It’s a cliché to note that it’s a long season, but every year we see again just how true that is. And so it goes with the Hitter Power Rankings.

It’s nearly impossible to maintain an elite level of performance at the plate over several months. Slumps happen to the best of them, and injuries can strike at any time. By the same token, a well-timed hot streak can also put a slow start in the rearview mirror with haste.

These rankings take into account both season-long excellence and recent performance, along with compelling storylines and a bit of “fun factor.” So as we reach the end of MLB’s first half, our seventh edition of the Hitter Power Rankings features a mix of stalwarts holding on to their hard-earned spots and some fresh faces bashing their way to the top.

1) Austin Riley, 3B, Braves (last poll: not ranked)
DraftKings MVP odds: 25-1

How does one go from unranked in each of our first six Hitter Power Rankings to No. 1 in our seventh? For Riley, slashing .456/.492/.912 with five doubles, seven home runs and 15 RBIs over a 14-game stretch through Wednesday certainly did the trick. That scorching performance vaulted the 25-year-old into the MLB lead for total bases (196) entering Thursday’s action.

2) Juan Soto, RF, Nationals (not ranked)
DraftKings MVP odds: 60-1

Were you worried about Soto? Well, uh, don’t be. It speaks to his status as a generational hitting talent that it was considered cause for alarm when Soto had a season line that was still about 30 percent above league average. But just like in 2021 (1.164 second-half OPS), it seems Soto is heating up along with the July weather. He went deep in both halves of a doubleheader Wednesday against Seattle, giving him four homers over a five-game span and a 1.440 OPS since June 26.

3) Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals (2)
DraftKings MVP odds: 1.05-1

His torrid pace has slowed down this month, yet he still entered Thursday leading the NL in hits (109), runs (62), batting average (.332), OBP (.415) and OPS+ (186). Goldy looks like the frontrunner for his first MVP Award.

4) Corey Seager, SS, Rangers (not ranked)
DraftKings MVP odds: 100-1

It raised a lot of eyebrows when Texas splurged on both Seager and Marcus Semien last winter, especially when neither got off to an inspiring start in April. But both have turned it on since, with Seager recently homering in five consecutive games (July 8-12) and boasting an OPS over 1.000 in July.

5) Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox (10)
DraftKings MVP odds: 15-1

Gerrit Cole doesn’t have a vote here, but if he did, Devers would probably be even higher. The Yankees ace said he was “open for suggestions” on how to pitch to Devers after the 25-year-old lit him up for two homers on July 7. But really, there’s no good way to pitch to Devers this year.

6) Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers (9)
DraftKings MVP odds: 20-1

Speaking of hitters who are impossible to pitch to, there’s Freeman, with his ability to pepper base hits to the opposite field but also turn on a ball and pummel it into the seats. Over a three-game stretch from Sunday through Wednesday, Freeman went an absurd 11-for-13 with three doubles and two homers, giving him a .394/.451/.707 line since June 18.

7) Yordan Alvarez, LF/DH, Astros (1)
DraftKings MVP odds: 10-1

Only health issues can slow down Alvarez, who was placed on the injured list with right hand inflammation on Sunday. Houston will have him use the IL stint to get some extra rest around the All-Star break, then hopefully pick up right where he left off, with an MLB-best .653 slugging percentage.

8) Aaron Judge, CF/RF, Yankees (4)
DraftKings MVP odds: 1.65-1

This is the lowest Judge has been since he was left out of our first Hitter Power Rankings entirely. That’s the result of a fairly pedestrian stretch -- a .633 OPS in 17 games from June 24 through Wednesday. Still, there’s only so far you can fall when you carry 30 homers into the All-Star break.

9) Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals (not ranked)
DraftKings MVP odds: 35-1

A huge start placed Arenado on top of our first rankings back on April 22, and while he cooled off in May, things are clicking again. Arenado entered Thursday with a 1.234 OPS in July, and his park-adjusted 153 OPS+ this season would be 20 points above his previous career high.

10) Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners (not ranked)
DraftKings MVP odds: 100-1

Are you tuning in to the J-Rod Show? You should be. The 21-year-old rookie brings energy, charisma and a lightning-quick bat to the plate, landing him a well deserved spot on the AL All-Star squad and a berth in the Home Run Derby.

Also receiving votes: José Abreu (White Sox), Jose Altuve (Astros), Luis Arraez (Twins), Kris Bryant (Rockies), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Matt Carpenter (Yankees), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Rhys Hoskins (Phillies), Manny Machado (Padres), Shohei Ohtani (Angels), Albert Pujols (Cardinals), Harold Ramírez (Rays), José Ramírez (Guardians), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Mike Trout (Angels), Justin Turner (Dodgers)

Voters: David Adler, Nick Aguilera, Doug Gausepohl, Sarah Langs, Ted Lee, Mike Petriello, Manny Randhawa, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon