*Based on stats and status prior to start of 2023 season.  Click here for 2023 updates

*Based on stats and status prior to start of 2023 season.  Click here for 2023 updates

​Anthony Rizzo starts his 3rd year with the Yankees after 10 years with the Cubs and a half year with the Padres.  He is a 3 time all-star and enters 2023 with 1476 base hits, 312 doubles, 283 home runs, 889 runs batted in, and a .265 batting average, and he has also won the Gold Glove Award as a top fielding first-baseman four times. 

Michael Brantley starts 2023 in his 5th year with the Astros after 10 years with Cleveland.  He has 1641 base hits, 346 doubles, 127 home runs, 713 runs batted in, and a .298 batting average.  Brantley is a 5-time all-star, who has batted .300 or better six times, including 4 of the past 5 seasons.

Freeman has passed Robinson Cano and Joey Votto, who occupied the top spot for the past three years

Bryce Harperstarts his 4th year with the Phillies after 7 years with the Nationals.  ​He enters 2023 with 1379 hits, 298 doubles, 285 home runs, 817 runs batted in, and a .280 batting average.  He is a six time All-Star and he won the N.L. Most Valuable Player in 2015 and again in 2021. 

Current Best Lefthanded Batters

Freddie Freeman earns our recognition as the Current Best Lefthanded Batter in baseball.  Starting his 2nd year with the Dodgers after 12 years with the Braves, the 6-time All-Star (and 2020 NL MVP) enters 2023 with a .298 career batting average, along with 1086 runs scored, 1903 hits, 414 doubles, 292 home runs, and 1041 runs batted in.  Freeman has batted .300 or higher 6 of the past 7 seasons and led the NL in runs scored the past three years,  He is aging gracefully and seems to be getting better as each year goes by.

Eric Hosmer starts 2023 as a new member of the Cubs after playing 12 years with the Red Sox, the Padres, and the Royals.  He enters 2023 with 1731 base hits, 319 doubles, 196 home runs, 879 runs batted in, and a .277 batting average.  Hosmer has also won the Gold Glove Award four times as a top fielding first-baseman.

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​​​​​​​​​​LEFTHANDED BASEBALL

The Best Lefthanded Batters and Lefthanded Pitchers in Baseball

Robinson Cano was on his way to 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 400 home runs, a .300 plus career average and a Hall of Fame Plaque after 9 years with the Yankees and 5 with the Mariners.  Then the 6 time all-star was suspended twice for Performance Enhancing Drugs, missing 1/2 of 2019 and all of 2021.  His 2022 comeback attempts (with 3 different teams) did not go well and he is currently an unsigned free agent whose career may be finished,

​Joey Votto enters his 17th year with the Cincinnatti Reds as the top lefthander among active batting in most categories, having 2093 hits,453 doubles, 342 home runs, 1106 runs batted in, and a .297 batting average. His 1338 walks are 1st, his .412 On-Base % and his 1145 runs scored are both 2nd most among active players.  He is a 6-time All-Star but the last time was in 2018, and three of the past four seasons have been well below his previous standards, ​

Charlie Blackmon starts his 13th year in the majors, all with the Rockies.  He enters 2023 with 1590 base hits, 286 doubles, 207 home runs, 709 runs batted in, and a .297 batting average.  The 4-time all-star has batted over .300 five times, (including a high of .331 in 2017) and he has scored more than 100 runs four times.

Christian Yelich starts his 6th year with the Brewers after 5 years with the Marlins.  He enters 2023 with 1352 hits, 260 doubles, 174 home runs, 630 runs batted in, and a .287 batting average.  He won the NL Batting Titles in 2018 and 2019 and was the NL MVP in 2018 and runner-up in 2019.