MLB Best Tools 2021: Managers, Scouts & Executives Vote On Baseball's Best Talent

Youth was the top theme of the 2021 All-Star Game. A record 40 players were recognized as first-time all-stars this season.

The same makeover is taking place in major league Best Tools voting. The old guard is giving way to the new.

Each year since 1988, Baseball America has asked major league managers to rank the top three players in their league in a variety of offensive, defensive and pitching categories. We skipped the exercise in 2020 because of the atypical schedule. Not only was it shortened to 60 games, but teams played only opponents in their East, Central or West regions.

For the past several years, we have also welcomed input from coaches and analysts in big league front offices. The more data, the merrier.

The Best Tools balloting data gathered this year yielded more than a dozen first-time winners. Four of those first-time winners figure to be at the starting line of long runs of Best Tools dominance.

Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball entering 2019. He has delivered on that immense potential as a 22-year-old this season. American League managers recognized Guerrero as the best hitter in the league, just as they recognized his father Vladimir Sr. in 2005.

It’s easy to see why AL managers are so smitten. Guerrero was hitting well over .300 in August, when Best Tools ballots were cast, while also delivering elite power and on-base ability for a Toronto offense that ranked near the top of the AL in runs scored.

Prior to Guerrero’s best hitter win, the Angels’ Mike Trout had won the category four straight seasons.

The Nationals won the 2019 World Series with a 20-year-old Juan Soto helping lead the charge. The right fielder, now a “grizzled” veteran of 22, was recognized by National League managers this year as the best hitter and owner of the best strike-zone judgment in the league.

The same probably would have been true for Soto in 2020, when he led the NL with a .351 average and .490 on-base percentage. Alas, no Best Tools balloting was conducted in the pandemic-shortened season.

Soto succeeded the Brewers’ Christian Yelich as the NL’s best hitter, but more notable was his best strike-zone judgment win. The Reds’ Joey Votto had won that category the five previous seasons.

The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. returned from the injured list in mid August as the NL leader in both home runs and stolen bases—despite the 22-year-old missing nearly a quarter of his team’s games to that point with a left shoulder injury.

Tatis’ injury forced his move from shortstop to right field upon his return—for this season at least—but neither that nor the missed time dimmed excitement for his tools. NL managers voted Tatis as having the best power and being the most exciting player in the league, the latter nearly unanimously.

The fact that Guerrero, Soto and Tatis are all just 22—and already at the top of their games—indicates that the future of baseball is in good hands.

Going Streaking

Here we celebrate active streaks of Best Tools category wins, not counting 2020, when the exercise was shelved in the 60-game season.

Seven straight

Nolan Arenado — Best Defensive Third Baseman (NL)

Three straight

Trea Turner — Best Baserunner (NL)
Josh Hader — Best Reliever (NL)
Matt Chapman — Best Defensive Third Baseman (AL)
Matt Chapman — Best Infield Arm (AL)

Two straight

Trea Turner — Fastest Baserunner (NL)
Luis Castillo — Best Changeup (NL)
Hyun-Jin Ryu — Best Control (AL/NL)
Christian Vazquez — Best Defensive Catcher (AL)
J.T. Realmuto — Best Defensive Catcher (NL)
Matt Olson — Best Defensive First Baseman (AL)
Kolten Wong — Best Defensive Second Baseman (NL)
Francisco Lindor — Best Defensive Shortstop (AL/NL)
Bob Melvin — Best Manager (AL)

Below are the 2021 winners, followed by voting results for each category.

Category	American League	National League
Best Hitter	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Jays	Juan Soto , Nationals
Best Power	Shohei Ohtani, Angels	Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
Best Bunter	Cedric Mullins, Orioles	Garrett Hampson, Rockies
Best Strike-Zone Judgment	Michael Brantley, Astros	Juan Soto , Nationals
Best Hit-And-Run Artist	David Fletcher, Angels	Adam Frazier, Padres
Best Baserunner	Whit Merrifield, Royals	Trea Turner, Dodgers
Fastest Baserunner	Shohei Ohtani, Angels	Trea Turner, Dodgers
Most Exciting Player	Shohei Ohtani, Angels	Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
Best Pitcher	Lance Lynn, White Sox	Jacob deGrom, Mets
Best Fastball	Aroldis Chapman, Yankees	Jacob deGrom, Mets
Best Curveball	Jose Berrios, Blue Jays	Julio Urias, Dodgers
Best Slider	Adam Ottavino, Red Sox	Jacob deGrom, Mets
Best Changeup	Lucas Giolito, White Sox	Luis Castillo , Reds
Best Control	Hyun-Jin Ryu, Blue Jays	Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
Best Pickoff Move	Jose Berrios, Blue Jays	Max Fried, Braves
Best Reliever	Liam Hendriks, White Sox	Josh Hader, Brewers
Best Defensive Catcher	Christian Vazquez, Red Sox	J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
Best Defensive 1B	Matt Olson, Athletics	Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
Best Defensive 2B	Marcus Semien, Blue Jays	Kolten Wong, Brewers
Best Defensive 3B	Matt Chapman, Athletics	Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Best Defensive SS	J.P. Crawford, Mariners	Francisco Lindor, Mets
Best Infield Arm	Matt Chapman, Athletics	Manny Machado, Padres
Best Defensive OF	Kevin Kiermaier, Rays	Victor Robles, Nationals
Best Outfield Arm	Hunter Renfroe, Red Sox	Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Best Manager	Bob Melvin, Athletics	Craig Counsell, Brewers