MLB Network has been promoting fan votes to determine the 10 best players in MLB right now at each position.
The latest spot of the field analyzed in the exercise was center field.
The Cleveland Guardians got no love from fans, though: here is the list, with no members of the team on it.
The #Top10RightNow center fielders according to The Shredder ⬇️
What do you think? pic.twitter.com/C14Es7zylr
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 26, 2024
The Guardians’ center fielder is Myles Straw.
Cleveland’s lineup has some top performers, most notably Jose Ramirez at third base.
You could make cases for Andres Gimenez and Josh Naylor being top-ten players at second and first base, respectively.
Straw, however, is definitely not a top-ten center fielder.
This is not to say he doesn’t impact the game in any way: to the contrary, he is considered “plus” in two specific tools: defense and speed.
In fact, Straw is a Gold Glove winner in center field: it happened in 2022.
He has also stolen 71 bases in the last three years.
His problem is that he is a light-hitting, glove-first outfielder, and those who can’t hit usually get no love from fans.
At least not the love he deserves for being a top defensive center fielder.
In 2023, Straw hit .238/.301/.297 with a .597 OPS.
That’s well-below average offensive production.
Ideally, Straw would be a fourth outfielder on a championship-caliber team.
Unless the Guardians bring in a top center fielder via trade (or corner outfielder, and they would move Steven Kwan from left to the middle) or someone within the organization steps up and breaks out (Johnathan Rodriguez, Will Brennan, Estevan Florial, George Valera, and Jhonkensy Noel all have potential), Straw will likely remain the man in center.
NEXT: Young Guardians Pitcher Seen Giving Back
