The Los Angeles Dodgers are well represented within MLB’s top 100 right now list heading into the 2023 season with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw all included.
While two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels was deemed the best player heading into 2023, the Dodgers were one of only three teams (Angels and St. Louis Cardinals) to have two players listed within the top 10 of the rankings list.
All five Dodgers players were also included on the same list for 2022, and rank among the best players at their respective positions for this year.
Dodgers ranked on MLB Top 100 Players Right Now list for 2023
Mookie Betts, No. 4
Up two spots in this year’s rankings, Betts saw 2022 as a stellar third season with Los Angeles as he hit .269/.340/.533 and a career-best 35 home runs. The six-time All-Star collected an impressive on-base plus slugging percentage while contributing 82 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
Freddie Freeman, No. 10
Despite falling one spot since last year’s rankings, Freeman remains one of the top players in baseball. In addition to leading the Majors with 199 hits last season and capturing a career-best full-season batting average at .325, Freeman’s .918 OPS came behind 70 extra-base hits, including 21 home runs.
His 100 RBI on the season marked a third year with at least that many.
Will Smith, No. 42
Rising an impressive 11 spots on the list, Smith totaled career-bests in hits (132), doubles (26), triples (three) and RBI (87) last year. Highlighted with a .260/.343/.465 slash line, Smith’s batting average was also a career-best across his first three big league seasons for a full regular season of play.
Julio Urías, No.50
Freshly named as the Dodgers’ 2023 Opening Day starter, Urías saw staggering success last season that featured a National League-leading ERA of 2.16 and ERA+ of 194. Also named an NL Cy Young Award finalist, the 26-year-old left-hander allowed only 42 earned runs across 175 innings of work on the mound.
Clayton Kershaw, No.81
Despite having his 2022 season shorted by two back injuries, the 35-year-old still jumped up 12 spots versus last year’s rankings in large part thanks to a strong 2.28 ERA across 22 starts. Kershaw’s 184 ERA+ was impressively his best for a full regular season’s worth of work since 2014.
Dodgers make ESPN’s top 100 players list
Like MLB, the Dodgers are also represented on ESPN’s top 100 players list for 2023 by Betts, Freeman, Smith, Urías and Kershaw.
Interestingly though, Freeman is ranked higher (fifth) than Betts (ninth) by ESPN.
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