The left fielders play the defense in the left field. They have to cover large distances and be quick on their feet. Their quickness is crucial as they must be able to catch the ball flying over their heads and on the run.
Additional to their quickness, they need to have a quick reflex. The left fielders need good fielding and catching skills.
So who are the top players in MLB who excel in all of these roles needed for left fielders?
We have compiled a list of some of the top left fielders in the world right now in MLB. Although the 2022 season has begun, we are looking at the previous season’s ranking to help us rank the players.
So without further ado, let us look at the MLB’s top left fielders in the world right now!
12 MLB Top Left Fielders In The World Right Now 2024
We have prepared the list basically with the help of trusted sources like BleacherReport, FranchiseSports, etc. Before plunging into the list, let us look at the rankings first.
| Players Name | Teams |
| 12. AJ Pollock | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 11. Eddie Rosario | Atlanta Braves |
| 10.Tommy Pham | San Diego Padres |
| 9. Randy Arozarena | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 8. Clint Frazier | New York Yankees |
| 7. Dominic Smith | New York Mets |
| 6. Mark Canha | Oakland Athletics |
| 5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 4. Eloy Jimenez | Chicago White Sox |
| 3. Michael Brantley | Houston Astros |
| 2. Marcell Ozuna | Atlanta Braves |
| 1. Christian Yelich | Milwaukee Brewers |
12. AJ Pollock
Starting on our list of MLB top left fielders right now, we have AJ Pollock. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft. Now 36 year old made his MLB debut in 2012.
Pollock started playing baseball in his high school. He attended the University of Notre Dame and played baseball for the college team. In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball.
From 2012 to 2018, Pollock played for the Diamondbacks. His career breakout was in 2015 when he recorded a .315 batting average, 20 home runs, and 76 RBIs.
In 2016, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $10.25 million. Then in 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him on a four-year contract. He has been in and out of the injury list.
Since his debut, some of Pollock’s achievements include an All-Star 2015, Glod Glove award in 2015, and World Series champion in 2020.
He recorded a .281 batting average, 126 home runs, 414 runs batted in, and 119 stolen bases through the 2021 season.
11.Eddie Rosario
On number 11, we have a 32– year-old Puerto Rican left fielder for the Atlanta Braves, Eddie Rosario. He made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Minnesota Twins.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Minnesota’s scout Hector Otero scouted Rosario. Then, the Twins drafted him in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB draft. He played in the Twin’s farm system before his debut.
Up until 2020, Rosario played with the Twins. On February 4, 2021, the Cleveland Indians signed him on a one-year contract worth $8 million.
After playing 78 games, he was placed on the injury list. Then on July 30 of the same year, the Indians traded him to Atlanta Braves. In 2022, Rosario has signed a two-year contract extension with the team worth $18 million.
His career highlight awards include AL triples leader in 2015, World Series champion in 2021, NLCS MVP in 2021, and recorded hit for the cycle on September 19, 2021.
Rosario recorded a .275 batting average, 133 home runs, and450 runs batted in through his 2021 MLB statistics.
10. Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham is 36– years old outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and is number 10 on our MLB top left fielders list right now. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB draft.
Pham played baseball in both his high school. He opted to play professional baseball instead of going to college. After the draft, he signed with the franchise for a $325,000 signing bonus.
After playing four seasons with the Cardinals, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. Just a season later, the Rays traded Pham to San Diego Padres.
During the 2020 season, on August 16, Pham suffered a broken hamate bone. He had to undergo surgery. In October of the same year, he had to undergo surgery after being stabbed in the lower back.
Despite missing actions in 2020, Pham returned in the 2021 season and recorded .229/.340/.383 with 15 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 49 RBIs.
Meanwhile, his career statistics read a .265 batting average, 97 home runs, and 300 runs batted in.
9. Randy Arozarena
The next outfielder is 29 year old Cuban Randy Arozarena, who plays for the Tampa Bay Rays. Before making his debut in the MLB, he played in the Cuban and Mexican leagues.
In 2016, St. Louis Cardinals signed Arozarena as an international free agent. He debuted in the MLB on August 14, 2019, with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals traded him to the Bay Rays in 2020. With the Rays, Arozarena won the ALCS MVP 2020 and AL Rookie of the Year award 2021.
Likewise, he became the first player in baseball to hit a home run and steal home in the same game during the playoffs in the 2021 ALDS game against the Boston Red Sox.
Arozarena’s MLB statistics through the 2021 season read .276 batting average, 28 home runs, and 82 runs batted in.
8. Clint Frazier
On our number 8 of MLB top left fielders right now, we have 29 year old Clint Frazier. He is currently playing for the Chicago Cubs.
Frazier played high school. He committed to the University of Georgia and entered the 2013 draft. During the 2013 MLB draft, he was considered one of the best prospects available.
The Cleveland Indians selected him as the fifth overall selection in the 2013 MLB draft. After being drafted, Frazier signed with the team instead of attending the college on a $3.5 million contract.
However, before making his MLB debut, the Indians traded him to the New York Yankees in 2016.
Fraizer made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Yankees. In 2021, the Chicago Cubs signed him on a one-year $1.5 million contract.
He recorded a .239 batting average, 29 home runs, and 97 RBIs through the 2021 season MLB statistics.
7. Dominic Smith
Dominic Smith is a 28 year old left fielder for the New York Mets. The Mets drafted him as the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft.
Smith, after high school, committed to attend the University of Southern California (USC). He entered the 2013 MLB draft and was selected. After his selection, Smith chose to sign with the franchise instead of attending college.
The Mets signed him for a $2.6 million signing bonus. Smith then made his MLB debut in 2017. He has been playing for the team since then.
Since the 2020 season, he received more time on the roster; however, it was shortened due to COVID-19. The season has been described as Smith’s breakout season, and his .616 slugging percentage set a franchise record.
From early June of 2021, he played through the injury. Smith recorded MLB statistics through 2021 with a .252 batting average, 46 home runs, and 162 runs batted in.
6. Mark Canha
Our number 6 MLB top left fielders right now is New York Met’s 35 Mark Canha. The Florida Marlins drafted him in the seventh round of the 2010 MLB draft.
Canha was part of his high school and college baseball teams. He attended the University of California. Before getting into the MLB draft, he played collegiate summer baseball.
In 2014, Marlins traded Canha to Oakland Athletics. The following year on April 8, he made his MLB debut with the Athletics. At the end of his debut season, he led all American League rookies in RBIs.
In 2021, Canha pitched for the 60th time in his career, which is the most all-time in the Oakland history of the Athletics franchise. After the season, he became a free agent.
The New York Mets signed Canha on November 30, 2021, on a two-year contract worth $26.5 million with an option for a third year.
His MLB statistics through the 2021 season; a .244 batting average, 89 home runs, and 294 runs batted in.
5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is a 30 year old Cuban left fielder currently playing for the Toronto Blur Jays. He is on our number 5 MLB top left fielders right now. Before his MLB debut, Gurriel Jr. played in the Cuban National Series.
In 2010, Gurriel Jr. debuted in the Cuban National Series. Following his defection, he ranked as one of the top international prospects available, and in 2016, he was announced a free agent by MLB.
Then Blue Jays signed Gurriel on a seven-year contract worth $22 million. After playing a few seasons in the minor league, he made his debut in 2018 with the franchise.
In 2018, Gurriel had one of his best seasons. He became the first rookie in baseball’s modern era to have 10 consecutive multi-hit games.
In 2021, he set his career highs on offense when he finished the season with a .276 hitting average, 21 home runs, and 84 RBIs in 141 games. Gurriel’s recorded a .282 batting average, 63 home runs, and 202 RBIs through the 2021 season.
4. Eloy Jimenez
Next on our list, we have a 27 year old Dominican left fielder playing for the Chicago White Sox. In 2013, he was considered the top international free agent.
MLB.com, impressed with Jimenez’s skill, speed, and gap-to-gap power, named him a five-tool player. Then in July of 2013, the Chicago Cubs signed him for a $2.8 million signing bonus.
He made his professional debut in the minor leagues, but before his MLB debut, the Cubs traded Jimenez to the Chicago White Sox in 2017.
In 2019, Jimenez signed a six-year contract worth $43 million with the White Sox. The deal included an additional two-year option making the contract worth $75 million.
Then he made his MLB debut the same year. The contract was the richest contract ever for a player before his MLB debut.
In 2021, Jimenez became the first player in the franchise to hit two home runs and 5 RBIs in back-to-back games. His MLB statistics through 2021 record a .270 batting average, 55 home runs, and 157 RBIs.
3. Michael Brantley
On our number 3 MLB top left fielders right now, we have 36 year old Michael Brantley. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB draft.
Brantley is the son of former MLB player and hitting coach Mickey Brantley. Therefore, he played baseball from an early age and continued in college as well.
After the draft, Brantley signed with the franchise to play for their Rookie-level affiliates. In 2008, the Brewers traded him to the Cleveland Indians. He made his debut with the Indians in 2009.
Brantley’s breakout season was in 2014 when he won an MLB All-Star and Silver Slugger Award. The same year, Brantley signed a four-year contract extension worth $25 million with the Indians.
Until 2018, Brantley played with the Indians, after which the Huston Astros signed him on a two-year contract worth $32 million. The agreement was further extended in 2021 for two-year.
Brantley recorded a .298 batting average, 1,571 hits, 122 home runs, 687 RBIs, and 124 stolen bases through the 2021 season on his MLB statistics.
2. Marcell Ozuna
Nicknamed “The Big Bear,” Marcell Ozuna is a 33 year old Dominican player for the Atlanta Braves. In 2008, the Miami Marlins signed him as an amateur free agent.
Ozuna was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. In 2008, the Marlins signed him as an international free agent with a $49,000 bonus. He made his MLB debut in 2013.
In 2017, the Marlins traded Ozuna to St. Louis Cardinals. He played two seasons with the Cardinals before signing a one-year contract worth $18 million in 2020. He has resigned from the franchise for four years.
Ozuna’s career highlight wins in MLB include All-Star two times, All-MLB First Team, Gold Glove Award, Silver Slugger Award two times, Edgar Martinez Award, NL home run leader, and NL RBI leader.
He recorded a .273 batting average, 173 home runs, and 620 RBIs in his MLB statistics through 2021.
1. Christian Yelich
The number 1 MLB top left fielders right now is 32 year old Christian Yelich. The Miami Marlins drafted him in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft.
Yelich attended the University of Miami on a scholarship to play college basketball. Thus, he played for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team.
After the draft, he signed with the team on a $1.7 million signing bonus. Yelich made his MLB debut in 2013 with the team. In 2018, the Marlins traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yelich’s notable MLB wins include All-Star two times, NL MVP, Gold Glove Award, Silver Slugger Award three times, NL Hank Aaron Award two times, NL batting champion, All-MLB First Team.
Yelich signed a nine-year, $215 contract extension with the Brewers in 2020. The signing is the wealthiest contract signed in the franchise’s history.
He recorded a .292 batting average, 160 home runs, 573 RBIs, and 137 stolen bases through the 2021 season.
Conclusion
These players are the top left fielders in the MLB. And it is not just us saying that they are the best; their rankings can vouch for it.
Their performance has earned them a lot of fans and a spot as the top MLB left fielders in the world right now.
