Top 5 Players in the MLB (Part 6)

Sorry we're put back a day on this series, did not have time to do both this and a big UFC 132 review.
  So in today's part of the top five players in each MLB position, it is time to look at the "general" of the infield; the shortstop.

Jeter

5. Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)- Jeter is obviously one of the best shortstops in ever in the game of baseball. He has not had less than 150 hits in any full season of his 17 year career, he is only six hits away from joining the 3,000 hit club, and has a career batting averaging of .383. The fact that he has those numbers automatically puts him on this list, but it helps that he is having another stellar season. Jeter has 68 hits, two home runs, 20 RBIs and a batting average of .260. He still has some speed too, with seven stolen bases and has a low strkeout total of just 31. Jeter is considered to be on the best defensive shortstops in the game, and his 2011 season has proven no different. He currently has 60 put-outs, 143 assists, and just four errors. Jeter also has an outstanding fielding percentage of .974. He is expected to return to the Yankee lineup today, after being put on the 15 day DL due to a calf strain injury that occurred in mid June.

Cabrera

4. Asdrubal Cabrera (Cleveland Indians)- A breakout 2011 season so far by Cabrera puts himself on this lift. This kid has come out of no where and has dazzled baseball fans with both his hitting and fielding. He is third in all of shortstops with 100 hits (22 being doubles), and could possibly have 200 this year. Cabrera is also tied for second among all shortstops with 14 home runs. He has a respectable .294 average, and I would not be surprised to see that average come up to possibly .310 by the end of the year. I also like that he shows some speed with 12 stolen bases. Cabrera is also a stud when it comes to fielding. His behind the back toss against the White Sox in May that led to a double play has to be the MLB play of the year. He has 120 putouts, 218 assets, and a solid fielding percentage of .985. Cabrera also has just five errors. Asdrubal Cabrera is one of the key reasons why the Indians have found so much success this year, and in my opinion, is the best shortstop in the American League.

Castro

3. Starlin Castro (Chicago Cubs)- Castro is the best player to come to the Windy City since Sammy Sosa; yes he is that good and I certainly expect him to be the face of the Cubs for a very long time. He had an amazing rookie year in 2010 and his 2011 season in no different. Castro is second among all shortstops with 110 hits, he is only 29 hits shy of how many hits he had last year (139). Although Castro is not a power-hitting shortstop (three home runs this year), he easily makes up for it with his .307 batting average. With his 38 RBIs, he is just three away from his entire season total as of last year (41). I would like Castro to try to draw more walks (16 this year) so he could be on base more, and if he does, expect to see him steal more bases than the ten he has so far into the season. Castro's hitting is a lot better than his fielding, but his defense is still above average. He has 145 put-outs, 230 assists, and a fielding percentage of .959. This percentage would be a lot higher if it was not for Castro's disgusting number of 16 errors. Since Castro's debut in May of 2010 where he had six RBIs against the Cincinnati Reds, he has been the it factor for the Cubs, and expect him to continue to be that it factor for many seasons.

Tulowitzki

2. Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies)- Tulowitzki is a rare shortstop with power hitting capability, along with great fielding. He has proved that frequently throughout his career, and is still doing it during the 2011 season. Tulowitzki leads all shortstops with 17 home runs and if he continues to hit the long ball, he could possibly have 35 home runs, which would be a career high. He also has 88 hits (18 doubles) with a batting average of .271. I expect to see that number increase to around .295 around the end of the season. Tulowitzki is also on pace for a 100 RBI season, with 57 RBIs currently. A number I love of his is that he has 32 strikeouts and 32 walks. This just shows he is extremely disciplined at the plate, and is always a tough out. Tulowitzki is also a defensive monster who is the best shortstop in the game defensively. He has 169 putouts (first among all shortstops) and 266 assists (second among all shortstops) and an outstanding fielding percentage of .991. That number is as close as it can get to perfection. He also has just four errors, and I do not expect him to have over ten by the end of the season. Tulowitzki is every manger's dream when it comes to the shortstop position in the fact that he can flat out hit and field with ease, he could have definitely been number one on this list.

Reyes

1. Jose Reyes (New York Mets)- Reyes is on pace to have not only the best season in his career, but in all of baseball. In a contract year where performance matters most, Reyes is doing nothing but performing. He has 124 hits (22 doubles and 15 triples) and could easily have over 210 by the end of the year. For a player to have over 120 hits before the week of all-star break is insane and Reyes has done just that. He has never been a power hitter, so his three home runs are a respectable number and so is his RBI total (32), but what really stands out to me is his batting average of .354. This average leads all of baseball, and rightfully should. I do not expect him to bat .400 by the end of the season, but I would not be at all surprised if it hovered around .375. Another stat that stands out is his 30 stolen bases. Reyes has always had speed and is the fastest in the game, but the fact that he continues to steal bases as his career progresses is amazing, and he could have maybe 75 stolen bases by the time season is over. Even more great, is that he has more walks (27) than strikeouts (26), Reyes is just an offensive stud who is effective in so many ways. He is also an above decent defensive shortstop with 116 put-outs, 222 assists, and a fielding percentage of .971. Yes he has ten errors, but with the season he is having, I am not going to question his defensive ability. Reyes is currently not only the best shortstop in baseball, but the best player in the MLB, and is my pick for the 2011 NL MVP award.