Top 100 Hitters for 2014

Now that we have completed our consensus position rankings for 2014, it is time to address rankings for those of you in AL only and NL only leagues. I will publish league specific position rankings each day, addressing one position at a time, starting with the NL only position rankings.

In case you missed them, below you will find links to all of our consensus position rankings and projections that we have published to date:

Catcher: Part 1| Part 2

First Base: Part 1| Part 2

Second Base: Part 1| Part 2

Shortstop: Part 1| Part 2

Third Base: Part 1| Part 2

Outfielders: Part 1| Part 2| Part 3

Starting Pitcher: Part 1| Part 2| Part 3

Top 30 Closers for 2014

2014 Closers in Waiting

Recently, one of our readers asked when I would be publishing my updated Top 100 hitters for 2014, so here you go. I may have some hitters ranked higher than other sites, and some guys lower than other sites, but this is how I would draft these players on draft day. Other sites may rank some of the second and third tier first baseman higher than I do, but as you will see below, the focus in my rankings are on outfielders, as I see the position as thinner than in recent memory. Maybe I am wrong, but you will see an emphasis on outfielders early.

Couple Thoughts

As you can see, I ranked Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano at #24, much lower than you will see elsewhere and in drafts. As you know, I am down on Cano this year, as I see his numbers being hurt by the move to Safeco Park. He may hit for a high average, but I see his home runs, runs scored and RBI dropping.

I have moved Orioles outfielder Adam Jones into the top 10, ranking him at #7 overall. I moved him up due to his consistency as a hitter, hitting for a .280+ batting average and has now hit 30 or more home runs and scored 100+ runs in each of the last two seasons. He hits in a hitter-friendly park and has seen his HR/FB% rise in each of the last three seasons.

I moved a few other outfielders up in my rankings as well, including Bryce Harper, Shin-Soo Choo and Matt Kemp. Harper reported to camp with more muscle than last season, and I can see a 25-30 home run season from him in 2014, and that could prove to be conservative. Choo moves from Cincinnati to Texas where I could see him challenging Mike Trout for the runs scored title in MLB this season. Kemp also moves up in the rankings as reports on him indicate his shoulder is back to being 100% and his ankle looks healthy. I saw highlights of him running out ground balls in intra-squad games yesterday and he was not jogging down the first base line. His ankle appears 100% healthy as well, so I expect him to be the old Matt Kemp this season, just not the Matt Kemp who stole 40 bases a few seasons ago.

I won't go through all of the changes, as there were many, but I will tell you who I will target this season: Ian Desmond, Kemp, Eric Hosmer, Matt Hollday, Josh Hamilton, Jayson Werth, Carlos Beltran, Starlin Castro and Brandon Belt, to name a few.

Now let's get to the Top 100 Hitters for 2014:

Fantasy Rundown

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