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 on 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 2012 with an injury, such as Victor Martinez, were not included. But Arodys Vizcaino (No. 376) was included because he was injured after the voting. 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
51
Stephen Strasburg
@Stras37
RHP | @Nationals | Age: 23 | Stats
7.15
52
Jonathan Papelbon
RHP | @Phillies | Age: 31 | Stats
7.09
53
Yovani Gallardo
@itsyotime
RHP | @Brewers | Age: 26 | Stats
7.09
54
James Shields
RHP | @RaysBaseball | Age: 30 | Stats
7.00
55
Matt Moore
LHP | @RaysBaseball | Age: 23 | Stats
6.94
56
Mike Napoli
@MikeNapoli25
Catcher | @Rangers | Age: 30 | Stats
6.91
57
Kevin Youkilis
Third Base | @RedSox | Age: 33 | Stats
6.84
58
C.J. Wilson
@str8edgeracer
LHP | @Angels | Age: 31 | Stats
6.84
59
Nelson Cruz
Right Field | @Rangers | Age: 31 | Stats
6.84
60
David Wright
Third Base | @Mets | Age: 29 | Stats
6.84
61
Ian Kennedy
RHP | @Dbacks | Age: 27 | Stats
6.81
62
Yu Darvish
@faridyu
RHP | @Rangers | Age: 25 | Stats
6.81
63
Elvis Andrus
Shortstop | @Rangers | Age: 23 | Stats
6.78
64
Brian Wilson
@BrianWilson38
RHP | @SFGiants | Age: 28 | Stats
6.75
65
Pablo Sandoval
@KFP48
Third Base | @SFGiants | Age: 25 | Stats
6.75
66
Ryan Howard
@ryanhoward
First Base | @Phillies | Age: 32 | Stats
6.75
67
Chase Utley
Second Base | @Phillies | Age: 33 | Stats
6.75
68
Jay Bruce
@JayABruce
Right Field | @Reds | Age: 25 | Stats
6.75
69
Matt Wieters
Catcher | @Orioles | Age: 26 | Stats
6.75
70
Neftali Feliz
@NefFeliz
RHP | @Rangers | Age: 24 | Stats
6.69
71
Josh Beckett
RHP | @RedSox | Age: 32 | Stats
6.69
72
David Ortiz
@davidortiz
Designated Hitter | @RedSox | Age: 36 | Stats
6.66
73
Alex Avila
Catcher | @Tigers | Age: 25 | Stats
6.66
74
Michael Pineda
RHP | @Yankees | Age: 23 | Stats
6.66
75
Paul Konerko
First Base | @whitesox | Age: 36 | Stats
6.63
76
Mat Latos
RHP | @Reds | Age: 24 | Stats
6.63
77
Ricky Romero
@RickyRo24
LHP | @BlueJays | Age: 27 | Stats
6.63
78
Asdrubal Cabrera
Shortstop | @Indians | Age: 26 | Stats
6.59
79
Brandon Phillips
@DatDudeBP
Second Base | @Reds | Age: 31 | Stats
6.59
80
Carlos Santana
Catcher | @Indians | Age: 26 | Stats
6.56
81
Michael Young
Utility | @Rangers | Age: 35 | Stats
6.56
82
David Robertson
@DRob30
RHP | @Yankees | Age: 27 | Stats
6.55
83
Brett Lawrie
@blawrie13
Third Base | @BlueJays | Age: 22 | Stats
6.55
84
John Axford
@JohnAxford
RHP | @Brewers | Age: 29 | Stats
6.53
85
Lance Berkman
First Base | @Cardinals | Age: 36 | Stats
6.53
86
Madison Bumgarner
LHP | @SFGiants | Age: 22 | Stats
6.53
87
Hunter Pence
@HunterPence3
Right Field | @Phillies | Age: 29 | Stats
6.53
88
Starlin Castro
Shortstop | @Cubs | Age: 22 | Stats
6.53
89
Eric Hosmer
@Hos3KC
First Base | @Royals | Age: 22 | Stats
6.52
90
Rickie Weeks
Second Base | @Brewers | Age: 29 | Stats
6.50
91
Shane Victorino
@ShaneVictorino
Center Field | @Phillies | Age: 31 | Stats
6.50
92
Gio Gonzalez
LHP | @Nationals | Age: 29 | Stats
6.47
93
Jonny Venters
LHP | @Braves | Age: 27 | Stats
6.45
94
Jimmy Rollins
@JimmyRollins11
Shortstop | @Phillies | Age: 33 | Stats
6.44
95
Carlos Beltran
@carlosbeltran15
Right Field | @Cardinals | Age: 35 | Stats
6.41
96
Alex Gordon
Left Field | @Royals | Age: 28 | Stats
6.41
97
Ben Zobrist
@TheZobrists
Utility | @RaysBaseball | Age: 31 | Stats
6.41
98
Matt Garza
RHP | @Cubs | Age: 28 | Stats
6.41
99
Ryan Madson
@RyanMadson46
RHP | @Reds | Age: 31 | Stats
***OUT FOR THE SEASON***
6.38
100
Heath Bell
@HeathBell21
RHP | @Marlins | Age: 34 | Stats
6.38