Last week, we revealed our NL All-Star ballot based on PLV statistics. Today, it’s the AL’s turn. Before we dig in, here’s a quick reminder of the criteria: Each hitter needed to have seen a minimum of 1,000 pitches to qualify. The only exception was Catchers, who needed 800.
There are several PLV categories for hitters, but the two that are the most all-encompassing are Process and Hitter Performance (HP). Process is a combination of three categories: Decision Value (DV), Contact, and Power, and, like HP, is measured by the number of runs added per pitch. We simply added these two to qualified hitters and plucked the best by position.
Like the official ballot, we selected three outfielders, regardless of their typical position, and assigned them to left, right, and center based on the best fit. All statistics below are through June 30. Unlike the NL, the voters and PLV were well aligned in the AL.
Catcher
Fan & PLV Vote: Cal Raleigh
It had to be the “Big Dumper,” didn’t it? Raleigh has always hit for power, but it used to be accompanied by a low batting average. This year, he has increased his walk rate and decreased his strikeout rate, which has helped his OBP rise without affecting his power. Incredibly, his ISO is nearly .100 points higher than his career best. In terms of PLV, Raleigh has combined excellent Strikezone Judgement (SZJ) with unbelievable Power to garner one of the highest HPs in the league.
First Base
PLV & Fan Vote: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vlad is such a good hitter that his stat line so far this season seems underwhelming. But don’t let that fool you. His “Expected Stats” are much higher, indicating he’s had some bad luck. Guerrero is a PLV dream with no weaknesses at the plate. He excels in nearly every category. His Process chart below is a thing of beauty, with none of the three categories dipping below 100 any time this season.
Second Base
PLV & Fan Vote: Gleyber Torres
Gleyber Torres looks like a different hitter since joining the Tigers this season. He’s striking out less and walking more without sacrificing power. Gleyber’s O-Swing rate is 5% points lower than last year, while his contact rate has increased by four points. Torres has increased his DV, SZJ, Contact, and Power ratings this season and has turned himself into one of the best top-of-the-order bats in the AL. His 140 DV through June was the best in baseball, higher than Juan Soto, who tends to dominate this category.
Shortstop
Fan Vote: Jacob Wilson
PLV Vote: Zach Neto
Jacob Wilson is having a stellar rookie season, but it’s still surprising that fans gave him the nod over Bobby Witt Jr., who continues to excel in Kansas City. However, based on PLV, neither of these studs gets our vote. Instead, PLV casts its ballot for Angels’ shortstop Zach Neto. Neto’s 12 home runs were tied with Trevor Story for the AL lead among shortstops through June, and he led the field in ISO. His 127 Power rating was among the top ten in MLB, although it appears to be declining based on the chart below. Neto’s been a big part of the Angels’ surprisingly powerful offense this season.
Third Base
Fan Vote: José Ramírez
PLV Vote: Maikel Garcia
Had he not gotten traded to the NL last month, Rafael Devers would have garnered the PLV vote for third base. However, he’s now a Giant, so we went with the next best on our list, super-utility man Maikel Garcia over José Ramírez. Ramirez’s PLV profile this season has been solid, but unspectacular, while Garcia is having a breakout season for the Royals, slashing .309/.367/.479 through June. Though he’s a free-swinger, he doesn’t strike out that much due to his extraordinary Contact Ability, which was tops in the AL in a tie with Steven Kwan. Along with Witt, Garcia has been one of the few bright spots on a Kansas City offense that has struggled to score runs this season.
Left Field
Fan & PLV Vote: Riley Greene
Riley Greene is having a breakout season for the surprising Tigers. He will undoubtedly set career highs in home runs and RBI, and was ranked in the AL top five in these categories through June. The biggest change in Greene’s PLV profile this season is in the Power department. His 131 PLV is well above the 120 he produced in 2024. The outfielder is hitting the ball to the opposite field more often this year and has increased his barrel rate significantly. The results have been tremendous, leading to a 24.4% home-run-per-fly-ball rate, which was third in the AL behind Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.
Center Field
Fan Vote: Javier Báez
PLV Vote: George Springer
Javier Báez’s turnaround this season is a great story, but he didn’t make our pitches-seen threshold, and even if he did, PLV is not a fan. Baez’s DV and SZJ are pretty abysmal, which he compensates for with excellent Contact Ability. Springer’s stats don’t jump off the page, but the veteran is quietly having his best season in a while. He has consistently ranked high on the DV meter, and this year is no exception, as his 129 rating was tied for the fourth-best in MLB through June. Springer is squaring the ball up nicely this year. His barrel rate and sweet-spot rate are in the top 10% in MLB, as is his xAVG. Like his teammate Vladdy, Springer doesn’t have any PLV weaknesses.
Right Field
Fan & PLV Vote: Aaron Judge
Even the most casual baseball fan would guess that Aaron Judge would make PLV’s starting lineup. The kind of numbers Judge has put up through the first three months of the season don’t happen by accident. The big man led all qualified hitters in average, OBP, SLG, and wOBA through June and was second in HRs and runs and fourth in RBI. On the PLV front, Judge’s numbers are surprisingly down from last season, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. He still has the highest Power rating in MLB and strong DV and SZJ rankings. Judge doesn’t always make contact, but he swings at the correct pitches most of the time and is deadly when he makes contact.
Designated Hitter
Fan Vote: Ryan O’Hearn
PLV Vote: Mike Trout
Ryan O’Hearn is having a solid season, but PLV loves what Mike Trout has done this year, even if the results aren’t totally indicative. Trout barely surpassed our pitch minimum and has played more DH than right field this season, so we felt his inclusion was warranted. Trout’s 128 DV and 131 Power ratings were among the AL leaders, leading to the second-highest Process behind Aaron Judge. The batting average hasn’t been great, but the erstwhile superstar is getting on base and still generating a ton of pop. Let’s hope he can stay on the field the rest of the way.
