Astros: ESPN Top 100 Ranking Reaction

Yordan Alvarez

Rank: #89 (2020 – #62)

Alvarez came in like a wrecking ball in 2019, as a rookie put together one of the best offensive rookie campaigns in the history of baseball. He posted a 3.6 offensive WAR, an OPS higher than 1.000 and put together 162-game average of .317 BA, with 51 home runs in 150 RBIs. And he did this all in the age of 23. He only managed to play two games last year before he was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Alvarez only has 378 plate appearances in his career, but it’s hard not to be giddy about what he’s done thus far. Alvarez has a hard-hit rate of 54% (league average 39%) and has a ISO* of .343 (league average .180). Those numbers are higher than Bryce Harper, Albert Pujols, Aaron Judge and the arguably the greatest of all time, Mike Trout.

* ISO = (Total Bases-Hits)/ABs per Baseball-Reference.com

VERDICT: JUST RIGHT

Give the ESPN experts some kudos for remembering who Yordan Alvarez is, considering the MLB top 100 didn’t have him on their list. Alvarez should be at the very minimum in the Top-70 player, but his injury concerns from last year makes everyone wonder if he’ll be available enough to have the same impact he did in 2019.

Dusty Baker will likely use him as the exclusive designated hitter, with some hope that he could play some outfield on occasion. Alvarez is still not even 24-years-old and most power hitters don’t even scrape their peaks until their late-20s or mid-30s. His 6-foot 5 frame and easy power should make him one of the most feared hitters this game is ever seen for the next decade. Now let’s just hope you can stay healthy (twiddling thumbs).

SHOULD BE: 81-90