Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) hits a two-run home run in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
1. Adam Jones, Orioles
It’s worth mentioning that I’m not a huge fan of Jones as a player. He’s widely overrated by baseball fans and analysts and the fact that he has won three consecutive Gold Gloves is a travesty, as defensive metrics consistently rate him a below-average fielder. All that aside, however, there’s no doubt that he’s still an incredibly talented player. He almost never walks (just 2.8% last season), which hampers his overall line, but he has shown the ability to hit for both average and power, slashing .281/.311/.469 with 29 home runs and 96 RBIs last season. Still 29 years old and in his peak, Jones probably won’t begin his decline just yet and he probably still has a few more years of mashing in the middle of Baltimore’s lineup (he has hit 25 or more home runs in each of the last four seasons). He might not be truly in the ranks of baseball’s elite as some would lead you to believe, but he’s a very good player and will continue to be one.