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Dodgers News: Adrian Gonzalez Is A Top-5 1B

This might shock you, but Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is good at his job. So good, in fact, that Yardbarker today rated him on their list of top ten first baseman entering 2016. Even more than that, Gonzalez made the top half of the list. And that’s pretty great.

Yardbarker had Gonzalez rated as the fifth best first baseman going into this upcoming season, and the only four above him at the moment were Anthony Rizzo, Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera, and Paul Goldschmidt. Not a bad four to be behind when you really start to think about it.




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From Matt Whitener on Yardbarker.com about Adrian Gonzalez:

His penchant for driving runs in has been so consistent that the 90 RBI he finished with in 2015 was his lowest output since 2007. His consistency also carries over in the fact that he has played at 156 games in each season since 2006, has only once posted an on-base percentage south of .340 in the last 10 years and has stayed in the top 20 in MVP voting in seven of the past eight years, regardless of league played in.

Gonzalez really is one of the most trustworthy run producers in baseball. During his three full seasons in Los Angeles, the sweet swinging left-hander has averaged 102 runs batted in per season, as well as 26 home runs. He really is a model of consistency.

While his power has taken somewhat of a hit over the last three years – averaging a ..474 slugging percentage since 2013 – he has found a way to mold himself into a steady .800 OPS+ hitter during his early to mid 30’s. That trend should continue in 2016.

The guys listed above him on the list all deserved to be there, and he deserved to be listed above those that were below him. The five below him were Jose Abreu, Chris Davis, Freddie Freeman, Eric Hosmer, and Albert Pujols. I think it’s safe to say he’s better than them.

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