Red Sox vs the AL East: right fielders
By Conor Duffy
Sep 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) rounds the bases on his two run home run during the eighth inning to tie the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
After a pair of injury-shortened seasons in 2012 and 2013, Bautista came back with a vengeance last season. He played in 155 games for the Blue Jays and had himself an excellent year, hitting .286/.403/.524 with 35 home runs and 103 RBIs. One of the true sluggers in the game of baseball, Bautista even walked more than he struck out last season while posting an elite 159 wRC+, meaning that he was 59% better than the league average. His range isn’t spectacular, but his phenomenal arm makes him a roughly average defender in right field and his prowess at the plate makes him one of the most valuable players in baseball. At 34, he’ll begin to slow down soon, but there’s no reason not to think that he can have another elite season in 2015.