Fantasy Baseball: Top 100 Hitters for 2013-Part 1

Now that we have completed our position rankings, except for the reliever rankings, I am going to take a look at my Top 100 Hitters for 2013. You may see some of the hitters are ranked higher than in my Early Position Rankings, and that is partly due to your comments and my changing my mind on a few guys. Like the position rankings, these will change later in the year and into spring training, but here is my first cut at the Top 50 Hitters for 2013. I will follow up with the rest of my Top 100 Hitters in the next few days.

Here is a look at my Top 50 Hitters for 2013:

1. Ryan Braun, MIL

2. Mike Trout, LAA

3. Miguel Cabrera, DET

4. Matt Kemp, LAD

5. Andrew McCutchen, PIT

6. Josh Hamilton, TEX

7. Robinson Cano, NYY

8. Joey Votto, CIN

9. Prince Fielder, DET

10. Carlos Gonzalez, COL

The rest of my Top 50 Hitters after the jump:

11. Giancarlo Stanton, MIA

12. Albert Pujols, LAA

13. Troy Tulowitzki, COL

14. Justin Upton, ARI

15. Jason Heyward, ATL

16. Buster Posey, SFG

17. Evan Longoria, TB

18. Dustin Pedroia, BOS

19. Adrian Beltre, TEX

20. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS

21. David Wright, NYM

22. Hanley Ramirez, LAD

23. Edwin Encarnacion, TOR

24. Ian Kinsler, TEX

25. Chase Headley, SD

26. Allen Craig, STL

27. Matt Holliday, STL

28. Jay Bruce, CIN

28. a. Billy Butler, KC

29. Jose Bautista, TOR

30. Aramis Ramirez, MIL

31. Bryce Harper, WAS

32. Starlin Castro, CHC

33. Adam Jones, BAL

34. Adrian Gonzalez, LAD

35. Joe Mauer, MIN

36. Elvis Andrus, TEX

37. Jose Reyes MIA

38. Desmond Jennings, TB

39. Yadier Molina, STL

40. Josh Willingham, MIN

41. Mark Teixeira, NYY

42. Brandon Phillips, CIN

43. Eric Hosmer, KC

44. Ian Desmond, WAS

45. Curtis Granderson, NYY

46. Ben Zobrist, TB

47. Brett Lawrie, TOR

48. B.J. Upton, TB

49. Aaron Hill, ARI

50. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI

I moved Ryan Braun up to No. 1 overall due to his consistency and the fact that Angels outfielder Mike Trout will have a tough time duplicating his rookie season. Braun is one stolen base from going 40-30 this season, after going 33-33 last season. Very impressive.

I continue to waiver on ranking Reds first baseman so high. I know this is going against the grain, but the drop in home runs is concerning for me, especially since he is a first baseman. His HR/AB has increased in each of the last two seasons, from one every 14 at bats to one ever 25 at bats this season. He might be one of, if not THE best hitte rs in the game, but for fantasy purposes he is expected to hit for a solid average and hit for power if he is going to be drafted in the first round next season. I may end up dropping him later in the offseason.

Here are 6 guys I am sure I will be higher on than most:

Jason Heyward

Buster Posey

Adrian Beltre

Allen Craig

Bryce Harper

Josh Willingham

Here are 5 guys I am probably lower on than most:

Albert Pujols

David Wright

Jose Bautista

Mark Teixeira

Curtis Granderson

Adrian Gonzalez

I might be higher than others on Eric Hosmer and Desmond Jennings as well. Maybe because I own them in an AL-only keeper league, but I also like them to rebound off of their sub-par sophomore seasons.

I have written several pieces on why I am down on Pujols. The big issue, for me, is his age. He is at an age where many Hall of Famers start to see a decline in performance. His performance is down this season, after being down last season.

I have to say I am starting to warm up to Twins catcher Joe Mauer. I have been down on him due to the lack of power, but for a catcher, he has been very consistent is not hurting you, but actually helping you, in the batting average category. Not a new revelation, but there are so many catchers who can hurt you in the batting average category, Mauer does not. He helps in the runs and RBI categories as well, as he has scored 78 runs and knocked in 83 this season.