Soto vs. Acuña vs. Harper: Who's the best RF in the NL East? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
With the NL East shaping up to be one of baseball’s most competitive division races, NBC Sports Washington’s Matt Weyrich is previewing the 2021 season by ranking each team at every position on and off the diamond. Points will be awarded to teams based on their spot in each ranking with a final tally released just before Opening Day.*
Up first in the series: right field.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
1. Juan Soto (WSH) – 5 points +1 for top-5 position player in division (6 total)
2019-20 stats: 197 G, 855 PA, .297/.421/.580, 1.002 OPS, 207 H, 47 HR, 36 doubles, 5 triples, 149 R, 147 RBI, 149 BB, 160 SO, 18 SB (3 CS), 1 outfield assist, 2 errors, -9 DRS
Kicking off this year’s NL East position rankings is the best player that will appear in them at any position. Juan Soto, embarking on his age-22 season, has already cemented himself as a top-5 player in all of baseball after a shortened season in which he led all hitters in OBP (.490) and slugging (.695).
Soto is getting Ted Williams comps for his rare blend of power and plate discipline, two traits that have only improved since he broke into the majors in 2018. He’s shifting over to right field after playing in left the last three years; Soto played right field in the minors and spent the offseason working on his defense.
If Soto continues on his trajectory in 2021, he’s as much a favorite to win NL MVP as anyone.
2. Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) – 4 points +1 for top-5 position player in division (5 total)
2019-20 stats: 202 G, 917 PA, .274/.374/.531, .905 OPS, 215 H, 55 HR, 33 doubles, 2 triples, 173 R, 130 RBI, 114 BB, 248 SO, 45 SB (10 CS), 10 outfield assists, 3 errors, 15 DRS
The Soto-Acuña debate is shaping up to be a much better one than Trout-Harper, as far as debates around young superstars go. Acuña is arguably more accomplished than Soto in winning individual accolades, as the Braves outfielder has two Silver Sluggers to Soto’s one in addition to edging him out for the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2018.
Acuña is also a better fielder and baserunner, playing multiple outfield positions well and primarily hitting leadoff for the Braves so far in his career. The edge goes to Soto in both hitting departments of making contact and producing power, which is enough to put him over Acuña despite the other tools and awards — for now, at least.
Either of these up-and-coming outfielders could overtake the other in a given year. This debate will be one that dominates NL East discussion for the next two decades.
3. Bryce Harper (PHI) – 3 points +1 for top-5 position player in division (4 total)
2019-20 stats: 215 G, 926 PA, .262/.385/.518, .903 OPS, 200 H, 48 HR, 45 doubles, 3 triples, 139 R, 147 RBI, 148 BB, 221 SO, 23 SB (5 CS), 15 outfield assists, 6 errors, 9 DRS
If it feels odd seeing a former MVP ranked third at his position among his division rivals, you’re not alone. Bryce Harper would be closer to the top of the list in any other division but has the unfortunate distinction of playing in the NL East with Soto and Acuña.
Harper may not be playing like he did when he posted Barry Bonds-esque numbers in 2015, but he’s still a very good player who’s unquestionably the best on his team. No one has both as many walks and home runs as he does over the last two seasons — though Soto is just one homer short — while his throwing arm is one of baseball’s most feared.
Even though Harper isn’t topping these rankings, at least he does have one significant edge over both Soto and Acuña: his bank account.
Download and subscribe to the Nationals Talk podcast
4. Michael Conforto (NYM) – 2 points
2019-20 stats: 205 G, 881 PA, .274/.376/.499, .875 OPS, 206 H, 42 HR, 41 doubles, 1 triple, 130 R, 123 RBI, 108 BB, 206 SO, 10 SB (5 CS), 14 outfield assists, 3 errors, -3 DRS
Another travesty here, placing Michael Conforto fourth when he’s probably a top-10 right fielder in the game. He’s suddenly a forgotten name in Queens now with Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, James McCann and Dominic Smith all sharing a lineup with him. Yet he will be crucial to the Mets’ success this season, figuring to bat fourth between Lindor and Alonso.
Still only 28 years old, Conforto has quietly been the Mets’ most consistent bat of the last four years. His 118 career home runs are the third most in franchise history for a player through his age-27 season behind only Darryl Strawberry (215) and David Wright (169). With the Mets having World Series aspirations this fall, Conforto has the opportunity to be a big part of their success.
5. Adam Duvall (MIA) – 1 point
2019-20 stats: 98 G, 339 PA, .248/.307/.545, .852 OPS, 77 H, 26 HR, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 51 R, 52 RBI, 22 BB, 93 SO, 0 SB (0 CS), 3 outfield assists, 4 errors, 1 DRS
Rounding out this list is the Marlins’ biggest offseason addition. Adam Duvall joins a Miami outfield that’s hoping to be one of the best defensive trios in baseball. Duvall averaged 14 Defensive Runs Saved per year between 2016 and 2018; he’ll look to regain his form with an opportunity to play every day.
On the offensive side, Duvall absolutely terrorizes left-handed pitching with an .894 OPS off southpaws last year compared to .813 against righties. He will be relied on as a source of power for a Marlins team that won’t score a ton of runs but has strong pitching and solid defense. Duvall may not be seen as a major upgrade from the outside, but he’s set to fill an important role for Miami as the club looks to build off its 2020 playoff appearance.
*Scoring will be determined as follows:
Max total = 100 points
- 5 points awarded for each of the best position players, 4 for second-best, etc.
- 1 bonus point awarded for each of the five best position players in the division
- 6 points awards for each of the top three starters, 5 for the next three, etc.
- 1 bonus point awarded for each of the two best starting pitchers in the division
- 5 points awarded for each of the top three bullpen arms, 4 for the next three, etc.
- 5 points awarded for the best manager, 4 for second-best, etc.
- 5 points awarded for the best GM, 4 for second-best, etc.
Scoring breakdown = 45 max points for hitting, 45 max points for pitching, 10 max points for coaches/GMs
Other NL East position rankings:
Left field – March 11
Center field – March 12
First base – March 15
Second base – March 16
Shortstop – March 17
Third base – March 18
Catcher – March 19
Rotations – March 22
Bullpens – March 23
Managers & coaching staffs – March 24
GMs & front offices – March 25
Composite rankings – March 26
