Regular All-Stars

These are the nine outfielders drafted highly who are performing as they should be.

1. Bryce Harper – Harper’s second in OBP among all outfielders at .403, but he’s first among outfielders in walk to strikeout rate at 1.19 walks for every strikeout, which blows away any other competitor.
2. Mike Trout – Trout’s got a higher OBP than Harper, but he strikes out a little more, walks a little less, and hits for a little more power. So he has to settle for the “best hitter” spot in this lineup.
3. Kris Bryant – Bryant’s .284 Isolated Power and 21 home runs rank third among outfielders, and his 19 doubles tie him for ninth among outfielders.
4. Yoenis Cespedes – I was a little surprised to see Cespedes rank so highly in my calculations, despite only 283 plate appearances. His 18 home runs tie him for seventh among outfielders, but his Iso is .270 and tied for sixth.
5. Nelson Cruz – Cruz’s 143 wRC+ ranks seventh among outfielders. He’s hitting for the same power as always, but he’s raised his walk rate to a career-high 10 percent.
6. Ian Desmond – Along with Harper and Trout, Desmond is one of only six outfielders with double-digit steals and homers this year. His .326 average ranks second among outfielders.
7. Mookie Betts – Betts is one of the other outfielders with double-digit homers and steals. He’d fit in anywhere in this lineup, but his .328 OBP suits him best down here.
8. Gregory Polanco – Polanco is one steal away from joining the double-double club, and his 140 wRC+ is tied for eighth among outfielders. His 36 extra-base hits rank ninth among outfielders, and he’s raised his Iso (.221) and walk rate (12 percent) to stud levels.
9. Starling Marte – Marte’s 20 steals are second-most among outfielders, and his .325 average ranks third. Despite only six homers he’s actually hitting for the most power of his career so far (.164 Iso).

Waiver Wire All-Stars

These outfielders were either drafted really late or scooped up off the waiver wire early in the season.

1. Odubel Herrera – Herrera ranks eighth (.309) in average and fifth (.397) in OBP among outfielders. He’s already matched his rookie home run total (eight), while more than doubling his walk rate and cutting his strikeout rate from 24 percent to 17 percent.
2. Jackie Bradley, Jr. – Bradley ranks 11th, sixth and seventh in AVG/OBP/SLG, and his 147 wRC+ ranks fourth, just two years removed from a .198 average and 46 wRC+. Bradley easily could be in the first lineup here, but he was drafted so late I can stick him here to include another player up top.
3. Marcell Ozuna – Ozuna’s 151 wRC+ ranks second among outfielders. He’s currently setting career-highs in walk rate, strikeout rate, Iso, and average as well as other stats.
4. Michael Saunders – Saunders’ 15 home runs are nice, but his .266 Iso ranks eighth among outfielders. He just needs five more home runs to set a new career-high.
5. Mark Trumbo – Trumbo is currently leading the league in home runs with 23, and his .271 is easily the best of his career.
6. Wil Myers – Myers is also a double-double outfielder, and his 18 homers and 11 steals are already career-bests.
7. Jay Bruce – Bruce has rebounded from a couple of poor seasons thanks to a lowered strikeout rate. His .290 Iso is a career-high.
8. Adam Duvall – Duvall sits in second place in the Majors in home runs with 22, and his 41 extra-base hits are tied for fourth in the Majors.
9. Melvin Upton, Jr. – Upton rounds out the double-double outfield crew with 12 homers and 18 steals. His 18 steals rank fifth among all players.