Some big bats are back in Hitter Power Rankings

Five sluggers have joined the Hitter Power Rankings after being absent from the previous edition, conducted two weeks ago. But their stories are not all the same.

Three of the new faces are actually familiar ones we’ve seen in these rankings many times before and now appear back at the top of their games. One is a breakout star who finally forced his way into the top 10. And one was in the Minor Leagues less than three weeks ago.

Yes, there are many paths to the Hitter Power Rankings, with our panel of voters taking into account track record, season-long performance and recent greatness. Here are the results, with all stats through Tuesday’s games.

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (Last poll: 1)
He’s blasting monster home runs. He’s stealing bases at will -- even on walks. He’s on pace to make history. Oh, and he’s cut his strikeout rate by more than almost any other hitter since last season. Yeah, things are going pretty well for Acuña these days.

2. Aaron Judge, Yankees (not ranked)
The previous edition of the Hitter Power Rankings was the first since April 2022 in which Judge did not appear. He’d spent most of the time since then at or near the top of the list, but the combination of a brief stint on the injured list for a right hip strain and a brief slump conspired to knock him from his perch. Well, consider that blip in the rearview mirror. Judge batted .367/.484/.918 with eight homers and 19 RBIs in his first 13 games back from the IL.

3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (7)
Alvarez’s 2022 slash line: .306/.406/.613. Alvarez’s 2023 slash line, entering Wednesday: .303/.407/.612. That right there is consistent greatness. It’s a point Alvarez drove home when he ripped two homers (including a grand slam) on Monday at Milwaukee, prompting teammate Mauricio Dubón to describe his exploits as “video game stuff.” Agreed.

4. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (not ranked)
Freeman remains a relentless hitting machine. His OPS+ this season? 157. Last season? 155. Over the past eight seasons? 148. The man does it year in and year out. At present, he is on track to lead the NL in hits and doubles for the second season in a row.

5. Yandy Díaz, Rays (9)
One qualified Major Leaguer has a higher OPS+ this season than Judge or Alvarez. That would be Díaz, at 188. The 31-year-old has always been adept at getting on base, but a power surge has taken his game to a whole different level. Díaz needs just four more homers to set a new career high.

6. Nolan Gorman, Cardinals (not ranked)
Thanks to all the hoopla surrounding the arrival of top prospect Jordan Walker, nobody was paying Gorman much mind as the season began. But now, Walker is back at Triple-A, and the 23-year-old Gorman -- himself a much-hyped prospect -- is leading the NL in slugging. The reigning NL Player of the Week made adjustments coming off an up-and-down rookie campaign, and it’s paying massive dividends.

7. Randy Arozarena, Rays (4)
While he tasted plenty of success in the past, Arozarena apparently did so without looking at data or scouting reports (or even, in some cases, knowing the opposing pitcher’s name). Well, that all changed this spring. Arozarena began digging into the Rays’ treasure trove of information, and lo and behold, he has slashed his chase rate and boosted his walk rate, while crushing the ball like never before.

8. Luis Arraez, Marlins (5)
The first reigning batting champ to be traded the following offseason since Hall of Famer Rod Carew between 1978-79, Arraez has a shot to make more history. After leading the AL at .316 last year, he’s leading the NL at .371 this year. DJ LeMahieu is the only player in the Modern Era (since 1900) to win batting titles in both leagues, although one of those came in the shortened 2020 season.

9. Christopher Morel, Cubs (not ranked)
As of May 8, Morel had not appeared in the Majors this season, instead spending his time tearing up Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. Fast forward just 16 days and he was tied for 15th in the NL in home runs (nine), alongside Freeman, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Juan Soto and J.D. Martinez. That’s a steep ascent.

10 (tie). Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (6)
Like his first base counterpart Freeman, Goldy just rakes year after year. From 2013-23, those two and Mike Trout are the only hitters with at least nine qualified seasons of a 130 OPS+ or higher.

10 (tie). Juan Soto, Padres (not ranked)
It was just like old times on Tuesday, as Soto went 3-for-4 with a walk and a homer at Nationals Park. Of course, this time it was as a visitor. But the performance emphasized that Soto may be getting back to being the special hitter Washington fans saw over his first four-plus big league seasons. It wasn’t an easy transition to San Diego, but Tuesday’s outburst gave Soto a .354/.485/.671 line over a 22-game span, with more walks than strikeouts.

Also receiving votes: Pete Alonso (Mets), Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Adolis García (Rangers), Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox), Bo Bichette (Blue Jays), Cedric Mullins (Orioles), Sean Murphy (Braves), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Max Muncy (Dodgers), Matt Chapman (Blue Jays), Marcus Semien (Rangers), Anthony Rizzo (Yankees), Mike Trout (Angels)

Voters: David Adler, Brett Blueweiss, Paul Casella, Doug Gausepohl, Thomas Harrigan, Sarah Langs, Travis Miller, Ricardo Montes de Oca, Brian Murphy, Sweeny Murti, Manny Randhawa, Efrain Ruiz, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon, David Venn