With spring training just around the corner, eyes are starting to shift to the 2017 regular season. With that, previews and projections have started to be released. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney just completed a Top 10 position by position ranking that includes several Braves players for next season.
The biggest winner on the list was Freddie Freeman who tops the list of major league first baseman. Freeman had a monster season in 2016 and appears primed to carry that into 2017 as well.
"He was a monster offensive player in a tough hitters' park, playing most of the year with almost nobody else in his lineup," one evaluator said.
If you ranked the top five first basemen according to their career resumes, Freeman would be at No. 5. If you ranked them according to the trajectory established in 2016, and what they could be expected to produce in 2017, then Freeman is No. 1.
Ender Inciarte cracked Olney’s list at No. 10 thanks to a huge second half and his defensive prowess in the outfield.
In his first season with Atlanta after being acquired in the Shelby Miller trade, Inciarte started terribly after sustaining a hamstring injury -- and then erupted as his health improved. After June 5, Inciarte had a .371 OBP, with 74 runs scored in 104 games. Because of his array of skills -- the defense, the baserunning, the ability at the plate -- Inciarte finished seventh among center fielders in fWAR despite playing in 131 games.
Probably the most controversial inclusion on this list will be Matt Kemp landing at No. 5 among all major league left fielders. Kemp put up some solid counting stats last season but his deficiencies in the field and on the bases cloud the overall picture. Still, Kemp had a productive season at the plate and the Braves hope that continues this season.
He had a good offensive season last year with 39 doubles and 35 homers, and he thrived after landing with the Braves in a midseason deal, posting an .855 OPS in 56 games for Atlanta. Only two outfielders rated worse than he did in defensive runs saved -- Kemp was at a minus-21 -- and given that he’s 32 and on the downside of his career, he’s probably not going to improve much. But the perception among some evaluators is that he played heavy last season and can add range if he drops some weight.
No other Braves players cracked the Top 10 but shortstop Dansby Swanson did receive an honorable mention and could find himself on this list going forward.
His impact for the Braves was immediate last season, in his first 38 games. Atlanta went 23-15, and in that time, he hit .302 and seemingly solidified the infield.
The Braves lineup also drew an honorable mention from Olney after its strong finish in 2016.
After the trade for Matt Kemp and the promotion of Dansby Swanson, the Braves’ attack transformed. Atlanta ranked sixth in the majors in runs after the All-Star break.
Does that get you excited for spring training? Probably not but you were probably already excited. What do you think of Olney’s rankings? Let us know in the comments.