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Who are the best players in Major League Baseball heading into the 2012 season? ESPN formed a panel of MLB writers, analysts and contributors to rank the top 500. The countdown from No. 500 to No. 1 began March 20 and ends April 3. The results are being announced on ESPN.com, on Facebook and Twitter (@ESPN_MLB). Fans can use the hashtag #ESPN500 to join the discussion or to follow along. To compile a top-500 ranking, 34 ESPN experts started with a list of the top 600 players projected to play in the majors in 2012. Using a 0-to-10 scale, they evaluated only the quality of each player for the 2012 season. Players who are expected to miss the 2012 with an injury, like Victor Martinez, were not included. Ages are listed as of July 1, 2012. Panelists were polled over the final two weeks of February. Dan Szymborski's ZiPS system, which projects 2012 performance, was used to break ties to the fourth decimal point. RANK PLAYER SCORE 351 Bobby Abreu
@BobKellyAbreu
Left Field | @Angels | Age: 38 | Stats 4.69 352 Daniel Murphy
Second Base | @Mets | Age: 27 | Stats 4.68 353 Jim Thome
First Base | @Phillies | Age: 41 | Stats 4.66 354 Scott Baker
RHP | @Twins | Age: 30 | Stats 4.66 355 Nick Hundley
Catcher | @Padres | Age: 28 | Stats 4.66 356 Carl Pavano
RHP | @Twins | Age: 36 | Stats 4.66 357 Andres Torres
Center Field | @Mets | Age: 34 | Stats 4.66 358 Brendan Ryan
Shortstop | @Mariners | Age: 30 | Stats 4.66 359 Garrett Jones
Right Field | @Pirates | Age: 31 | Stats 4.65 360 Ryan Raburn
Utility | @Tigers | Age: 31 | Stats 4.65 361 Charlie Morton
RHP | @Pirates | Age: 28 | Stats 4.65 362 Chris Narveson
@sleep_trick
LHP | @Brewers | Age: 30 | Stats 4.65 363 Johnny Damon
Left Field | Free Agent | Age: 38 | Stats 4.63 364 Bartolo Colon
RHP | @Athletics | Age: 39 | Stats 4.63 365 LaTroy Hawkins
@LaTroyHawkins32
RHP | @Angels | Age: 39 | Stats 4.63 366 Jason Bartlett
Shortstop | @Padres | Age: 32 | Stats 4.63 367 Hong-Chih Kuo
LHP | @Mariners | Age: 31 | Stats 4.62 368 Homer Bailey
RHP | @Reds | Age: 26 | Stats 4.62 369 Darren Oliver
@southpawDO28
LHP | @BlueJays | Age: 41 | Stats 4.62 370 Salvador Perez
Catcher | @Royals | Age: 22 | Stats 4.62 371 Edward Mujica
RHP | @Marlins | Age: 28 | Stats 4.60 372 Adam Dunn
Designated Hitter | @WhiteSox | Age: 32 | Stats 4.60 373 Gordon Beckham
@gordonbeckham
Second Base | @WhiteSox | Age: 25 | Stats 4.60 374 Clint Barmes
Shortstop | @Pirates | Age: 33 | Stats 4.60 375 Travis Wood
LHP | @Cubs | Age: 25 | Stats 4.58 376 Arodys Vizcaino
RHP | @Braves | Age: 21 | Stats 4.58 377 Philip Humber
RHP | @WhiteSox | Age: 29 | Stats 4.58 378 Ruben Tejada
Shortstop | @Mets | Age: 22 | Stats 4.58 379 Erik Bedard
LHP | @Pirates | Age: 33 | Stats 4.56 380 Dayan Viciedo
Right Field | @WhiteSox | Age: 23 | Stats 4.56 381 John Mayberry Jr.
Outfield | @Phillies | Age: 28 | Stats 4.56 382 Danny Valencia
@dannyvalencia19
Third Base | @Twins | Age: 27 | Stats 4.56 383 Kevin Correia
RHP | @Pirates | Age: 31 | Stats 4.56 384 Jesse Crain
@JesseCrain
RHP | @WhiteSox | Age: 31 | Stats 4.55 385 Jarrod Parker
@JarrodBParker
RHP | @Athletics | Age: 23 | Stats 4.55 386 Ryan Doumit
Catcher | @Twins | Age: 31 | Stats 4.55 387 Josh Tomlin
RHP | @Indians | Age: 27 | Stats 4.55 388 Luke Scott
Left Field | @RaysBaseball | Age: 34 | Stats 4.53 389 Jon Rauch
@jrauch60
RHP | @Mets | Age: 33 | Stats 4.53 390 Juan Nicasio
RHP | @Rockies | Age: 25 | Stats 4.53 391 Bronson Arroyo
RHP | @Reds | Age: 35 | Stats 4.53 392 Mike Minor
LHP | @Braves | Age: 24 | Stats 4.52 393 Mitch Moreland
First Base | @Rangers | Age: 26 | Stats 4.52 394 Chris Capuano
LHP | @Dodgers | Age: 33 | Stats 4.52 395 Cliff Pennington
Shortstop | @Athletics | Age: 28 | Stats 4.52 396 Domonic Brown
Right Field | @Phillies | Age: 24 | Stats 4.50 397 Aubrey Huff
First Base | @SFGiants | Age: 35 | Stats 4.50 398 Jed Lowrie
Shortstop | @Astros | Age: 28 | Stats 4.50 399 David Murphy
Outfield | @Rangers | Age: 30 | Stats 4.50 400 Joe Blanton
RHP | @Phillies | Age: 31 | Stats 4.50
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