MLB's Top 50 player rankings: Stanton's incredible power run not enough for No. 1

The first five months of the 2017 season are behind us, and it's time for our monthly look at the top 50 players in baseball.

When we did this coming into the season, the rankings were based upon reasonable expectations -- using things like age and recent performance history -- to make educated guesses at which players would provide the most value in 2017. Since then, though, each installment has been about performance to date. As such, the rankings you're about to see reflect nothing more than who's been the best through the first five months of the 2017 season. The preceding has been italicized for emphasis. Now we're going to bold it and italicize it -- and perhaps even brandish a larger font size -- for even more emphasis …

The rankings you're about to see reflect nothing more than who's been the best through the first five months of the 2017 season.

In coming up with these rankings, your scribe paid no heed to what may or may not be sustainable. Some of the names will be very much at home among the game's best, while others belong to players who have solidly over-performed or are just establishing themselves as premium performers. Whatever the case, we're not worried about whether the performances will stick. It's all about what's happened in 2017 thus far.

As for what matters, with position players it's a mix of batting, defense, and baserunning. On offense, we're not concerned with things like RBI. Getting on base and hitting for power matter above all, as do playing time, context of the player's home ballpark, and production relative to positional peers (e.g., the offensive bar is lower for shortstops and catchers than it is for first basemen and DHs). For pitchers -- and since this a backward-looking assessment of value provided -- run prevention and workload will be the drivers, but we'll also give some consideration to underlying fundamental indicators like strikeouts and walks. When it comes to relievers, leverage, or the relative importance of the innings a reliever works, are taken into account. (Note: It's hard for relievers to crack this list in the first place, given how much more valuable starting pitchers tend to be, thanks to their much higher innings loads.)

Again, this is all about 2017 to date, and the rankings suggest nothing about whether the player in question can maintain the current level of performance going forward. As such, the next time you see this list, it may look very different. Or not. Whatever, man.

As always, reach to the author at his personal email address -- hotmail@hotmail.jpg -- with all your complaints …

50	J.T. Realmuto Miami Marlins C
Here's an underrated player. Realmuto's on pace to catch more than 1,000 innings, and he's got an OPS+ north of 100 -- i.e., good production by the standards of catchers.
49	Zack Godley Arizona Diamondbacks SP
What a find Godley has been for the Snakes. After 129 innings and 21 starts, Godley clocks in with an ERA+ of 148. Considering his home ballpark, he's done a nice job of keeping the ball in the yard.
48	Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves 1B
Freeman missed several weeks with a broken wrist, but when healthy he's been outstanding. He's headed for a career-best OPS+.
47	Gary Sanchez New York Yankees C
The Yankee backstop is once again a steady source of power. If not for the biceps strain that cost almost a full month, he'd be quite a bit higher in these rankings.
46	Andrew Cashner Texas Rangers SP
Cashner's indeed been a nifty addition for Texas. In 23 starts, he's got an ERA+ of 142. In related matters, he's done an excellent job of limited hard contact off the bat.
45	Willson Contreras Chicago Cubs C
Contreras has been sidelined since Aug. 9 with a hamstring injury, but a catcher with a slash line of .274/.342/.519 in 102 games definitely makes the cut.
44	Lance Lynn St. Louis Cardinals SP
Lynn's enjoying one heck of a walk year. Through 28 starts, he's registered an ERA+ of 141. In 20 of those 28 starts, he's allowed three runs or fewer.
43	Daniel Murphy Washington Nationals 2B
Murphy's not quite on the level of his 2016 campaign, when he finished second in the NL MVP balloting, but he's again been a highly productive hitter, especially as middle infielders go.
42	James Paxton Seattle Mariners SP
Injuries have limited Paxton to just 20 starts, but he's made the most of them: 2.78 ERA, 4.18 K/BB ratio, just seven home runs allowed.
41	Josh Donaldson Toronto Blue Jays 3B
Donaldson lost significant time to a calf injury and struggled for a chunk of the season. However, the veteran third baseman has been heating up of late and now has numbers in line with his overall career norms.

40	Chris Taylor Los Angeles Dodgers LF
In addition to seeing time at five different positions -- including short, second, and center -- Taylor's been highly productive at the plate and on the bases. As a bonus, he's hit into just two double plays all year.
39	Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
The rookie Bellinger has been one of the richest sources of home run power in all of baseball this season. That's especially the case on a rate basis.
38	Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds SS
Cozart's been limited to 100 games played this season because of injuries, but what keeps him on here is that he's put up a 140-ish OPS+ while playing a nifty shortstop.
37	Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox RF
Betts' offensive numbers have taken a dive this season, but he remains valuable thanks in part to his glove and base-running.
36	Eugenio Suarez Cincinnati Reds 3B
He plays pretty much every day, he draws walks, he hits for power, and he plays an impressive third base. So here he is.
35	Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles 3B
Machado endured a brutally slow start to 2017, but he's been on fire in the second half. He not long ago hit his 30th homer of the season, and Machado remains an elite fielder at third.
34	Alex Bregman Houston Astros 3B
The 23-year-old infielder maybe gets overlooked in that stacked Houston lineup, but he shouldn't be. Bregman boasts an OPS+ of around 130, and he's spent time at third, short, and second.
33	Justin Upton Los Angeles Angels LF
Upton, now an Angel, has looked good with the glove in 2017, and he's got an OPS+ in the high 130s.
32	Tommy Pham St. Louis Cardinals LF
Despite being in the minors for all of April and then some, Pham's rather easily been the Cardinals' most valuable contributor this season. He's played all three outfield positions, added value on the bases, and put up an OPS of more than .900.
31	Justin Turner Los Angeles Dodgers 3B
Turner's missed some time due to injury this season, but he's put up strong OBP numbers while hitting for power and playing a nifty hot corner.

30	Marcell Ozuna Miami Marlins LF
Ozuna's got a shot at getting to 75 extra-base hits before season's end, and he's also been a reliable on-base threat in this, his age-26 campaign.
29	Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs 1B
Rizzo remains durable and a defensive force at first base. He's also on pace to set career highs in home runs and on-base percentage.
28	Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals SP
In 148 2/3 innings, Strasburg's put up an ERA of 2.78 with 172 strikeouts against 40 walks. Despite a DL stint, he may be on the way to the best season of his career.
27	Robbie Ray Arizona Diamondbacks SP
Ray was sidelined after a scary incident in which he was hit in the head by a line drive, but he's resumed dominating since his return. For the season, he's got a 2.80 ERA, just two unearned runs allowed, and 184 strikeouts in 138 innings.
26	Bryce Harper Washington Nationals RF
Harper's still sidelined with a knee injury, and he doesn't yet have a clear timetable. However, a 162 OPS+ across 472 plate appearances this season keeps him in the rankings.
25	Carlos Correa Houston Astros SS
Correa just recently returned after missing 42 games because of a torn thumb ligament. So he's light on playing time, but his line of .320/.400/.566 as a shortstop is enough to keep him comfortably in the rankings.
24	Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs 3B
Bryant's offensive numbers are pretty much in line with what he put up last season, when he won the NL MVP Award.
23	Buster Posey San Francisco Giants C
Posey's got an OBP of more than .400, and he's walked more than he's struck out. He's also going to wind up spending more than 900 innings behind the plate.
22	George Springer Houston Astros CF
Springer's adding significant value on the defensive side of the ball while also putting up the best numbers of his career at the plate. He's already topped 30 homers for the season.
21	Jose Ramirez Cleveland Indians 3B
Ramirez is a plus defender at the hot corner, he's a useful threat on the bases, and he leads the majors in extra-base hits. Consider him a darkhorse contender for AL MVP honors.

20	Marcus Stroman Toronto Blue Jays SP
Stroman's having a big year. After 28 starts, he's pitched to a 3.08 ERA/150 ERA+.
19	Jonathan Schoop Baltimore Orioles 2B
Schoop's a solid enough defender at second, and he's having one heck of a year at the plate. He's batting better than .300, and he's already topped 30 homers and 30 doubles.
18	Luis Severino New York Yankees SP
Severino's been a rotation savior in the Bronx this season. After 27 starts, he's pitched to a 3.03 ERA while striking out an impressive 29 percent of opposing hitters.
17	Corey Seager Los Angeles Dodgers SS
A starting shortstop with an OPS+ of better than 130? That'll land you near the top every time.
16	Aaron Judge New York Yankees RF
Judge has rather famously struggled badly in the second half, but the overall body of work is strong enough to keep him high in these rankings.
15	Andrelton Simmons Los Angeles Angels SS
Simmons remains one of the top defenders at any position, and he's also enjoying a career year with the bat.
14	Zack Greinke Arizona Diamondbacks SP
After an out-of-character 2016, Greinke's bounced back in a big way this season. After 28 starts, Greinke boasts strong command-and-control indicators and an ERA+ in the 150s.
13	Charlie Blackmon Colorado Rockies CF
Blackmon's put up strong offensive numbers, even after adjusting for his home ballpark, and that's especially the case by the standards of up-the-middle defenders. At present, he leads the majors in total bases.
12	Anthony Rendon Washington Nationals 3B
Rendon remains an asset with the glove, and he's working on what's easily been the best offensive season of his career. He's shown plenty of pop while clocking almost as many walks as strikeouts. Right now, Rendon should be on your NL MVP watch-list.
11	Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies 3B
You know he's the best defensive third baseman in baseball, and he's once again putting up big numbers at the plate -- even after you correct for the Coors effect. Arenado's already topped 300 total bases for the season.

10	Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers SP
Kershaw recently returned from a back injury, and he picked up right where he left off. In 147 1/3 innings, he's notched a 1.95 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 7.29. On a per-start basis, he's been the best pitcher in baseball. Again.
9	Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals SP
Gonzalez gets overshadowed in the D.C. rotation, but he's having a truly great season. He's on target to top 200 innings while running a comfortable sub-3.00 ERA.
8	Corey Kluber Cleveland Indians SP
Kluber was laid up for a while with injury, but he's otherwise been in Cy Young form this season. Right now, he leads the AL in ERA and ERA+, and he's struck out an impressive 222 batters in 168 2/3 innings.
7	Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels CF
Undergoing thumb surgery of course took a big bite out of Trout's 2017, but he's got an OPS+ of better than 200 while manning center and once again being active on the bases. Without that injury, he'd be No. 1 -- easily.
6	Chris Sale Boston Red Sox SP
Barring a late-season injury, Sale's probably going to top 300 strikeouts for the first time in his career, and he's probably still the AL Cy Young frontunner. Right now, he leads the majors in innings, strikeouts, and K/BB ratio.
5	Paul Goldschmidt Arizona Diamondbacks 1B
The D-Backs are almost certainly headed to the playoffs, and that has much to do with Goldschmidt, who's having perhaps the best season of his career. He may be the NL MVP frontrunner.
4	Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds 1B
Votto remains one of the top power-and-patience threats in all of baseball. As such, he's also one of the most valuable players in all of baseball.
3	Max Scherzer Washington Nationals SP
The 2016 NL Cy Young winner is still one of the best pitchers on the planet. He leads the NL in strikeouts, and his ERA+ is in the neighborhood of 200.
2	Giancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins RF
Stanton's not just leading the majors in home runs; he's crushing the rest of the field. In related matters, he's slugging in the high .600s.
1	Jose Altuve Houston Astros 2B
Houston's All-Star second baseman (and AL MVP candidate) has been among the most productive hitters in all of baseball, and he's done that while capably manning an up-the-middle position and adding value on the bases.