Clayton Kershaw, Chris Taylor Among 7 Dodgers Named To MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now For 2018 Season
Wally Skalig-Los Angeles Times

With the core returning from a team that boasted the best record in baseball and finished one win shy of a World Series championship, the Los Angeles Dodgers had seven players named in the MLB Network ‘Top 100 Right Now’ for the 2018 season.

That’s up from last year’s number of six, but second-most in the National League and still trails the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals who each had eight players in the annual rankings. Within the NL West, the Colorado Rockies had four, and Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants each had three in the top 100.

Like with the network’s 2017 rankings, Kershaw again is the first pitcher to appear on the list and the only to crack the top 10. However, he tumbled a bit, falling from second overall to No. 6.

The Dodgers are next presented by Corey Seager at No. 18th, Cody Bellinger (30th), Justin Turner (31st), Kenley Jansen (39th), Chris Taylor (86th) and Yasiel Puig (94th).

Seager fell from last year’s No. 11 ranking, while Turner made another jump. He was ranked 84th entering the 2016 season, then No. 56 heading into last year. Turner was not ranked in 2014 and 2015.

Similarly, coming off a second consecutive season in which he won the Trevor Hoffman Award, Jansen shot up from his previous No. 65 ranking. He was also recognized by MLB Network in 2015 at No. 87, but fell off the list for 2016.

Bellinger’s and Taylor’s breakout campaigns earned them debuts on the Top 100 Right Now. Meanwhile, Yasmani Grandal, who made his first appearance on the list at No. 90 heading into last season, has fallen off completely for 2018.

And though he is no longer part of the Dodgers organization, so too has Adrian Gonzalez. It further adds to what’s been a downward trend in his ranking since 2014.

The Chicago Cubs, again a favorite to reach the World Series, placed six in the Top 100 Right Now, while the Cleveland Indians are represented by six players.

Heading into last season the Cubs paced all teams with nine players in the top 100. The Boston Red Sox and Indians tied for second with eight, Nationals had seven, and the Giants tied with the Dodgers with six.

Complete ranking of MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now included below.

RankPlayer
1Mike Trout (Angels)
2Jose Altuve (Astros)
3Bryce Harper (Nationals)
4Joey Votto (Reds)
5Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees)
6Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
7Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
8Kris Bryant (Cubs)
9Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)
10Carlos Correa (Astros)
11Max Scherzer (Nationals)
12Corey Kluber (Indians)
13Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks)
14Freddie Freeman (Braves)
15Aaron Judge (Yankees)
16Charlie Blackmon (Rockies)
17Francisco Lindor (Indians)
18Corey Seager (Dodgers)
19Mookie Betts (Red Sox)
20Manny Machado (Orioles)
21Chris Sale (Red Sox)
22Jose Ramirez (Indians)
23Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)
24George Springer (Astros)
25J.D. Martinez (Red Sox)
26Gary Sanchez (Yankees)
27Buster Posey (Giants)
28Stephen Strasburg (Nationals)
29Justin Verlander (Astros)
30Cody Bellinger (Dodgers)
31Justin Turner (Dodgers)
32Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals)
33Justin Upton (Angels)
34Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
35Anthony Rendon (Nationals)
36Brian Dozier (Twins)
37Robinson Cano (Mariners)
38Jose Abreu (White Sox)
39Kenley Jansen (Dodgers)
40Madison Bumgarner (Giants)
41Edwin Encarnacion (Indians)
42Andrew Miller (Indians)
43Luis Severino (Yankees)
44Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox)
45Yoenis Cespedes (Mets)
46Christian Yelich (Brewers)
47Trea Turner (Nationals)
48Nelson Cruz (Mariners)
49Noah Syndergaard (Mets)
50Carlos Carrasco (Indians)
51Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)
52Jacob deGrom (Mets)
53Jonathan Schoop (Orioles)
54Eric Hosmer (Padres)
55Adrian Beltre (Rangers)
56Andrelton Simmons (Angels)
57Alex Bregman (Astros)
58Willson Contreras (Cubs)
59Tommy Pham (Cardinals)
60Carlos Santana (Phillies)
61Lorenzo Cain (Brewers)
62Matt Carpenter (Cardinals)
63Andrew McCutchen (Giants)
64Dallas Keuchel (Astros)
65Aroldis Chapman (Yankees)
66Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)
67Yu Darvish (Cubs)
68Byron Buxton (Twins)
69Khris Davis (Athletics)
70Josh Reddick (Astros)
71Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
72Jake Arrieta (Free agent)
73Carlos Martinez (Cardinals)
74Didi Gregorius (Yankees)
75Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals)
76Marwin Gonzalez (Astros)
77Ryan Braun (Brewers)
78Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox)
79Michael Conforto (Mets)
80Adam Eaton (Nationals)
81DJ LeMahieu (Rockies)
82J.T. Realmuto (Marlins)
83Corey Knebel (Brewers)
84Wade Davis (Rockies)
85Elvis Andrus (Rangers)
86Chris Taylor (Dodgers)
87Kyle Seager (Mariners)
88Jean Segura (Mariners)
89Zack Cozart (Angels)
90Avisail Garcia (White Sox)
91Jay Bruce (Mets)
92Justin Smoak (Blue Jays)
93Brett Gardner (Yankees)
94Yasiel Puig (Dodgers)
95Kyle Schwarber (Cubs)
96Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays)
97James Paxton (Mariners)
98Robbie Ray (Diamondbacks)
99Chad Green (Yankees)
100Shohei Ohtani (Angels)