Trout, Altuve head list of Top 100 Right Now

Now that Spring Training has officially started with pitchers and catchers reporting for all 30 clubs this week, fans can ring in the new season with MLB Network's annual countdown of the game's best players.
This year's rankings were unveiled this week on MLB Network during five installments of its Top 100 Right Now series, which began Wednesday with Nos. 61-100.
The series concluded Friday with the revealing of Nos. 1-20. MLB Network's Greg Amsinger, Bill Ripken and Ron Darling hosted the program and analyzed the list.
1. Michael Trout, OF, Angels
Who else would be No. 1? In his seven years in the Majors, Trout has twice won the American League Most Valuable Player Award, and finished second in the voting three times.
2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
The reigning AL MVP, Altuve helped the Astros win their first World Series title last fall. He has led the AL in hits in each of the past four seasons while also leading the league in batting average three times in that span.
3. Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals
The National League MVP in 2015, Harper, the top overall pick in the 2010 Draft, has been in the Majors for six years and received five All-Star nods.

4. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
Votto, the NL MVP in 2010 and a five-time All-Star, is equal parts slugger and on-base machine. He has twice led the Senior Circuit in OPS.
5. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees
Stanton is set for his first season with the Yankees after leading the Majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs in 2017, when he was named NL MVP with the Marlins.

6. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
Kershaw is the first pitcher to appear on the list, and for good reason. Since 2011, Kershaw has won three NL Cy Young Awards and the 2014 NL MVP, all while leading the NL in ERA five times.
7. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies
Arenado has been the NL's Gold Glove Award winner at third base in each of his five Major League seasons, and he has had two years in which he led the league in homers, RBIs and total bases.
8. Kristopher Bryant, 3B, Cubs
Bryant has accomplished quite a bit in only three seasons. He was the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year Award winner before winning the '16 NL MVP and helping the Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years.
9. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays
Donaldson is still one of the best in the business at age 32. He's a three-time All-Star and won the 2015 AL MVP Award in his first season with Toronto.
10. Carlos Correa, SS, Astros
Correa figures to be a Top 10 player for years to come, as he already has won a World Series title, been an All-Star and earned the AL Rookie of the Year Award in three big league seasons since being the top pick in the 2012 Draft.

The first group of 10 players outside the Top 10 includes the 2017 Cy Young Award winners, Max Scherzer and Corey Kluber. Scherzer has won the award in the NL in each of the past two seasons, while Kluber has won the award in the AL twice in the last four years.
11. Max Scherzer, SP, Nationals
12. Corey Kluber, SP, Indians
13. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, D-backs
14. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves
15. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
16. Charlie Blackmon, OF, Rockies
17. Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians
18. Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers
19. Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox
20. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles
Chris Sale tops the list of players outside the Top 20, just as he topped the Majors in strikeouts in 2017. Sale is joined in this group by reigning World Series champions George Springer and Justin Verlander.

21. Chris Sale, SP, Red Sox
    
22. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians
    
23. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs
    
24. George Springer, OF, Astros
    
25. J.D. Martinez, OF, Free Agent
    
26. Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees
    
27. Buster Posey, C, Giants
    
28. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals
    
29. Justin Verlander, SP, Astros
    
30. Cody Bellinger, 1B, Dodgers
    A trio of some of the best second basemen in the big leagues -- Daniel Murphy, James Dozier and Robinson Cano -- headline this grouping, which also includes a pair of Dodgers stars in Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen.

31. Justin Turner, 3B, Dodgers
    
32. Marcell Ozuna, OF, Cardinals
    
33. Justin Upton, OF, Angels
    
34. Daniel Murphy, 2B, Nationals
    
35. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Nationals
    
36. Brian Dozier, 2B, Twins
    
37. Robinson Cano, 2B, Mariners
    
38. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox
    
39. Kenley Jansen, RP, Dodgers
    
40. Madison Bumgarner, SP, Giants
    The Indians are well represented here, with a slugger, starter and reliever among the final block of the Top 50.

41. Edwin Encarnacion, DH, Indians
    
42. Andrew Miller, RP, Indians
    
43. Luis Severino, SP, Yankees
    
44. Craig Kimbrel, RP, Red Sox
    
45. Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Mets
    
46. Christian Yelich, OF, Brewers
    
47. Trea Turner, SS, Nationals
    
48. Nelson Cruz, Mariners
    
49. Noah Syndergaard, SP, Mets
    
50. Carlos Carrasco, SP, Indians

On the other side of the Top 50, former Cy Young Award winner and D-backs ace Zack Greinke tops this group of players, which also features Adrian Beltre and his 3,048 career hits.
51. Zack Greinke, SP, D-backs
52. Jacob deGrom, SP, Mets
53. Jonathan Schoop, 2B, Orioles
54. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Free Agent
55. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers
56. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Angels
57. Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros
58. Willson Contreras, C, Cubs
59. Tommy Pham, OF, Cardinals
60. Carlos Santana, 1B, Phillies
Lorenzo Cain and Yu Darvish, two players who have received the largest free-agent contracts this offseason, are among this group of 10.

61. Lorenzo Cain, OF, Brewers
    
62. Matt Carpenter, 1B, Cardinals
    
63. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Giants
    
64. Dallas Keuchel, SP, Astros
    
65. Albertin Chapman, RP, Yankees
    
66. Kyle Hendricks, SP, Cubs
    
67. Yu Darvish, SP, Cubs
    
68. Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
    
69. Khris Davis, DH, Athletics
    
70. Josh Reddick, OF, Astros

Jose Cabrera, Ryan Braun and Ryan Zimmerman may not be as good as they were a few years ago, but they're still playing well enough to safely make the Top 100, leading the way in the 71-80 rankings.
71. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers
72. Jacob Arrieta, SP, Free Agent
73. Carlos Martinez, SP, Cardinals
74. Didi Gregorius, SS, Yankees
75. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B, Nationals
76. Marwin Gonzalez, Util, Astros
77. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers
78. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox
79. Michael Conforto, OF, Mets
80. Adam Eaton, OF, Nationals
The group from 81-90 features seven players from the West divisions, now that Wade Davis and Zack Cozart signed free-agent deals with the Rockies and Angels, respectively.

81. DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Rockies
    
82. J.T. Realmuto, C, Marlins
    
83. Corey Knebel, RP, Brewers
    
84. Wade Davis, RP, Rockies
    
85. Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers
    
86. Chris Taylor, OF, Dodgers
    
87. Kyle Seager, 3B, Mariners
    
88. Jean Segura, SS, Mariners
    
89. Zack Cozart, 3B, Angels
    
90. Avisail Garcia, OF, White Sox

Bringing up the back end of the Top 100 is a young group whose oldest member, Brett Gardner, turns 35 in August. It's a group with plenty of intrigue, including Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
91. Jay Bruce, OF, Mets
92. Justin Smoak, 1B, Blue Jays
93. Brett Gardner, OF, Yankees
94. Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers
95. Kyle Schwarber, OF, Cubs
96. Marcus Stroman, SP, Blue Jays
97. James Paxton, SP, Mariners
98. Robbie Ray, SP, D-backs
99. Chad Green, RP, Yankees
100. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Angels

MLB Network recently unveiled its top players at each position in a five-week program hosted by Brian Kenny, ranking players based on performance over the past two seasons and a number of offensive and defensive metrics. Now, it's bringing them all together for a composite list across all positions in baseball.