With the position filled with talented two-way players, deciding on the best center fielders in MLB in 2024 is no easy task. Some of the best center fielders in 2024 are also among the best players in baseball right now at any position.
Additionally, after all is said and done, some of today's center fielders will be listed among the greatest center fielders in MLB history.
Ranking of the top 10 MLB position players for the 2024 season
For now, we want to limit our list to the best quarterbacks of 2024. Which quarterbacks are poised for a great season ahead regardless of what they've done in the past?
As we mentioned, answering this question is not easy. However, we've taken a closer look at the candidates and created a list of the 10 best quarterbacks in 2024.
10. Brian Reynolds
We could have easily put Brandon Marsh or Jaren Duran in this spot, but we'll close out our list with Brian Reynolds, a reliable veteran who is Pittsburgh's starting quarterback this year.
Although 2023 was not his best season, Reynolds has a solid track record and has several seasons hitting over .300 in the major leagues. This makes him a reliable midfielder who still has the upside to be a star again.
9. Byron Buxton
In many respects, Byron Buxton remains an anomaly. He dealt with countless injuries and was coming off a terrible season in which he batted just .207. The Twins sidelined him last season and the injury continues to plague him.
It's also a bad sign that Minnesota traded for Manuel Margot to give them some coverage in the middle of the field. However, the 30-year-old Buxton still has the tools to be an elite quarterback if he can stay healthy and find some consistency.
8. Jung Ho Lee
Admittedly, we don't know much about Lee. But the Giants won't give him a six-year, $113 million deal if he's not ready to be a top-tier center fielder in the major leagues.
Consider that he is only 25 years old and was a five-time KBO Gold Glove Award winner, not to mention the league's MVP in 2022. Lee should be an elite defensive midfielder right away while his offensive profile suggests he could be Also a defensive midfielder. 300 hitter right off the bat, too.
7. James Oatman
We don't know how the Dodgers keep doing it, but James Ottman is another talented player they selected from their farm system. In his first full season in the major leagues, Outman hit .248 with an OPS of .790. With 23 homers and 16 stolen bases, he clearly has 20-20 potential. The 26-year-old also has a lot of room for improvement, which is why we expect him to have a strong season in 2024.
6. Michael Harris II
At 23 years old, Michael Harris II is still just scratching the surface of what he can do. That's high praise for a player who hit .293 with an OPS of .808 last year, considering those numbers are down from his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2022.
Harris is not far from being a 20-20 player who hits .300 or better and plays above-average defense. He's not there yet, but when he does, he will be a top-five quarterback.
5. Cody Bellinger
After a period of uncertainty, Cody Bellinger is back with the Cubs. Just as importantly, he is now among the best center fielders in baseball. We know Bellinger had some down seasons after winning the MVP award in 2019. But he started to get back on track last season, joining the 20-20 club for the first time while hitting a career-best .307.
Bellinger hasn't quite returned to MVP level. But he's still only 28 and has the character to win another MVP award in the next few years, so we have high hopes for him in 2024.
4. Louis Robert
It's almost hard to believe that Louis Robert is only 26 years old. That's why it's a little easier to forgive and forget two injury-riddled seasons. Until late September, Robert managed to avoid getting hurt last season, allowing him to hit .264 with an OPS of .857 thanks to 38 homers and 36 doubles.
For good measure, Robert also stole 20 bases to join the 20-20 club. Don't forget he won a Gold Glove in 2020, so he's also an elite defensive midfielder. If he can stay healthy in 2024, he will be one of the best players in baseball, no questions asked.
3. Mike Trout
We are sad to say that Mike Trout is no longer the premier center fielder in baseball. While he remains one of the all-time greats, Trout has struggled with injuries in three straight seasons. Also, his .263 average and .857 OPS in 2023 were well below his career averages.
In fairness, if healthy, Trout would still be among the best bigs out there. Unfortunately, it's hard to believe that Trout will stay healthy throughout 2024 and replicate the MVP form he had a few years ago.
2. Haroun Al-Qadi
It seems a bit unusual, but Aaron Judge is now a dedicated quarterback. This is where the Yankees plan to play him almost every day in 2024. Naturally, he will be one of the best players at the position if he can stay healthy.
Judge is just two years removed from his stellar 62-homer season. Also, despite missing time due to injuries last season, he produced an OPS of 1.019. Finally, Judge can hold his own in the middle of the field, so don't think he doesn't have the right range for that position.
1. Julio Rodriguez
There has been a changing of the guard as Julio Rodriguez is now the best center fielder in MLB. In just two seasons, Rodriguez became a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner. Somehow, he only turned 23 last December.
That was after he had a 30-30 season with 32 homers and 37 stolen bases while posting an OPS of .818. Rodriguez has accomplished a lot already, yet he is poised to continue improving, which means the sky is the limit for him in 2024 in what will be his third season in the majors.
