Rays
3. Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
Best Manager
1. Bob Melvin, Athletics
2. Kevin Cash, Rays
3. AJ Hinch, Astros
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Best Hitter
1. Christian Yelich, Brewers
2. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
3. Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Best Power
1. Pete Alonso, Mets
2. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
3. Christian Yelich, Brewers
Best Bunter
1. Victor Robles, Nationals
2. Kolten Wong, Cardinals
3. Brandon Belt, Giants
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Freddie Freeman, Braves
3. Anthony Rendon, Nationals
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
2. Jeff McNeil, Mets
3. Jean Segura, Phillies
Best Baserunner
1. Trea Turner, Nationals
2. Kolten Wong, Cardinals
3. Jarrod Dyson, D-backs
Fastest Baserunner
1. Trea Turner, Nationals
2. Tim Locastro, D-backs
3. Garrett Hampson, Rockies
Most Exciting Player
1. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
2. Christian Yelich, Brewers
3. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Best Pitcher
1. Max Scherzer, Nationals
2. Jacob deGrom, Mets
3. Zack Greinke, D-backs
Best Fastball
1. Josh Hader, Brewers
2. Walker Buehler, Dodgers
3. Jacob deGrom, Mets
Best Curveball
1. Aaron Nola, Phillies
2. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
Best Slider
1. Max Scherzer, Nationals
2. Patrick Corbin, Nationals
3. Jacob deGrom, Mets
Best Changeup
1. Luis Castillo, Reds
2. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers
3. Zack Greinke, D-backs
Best Control
1. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers
2. Zack Greinke, D-backs
3. Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
Best Pickoff Move
1. Julio Teheran, Braves
2. Eric Lauer, Padres
3. Max Fried, Braves
Best Reliever
1. Josh Hader, Brewers
2. Kirby Yates, Padres
3. Will Smith, Giants
Best Defensive C
1. J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
2. Austin Hedges, Padres
3. Yasmani Grandal, Brewers
Best Defensive 1B
1. Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
3. Freddie Freeman, Braves
Best Defensive 2B
1. Kolten Wong, Cardinals
2. Ketel Marte, D-backs
3. Ozzie Albies, Braves
Best Defensive 3B
1. Nolan Arenado, Rockies
2. Anthony Rendon, Nationals
3. Manny Machado, Padres
Best Defensive SS
1. Nick Ahmed, D-backs
2. Trevor Story, Rockies
3. Javier Baez, Cubs
Best Infield Arm
1. Javier Baez, Cubs
2. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
3. Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Best Defensive OF
1. Harrison Bader, Cardinals
2. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
3. Lorenzo Cain, Brewers
Best Outfield Arm
1. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
2. Hunter Renfroe, Padres
3. Starling Marte, Pirates
Best Manager
1. Dave Roberts, Dodgers
2. Craig Counsell, Brewers
3. Bruce Bochy, Giants
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