The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best players in baseball on their team.
His name is Bryce Harper and when healthy, he will be their starting right fielder.
MLB Network ranked their top 10 right fielders for the 2023 season, with Harper ranked third.
Thoughts on the #Top10RightNow Right Fielders list? pic.twitter.com/irlMvRW3tb
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 12, 2023
You could spend all day debating whether or not Harper or Aaron Judge are even primary right-fielders.
Harper spent most of last season as a DH, and Judge played more games in CF last year than RF.
Nevertheless, everyone on this list has some experience playing right field before.
It would be hard to move Judge out of the one spot after the historic season he just put together.
Judge set the American League record with 62 home runs and won his first AL MVP award.
He should quite easily be ranked the top right fielder heading into 2023.
But, Harper has a strong case to be second, in front of Mookie Betts.
Over the past two seasons, Harper has been a better hitter than Betts.
He has a higher batting average and OPS, while also having a historic playoff run (.349, six home runs, 13 RBIs in 17 games.)
The one spot Betts is better at would be playing right field.
Betts is a six-time gold glove winner, and he recorded 15 defensive runs saved last season.
While Harper is unable to play the field, Betts gains plenty of value over him on defense.
Either way, the top three right fielders are unquestionably Judge, Harper and Betts.
With Harper set to miss the first few months of next season, he will have plenty of catching up to do once he gets back.
