It's June 7th and I have finally given into a handful of players I was concerned about for the first third of the year. I've made a lot of major moves this week some I'm happy for and others not so much. This may be the most controversial rankings yet. Let me know what you all think on twitter @Awies28


June 7th Hitter Ranks
1. Ryan Braun MIL (1) 
2. Miguel Cabrera DET (2)
3. Josh Hamilton TEX (3)
4. Joey Votto CIN (4)
5. Carlos Gonzalez COL (5)
6. Jose Bautista TOR (6)
7. Hanley Ramirez MIA (17)
8. Andrew McCutchen PIT (14)
9. Troy Tulowitzki COL (9)
10. Robinson Cano NYY (11)

I've given in to Hanley and McCutchen and now they rank in my top 10. Both guys are on pace for a 30/30 season. Cargo is moving up my NL MVP rankings and I think that if he plays 150 games at this pace, he'll run away with it. 

11. Prince Fielder DET (12)
12. Albert Pujols LAA 1B (23)
13. Curtis Granderson NYY (13)
14. David Wright NYM (15)
15. Giancarlo Stanton MIA (19)

I think this is where Albert Pujols will remain for the rest of the year. I don't see him as a top 10 guy. Stanton has a .343 average at home this year.

16. Dustin Pedroia BOS (8)
17. Ian Kinsler TEX (10)
18. Adrian Beltre TEX (18)
19. Adam Jones BAL (20)
20. Adrian Gonzalez BOS (16)

Two Red Sox sluggers are here for two reasons. Pedroia is struggling with a thumb injury and Gonzalez is just plain struggling. If I told you Adrian Gonzalez would have 4 long balls on June 7th, you'd say I was an idiot.

21. Justin Upton ARI (21)
22. Jay Bruce CIN (22)
23. Matt Kemp LAD (7)
24. Paul Konerko CHW (24)
25. Michael Bourn ATL (25)

Kemp's re-aggravation of the hamstring injury he suffered last month has me worried about his aggressiveness on the base paths when he returns. The preseason prediction of 50/50 is out the window, he now hopes to maintain a 20/20 pace.

26. Starlin Castro CHC (26)
27. Matt Holliday STL (31)
28. Jose Reyes MIA (30)
29. Elvis Andrus TEX (28)
30. Dan Uggla ATL (33)
31. Mark Teixeira NYY (27)
32. David Ortiz BOS (29)
33. Hunter Pence PHI (34)
34. Edwin Encarnacion TOR (36)
35. Eric Hosmer KC (39)

I think Hosmer and Pence have monster second halves. Hosmer is 7 for his last 19. Pence hit .270 in May and is already hitting .273 in June. Matt Holliday hit .340 in May and is the only rock solid hitter in that lineup that doesn't have any major injury concerns. I doubt another bug flies into his ear this season.

36. Shane Victorino PHI (32)
37. Evan Longoria TB* (37)
38. Melky Cabrera SF (60)
39. Billy Butler KC (38)
40. Brett Lawrie TOR (40)
41. Shin Soo Choo CLE (48)
42. Nelson Cruz TEX (45)
43. Mike Napoli TEX (47)
44. Mike Trout LAA (70)
45. Corey Hart MIL (49)

Trout is becoming the player we all thought he would become but, at age 20, he's getting there faster than most of us thought he would. He has a .329 average and 9 steals in 36 games. Shin Soo Choo currently is on a 7 game hit streak but only has 3 bombs on the season. He has a poor 7.7 HR% but a great 28.3 Line Drive rate. That may change once he starts attacking the first pitch (He's seen 98 first pitch strikes compared to the 67 first pitch balls). 

46. Carlos Santana CLE (44)
47. Derek Jeter NYY (52)
48. Michael Cuddyer COL (56)
49. Andre Ethier LAD (46)
50. Ben Zobrist TB (51)
51. Carlos Beltran STL (35)
52. Martin Prado ATL (54)
53. Asdrubal Cabrera CLE (55)
54. Michael Cuddyer COL (56)
55. Buster Posey SF (57) 
56. Brandon Phillips CIN (62) 
57. Matt Weiters BAL (41)
58. Alex Rodriguez NYY (59)
59. Jason Heyward ATL (50)

I'm not buying Arod's recent success. Sorry, but a .322 BABIP won't hold up. Weiters falls further down in my ranks for the second straight week, he's looking more like the 2010 Weiters rather than the 2011 stud.

60. Brian McCann ATL (53)
61. Jason Kipnis CLE (72)
62. Adam Dunn CHW (80)
63. Desmond Jennings TB (89)
64. Pablo Sandoval SF* (74)
65. Michael Young TEX (61)
66. Austin Jackson DET (67)
67. Chris Young ARI (63)
68. Ryan Zimmerman WAS (64)
69. B.J. Upton TB (66)
70. Kelly Johnson TOR (68)

Sandoval is nearing a return and when he does, expect a high average in the middle of a red hot Giants lineup. Kipnis is coming into his own and I think the young second baseman will continue his success in 

71. J.J. Hardy BAL (69)
72. Mark Trumbo LAA (98)
73. Josh Willingham MIN (78)
74. Joe Mauer MIN (71)
75. Jimmy Rollins PHI (73)
76. Yadier Molina STL (75)
77. Freddie Freeman ATL (76)
78. Matt Joyce TB (68)
79. Bryce Harper WSH (88)
80. Rafael Furcal STL (90)

Bryce Harper has now creeped into my top 80. Don't get caught up with his celebrity-like image, he has a .369 OBP and a solid 11.4% walk rate. 

81. Michael Morse WAS* (95)
82. Jose Altuve HOU (96)
83. Nick Swisher NYY (77)
84. Angel Pagan SF (84)
85. Howard Kendrick LAA (87)
86. Allen Craig STL (NR)
87. Jesus Montero SEA (91)
88. Josh Reddick OAK (85)
89. Alex Gordon KC (65)
90. Ichiro Suzuki SEA (83)

Yes KC fans, Gordon continues to fall. At his current pace he'll hit 12 homers and have 3 steals. Before you go all angry sports fan on me, look at the guys around him, I'm being generous. 

91. Aramis Ramirez MIL (92)
92. Cameron Maybin SD (93)
93. Brett Gardner NYY* (94)
94. David Freese STL (86)
95. Alejandro De Aza CHW (97)
96. Quentin Berry DET (NR)

I'm really high on Berry.

97. Mike Moustakes KC (NR)
98. Dexter Fowler COL (NR)
99. Omar Infante MIA (NR)
100. Dayan Viciedo CHW (NR)

I've said all season I think Infante is on pace for a career year. Keep in mind a career year for Omar doesn't mean he'll be a top 80 hitter. Simmer down Omar Infante fan.




Thanks for checking out the fourth edition of my hitter ranks. Archives. Please hit me on twitter if you'd like to discuss my ranks. @Awies28

Alex Wiesner