Perhaps the most stacked position in Major League Baseball, our ranking of the best right fielders 2022 features nothing but the crème of the crop. But there are levels for everything, even among the best of the best.
Best right fielders 2022
Some of the best RFs in MLB also happen to be the best or most popular players in the game, and that’s far from a coincidence.
Besides having the strongest arms in the game, they’re also top-notch sluggers who can rake 30+ homers on a yearly basis. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 best right fielders right now.
10. Mitch Haniger
Often overlooked by the prominence of big names in the game, Mitch Haniger is worthy of this list after his incredible season in 2021. He raked 39 home runs and drove in 100 with 110 runs scored.
He’s not getting any younger at 31 years old, but the Seattle Mariners figure to be an even better team this season and even flirt with a postseason berth, so we could expect similar production from him in 2022.
9. Mike Yastrzemski
With a slash line of .224/.311/.457, Mike Yastrzemski isn’t coming off his most impressive campaign. But even in a down year for him, the veteran right fielder still managed to hit 25 home runs while being one of the best defenders in the game.
He was terrible against non-fastballs last year but is good and smart enough to make adjustments and find ways to get on base again next season.
8. Nick Castellanos
The Philadelphia Phillies made one of the biggest signings of the offseason by adding Nick Castellanos to play next to Bryce Harper. He’s coming off posting career highs in batting average (.309) and home runs (34), while also having the second 100+RBI season of his career.
To make things even better, he’ll now play in one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums in Citizens Bank Park, so he could post even better numbers this season.
7. Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez is coming off an outstanding offensive season, although his defense is still far from elite. He slashed .296/.346/.524 while hitting 32 home runs and driving in 116 runs. He might be better suited for the Designated Hitter spot after some recent injuries, but he’ll continue to be an elite offensive contributor regardless of the role the Toronto Blue Jays give him from now on.
He’ll benefit from one of the most explosive lineups in the game and will continue to put up big numbers after back-to-back Silver Slugger seasons.
6. Kyle Tucker
At just 25 years old, Kyle Tucker is already one of the best right fielders right now. He’s coming off a 30-home run season with 92 RBIs and a batting average of .294. Tucker is also a prime defender (11 defensive runs saved) and finally proved why teams were so high on him when he entered the league as the 5th overall pick.
He’s tailor-made for big moments and is projected to have an even better season in 2022 as the Houston Astros look to bounce back and win another World Series.
5. Aaron Judge
Yankees fans argue that Aaron Judge should be at the top of the best right fielders 2022 list. Unfortunately, he first needs to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. Even on limited playing time, Judge continues to impress with his nearly-unmatched power and ability to hit dingers.
He hit 39 home runs with 98 RBIs last season, while also getting 75 free passes. He’s an elite defender and one of the prime hitters in the game but constant injuries raise some questions about him. It’s also worth noting that he’s entering a contract year, so there will be a lot at stake for him.
4. Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper is one of the best RFs in MLB. He’s one of just 32 players to claim more than one MVP award, carrying most of the offensive load for the inconsistent Philadelphia Phillies.
He raked 35 dingers, drew 100 walks, and drove in 84 runs while slashing .309/.429/.615. The Phillies will be considerably better offensively this season, so we can only expect even better numbers from him.
3. Ronald Acuña Jr.
Ronald Acuña Jr. has multiple MVPs in his future. He’s one of the most exciting players to watch in all of baseball, an electric competitor that won’t hesitate to put his body on the line on every single play.
At just 24 years old, Acuña has shown the ability to lead the league in both home runs and stolen bases. He’s one of the best defenders in his position and one of the few players who can hit for both power and average. Acuña hit 24 homers despite missing a huge chunk of last season and he’s expected to spend some time at DH while he makes a full recovery from his ACL injury.
2. Mookie Betts
Even after what some claimed to be a down year, Mookie Betts continues to rank among the top RFs in the Majors. He slashed .264/.367/.487 with 23 homers and 58 RBIs but struggled with some injuries and inconsistency for most of the season.
There isn’t much left to prove halfway through a Hall of Fame career for Mookie, who’s the only player who could join Frank Robinson as an MVP winner in both leagues. The Dodgers are the team to beat and Betts is one of the biggest reasons why.
1. Juan Soto
Juan Soto leads our best right fielders 2022 list and for very good reason. He’s the first player since Barry Bonds who could legitimately post an OBP of .500+ thanks to his ability to make contact, draw walks, log extra bases and hit homers.
He was walked a whopping 145 times in 2021 and will now hit in front of Nelson Cruz and Josh Bell, so those numbers should only go up. His power is unmatched and he’s projected to rank near the top of the NL MVP race this season.
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