How did baseball’s statistical leaders do in Box-Toppers points in 2021?
Stat leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here are leaders in seven key statistical categories for the 2021 baseball season and how they fared in Box-Toppers points (BTP). Rank shows each player’s standing among all players in Box-Toppers points.| Batting average | ||||
| Leader | Team | Avg. | BTP | Rank |
| Trea Turner | Dodgers | .328 | 2.5 | 365 |
| Home runs | ||||
| Leader | Team | HR | BTP | Rank |
| Salvador Perez | Royals | 48 | 4.5 | 222 |
| Runs batted in | ||||
| Leader | Team | RBI | BTP | Rank |
| Salvador Perez | Royals | 121 | 4.5 | 222 |
| Earned run average | ||||
| Leader | Team | ERA | BTP | Rank |
| Corbin Burnes | Brewers | 2.43 | 18.1 | 5 |
| Wins | ||||
| Leader | Team | W | BTP | Rank |
| Julio Urias | Dodgers | 20 | 19.1 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | ||||
| Leader | Team | K | BTP | Rank |
| Robbie Ray | Blue Jays | 248 | 17.7 | 6 |
| Wins above replacement | ||||
| Leader | Team | WAR | BTP | Rank |
| Shohei Ohtani | Angels | 9.1 | 16.1 | 12 |
The leaders in three specific pitching categories—earned run average, wins and strikeouts—were among the overall top 10 players in Box-Toppers points. However, the leaders in three specific batting categories—batting average, home runs and runs batted in—did not fare well in Box-Toppers points. All three ranked outside the top 200 overall players in Box-Toppers points and also ranked outside the top 10 players among their league’s batters.
However, the leader in the wins above replacement (WAR) statistic, a category that includes both batters and pitchers, is a player who himself is both a batter and a pitcher—Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Ohtani led all players with a 9.1 WAR—more than half of which (4.9) was earned as a batter. While he earned 16.1 Box-Toppers points, 12th among all players, he did not qualify to rank as a batter in Box-Toppers rankings since he earned the overwhelming majority of his Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors as a pitcher (nine of 12). He ranked third among American League pitchers.
How Box-Toppers’ top-ranked players fared in statistical categories
Box-Toppers’ overall top-ranked player Max Scherzer of the Dodgers (25.1 Box-Toppers points) ranked second in earned run average (2.46), fifth in wins (15) and fourth in strikeouts (236). He had a wins above replacement (WAR) rating of 5.2, outside the overall top 10 (which ranged from 9.1 to 6.6). (Scherzer played with the Nationals before being traded to the Dodgers at the July trade deadline and signed as a free agent with the Mets for 2022.)
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, who ranked second in Box-Toppers points (22.4), first among AL players, ranked 16th in earned run average (3.23), tied for third in wins (16) and third in strikeouts (243). He had a wins above replacement (WAR) rating of 5.7, outside the overall top 10.
Jose Ramirez of the Indians led all batters and all AL batters in Box-Toppers points (13.0), which was 21st among all players. Ramirez ranked 62nd in batting average (.266), tied for 14th in home runs (36) and ranked 14th in runs batted in (103). He ranked tied for seventh in wins above replacement (WAR) with 6.7.
Nick Castellanos of the Reds led all National League batters with 11.5 Box-Toppers points, which was 35th among all players. Castellanos ranked ninth in batting average (.309), tied for 20th in home runs (34) and tied for 18th in runs batted in (100). He had a wins above replacement (WAR) rating of 3.3, outside the overall top 10.
How statistical leaders fared in Box-Toppers points
Here is a look at the leaders in each statistical category:
Batting average leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 batting average leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are listed from highest batting average. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | Avg. | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trea Turner | Dodgers | .328 | 2.7 | 353 |
| 2 | Yuli Gurriel | Astros | .319 | 3.5 | 174 |
| 3 | Juan Soto | Nationals | .313 | 6.0 | 134 |
| 4 | Michael Brantley | Astros | .311 | 3.0 | 315 |
| 5 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Blue Jays | .311 | 3.7 | 264 |
| 6 | Starling Marte | Athletics | .310 | 2.5 | 366 |
| 7 | Bryce Harper | Phillies | .309 | 5.5 | 165 |
| 8 | Tim Anderson | White Sox | .309 | 6.5 | 122 |
| 9 | Nick Castellanos | Reds | .309 | 11.5 | 35 |
| 10 | Adam Frazier | Padres | .305 | 1.0 | 672 |
Batting average
Only one of the top 10 batting average leaders for 2021 is among Box-Toppers’ top 100 ranked players for the season.
Nick Castellanos of the Reds, whose .309 batting average ranked ninth among all players, ranked 35th among all players with 11.5 Box-Toppers points. That also led all NL batters.
Castellanos is also the only top 10 batting average leader to be among Box-Toppers’ top 10 batters in either league in 2021.
Trea Turner of the Dodgers led all players with a .328 batting average in 2021. He had 2.5 Box-Toppers points, 365th among all players and 75th among NL batters. Turner was the key player in just two of his team wins in 2021.
More details on batting average leaders, including how the top 10 fared in Box-Toppers points.
Home run leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 home run leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are listed by most home runs. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | HR | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salvador Perez | Royals | 48 | 4.5 | 222 |
| 1 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Blue Jays | 48 | 3.7 | 264 |
| 3 | Shohei Ohtani | Angels | 46 | 16.1 | 12 |
| 4 | Marcus Semien | Blue Jays | 45 | 6.2 | 130 |
| 5 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | Padres | 42 | 10.2 | 45 |
| 6 | Brandon Lowe | Blue Jays | 39 | 10.5 | 42 |
| 6 | Aaron Judge | Yankees | 39 | 9.0 | 60 |
| 6 | Matt Olson | Athletics | 39 | 8.0 | 79 |
| 6 | Mitch Haniger | Mariners | 39 | 7.5 | 89 |
| 10 | Adam Duvall | Braves | 38 | 8.0 | 76 |
| 10 | Rafael Devers | Red Sox | 38 | 7.5 | 84 |
| 10 | Joey Gallo | Yankees | 38 | 5.5 | 167 |
Home runs
While six of the top 12 home run hitters in 2021 ranked among their league’s top 10 batters in Box-Toppers points for the season, the two top home run hitters ranked low.
Salvador Perez of the Royals and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays led all players with 48 home runs each in 2021, but both were the lowest ranked among the 12 top home run hitters in Box-Toppers points, both ranking outside the overall top 200 players.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, who ranked third in home runs with 46, ranked highest in Box-Toppers points among the 12 top home run leaders in 2021 (12th with 16.1). However, because he earned the overwhelming majority of his Box-Toppers points as a starting pitcher, he was not ranked among his league’s batters in Box-Toppers points.
Perez ranks 222nd overall with 4.5 Box-Toppers points, 37th among AL batters. Perez won Player of the Game honors in four of the Royals’ 74 wins in 2021.
Guerrero ranks 264th overall with 3.7 Box-Toppers points, 52nd among AL batters. Guerrero won Player of the Game honors in just three of the Blue Jays’ 91 wins in 2021.
Brandon Lowe of the Rays has the most 2021 Box-Toppers points of any qualified batter among the top 12 home run hitters. Lowe, who ranks tied for sixth in home runs with 39, earned 10.5 Box-Toppers points in 2021, 42nd among all players and third among AL batters.
Lowe is one of six of the top 12 home run leaders to also be among his league’s top 10 batters in Box-Toppers points for 2021.
More details on home run leaders, including how the top 12 fared in Box-Toppers points.
Runs batted in leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 runs batted in (RBI) leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are ranked by RBIs. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | RBI | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salvador Perez | Royals | 121 | 4.5 | 222 |
| 2 | Jose Abreu | White Sox | 117 | 8.0 | 75 |
| 3 | Teoscar Hernandez | Blue Jays | 116 | 4.5 | 214 |
| 4 | Adam Duvall | Braves | 113 | 8.0 | 76 |
| 4 | Rafael Devers | Red Sox | 113 | 7.5 | 84 |
| 6 | Matt Olson | Athletics | 111 | 8.0 | 79 |
| 6 | Vladimir Guerrero | Blue Jays | 111 | 3.7 | 264 |
| 8 | Austin Riley | Braves | 107 | 8.5 | 72 |
| 9 | Ozzie Albies | Braves | 106 | 7.0 | 103 |
| 9 | Manny Machado | Padres | 106 | 5.9 | 151 |
| 9 | Austin Meadows | Padres | 106 | 1.0 | 651 |
Runs batted in
Five of the top 11 runs batted in leaders were among the top 100 players in Box-Toppers points in 2021. All five were also among their league’s top 10 batters in Box-Toppers rankings.
However, Salvador Perez of the Royals, who led all players with 121 RBIs, had just 4.5 Box-Toppers points in 2021, 222nd among all players and 44th among AL batters.
The five top 11 RBI leaders who were also among the top 100 in Box-Toppers points include:
Jose Abreu of the White Sox, second with 117 RBIs, earned 8.0 Box-Toppers points, 75th overall and sixth among AL batters.
Adam Duvall of the Braves, tied for fourth with 113 RBIs, earned 8.0 Box-Toppers points, 76th overall and seventh among NL batters.
Rafael Devers of the Red Sox, tied for fourth with 113 RBIs, earned 7.5 Box-Toppers points, 84th overall and eighth among AL batters.
Matt Olson of the Athletics, tied for sixth with 111 RBIs, earned 8.0 Box-Toppers points, 79th overall and seventh among AL batters.
Austin Riley of the Braves, eighth with 107 RBIs, earned 8.5 Box-Toppers points, most among the top 11 RBI leaders. Riley ranked 72nd in overall Box-Toppers rankings, sixth among NL batters.
More details on runs batted in leaders, including how the top 11 fared in Box-Toppers points.
ERA leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 earned run average leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are listed from lowest ERA. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | ERA | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corbin Burnes | Brewers | 2.43 | 18.1 | 5 |
| 2 | Max Scherzer | Dodgers | 2.46 | 25.1 | 1 |
| 3 | Walker Buehler | Dodgers | 2.47 | 16.7 | 10 |
| 4 | Brandon Woodruff | Brewers | 2.56 | 17.1 | 8 |
| 5 | Zack Wheeler | Phillies | 2.78 | 21.1 | 3 |
| 6 | Kevin Gausman | Giants | 2.81 | 13.7 | 18 |
| 7 | Robbie Ray | Blue Jays | 2.84 | 17.7 | 6 |
| 8 | Julio Urias | Dodgers | 2.96 | 19.1 | 4 |
| 9 | Marcus Stroman | Mets | 3.02 | 10.0 | 48 |
| 10 | Max Fried | Braves | 3.04 | 11.8 | 30 |
Earned run average
Seven of the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points in 2021 also recorded among the 10 lowest earned run averages for the season.
Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, who had the lowest ERA (2.43), ranked fifth in Box-Toppers points for 2021 (18.1), fourth among NL pitchers.
Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer, who led all players with 25.1 Box-Toppers points, had the second-lowest ERA (2.46).
Here are the other five players who were among the top 10 in both lowest ERA and highest Box-Toppers point total for 2021:
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler ranks third in ERA (2.47) and 10th in Box-Toppers points (16.7).
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff ranks fourth in ERA (2.56) and eighth in Box-Toppers points (17.1).
Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler ranks fifth in ERA (2.78) and third in Box-Toppers points (21.1).
Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray ranks seventh in ERA (2.84) and sixth in Box-Toppers points (17.7).
Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias ranks eighth in ERA (2.96) and fourth in Box-Toppers points (19.1).
More details on earned run average leaders, including how the top 10 fared in Box-Toppers points.
Wins leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 wins leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are listed by most wins. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | W | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julio Urias | Dodgers | 20 | 19.1 | 4 |
| 2 | Adam Wainwright | Cardinals | 17 | 12.0 | 29 |
| 3 | Gerrit Cole | Yankees | 16 | 22.4 | 2 |
| 3 | Walker Buehler | Dodgers | 16 | 16.7 | 10 |
| 5 | Max Scherzer | Dodgers | 15 | 25.1 | 1 |
| 6 | Zack Wheeler | Phillies | 14 | 21.1 | 3 |
| 6 | Kevin Gausman | Giants | 14 | 13.7 | 18 |
| 6 | Charlie Morton | Braves | 14 | 12.7 | 25 |
| 6 | Max Fried | Braves | 14 | 11.8 | 30 |
| 6 | Chris Flexen | Mariners | 14 | 11.7 | 34 |
| 6 | Hyun Jin Ryu | Blue Jays | 14 | 9.0 | 58 |
| 6 | Steven Matz | Blue Jays | 14 | 6.7 | 119 |
| 6 | Kyle Hendricks | Cubs | 14 | 4.0 | 228 |
Wins
Julio Urias of the Dodgers, who led all pitchers in wins in 2021 with 20, also ranked fourth among all players in Box-Toppers points with 19.1.
Among the 13 pitchers with 14 or more wins in 2021, Urias is one of five who were among the top 10 in Box-Toppers points for the season.
The others include:
Gerrit Cole of the Yankees ranked tied for third in wins (16) and second in Box-Toppers points (22.4).
Walker Buehler of the Dodgers ranked tied for third in wins (16) and 10th in Box-Toppers points (16.7).
Max Scherzer of the Dodgers ranked fifth in wins (15) and led in Box-Toppers points (25.1).
Zack Wheeler of the Phillies ranked tied for sixth in wins (14) and third in Box-Toppers points (21.1).
Strikeout leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 strikeout (K) leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are ranked by strikeouts. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | K | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robbie Ray | Blue Jays | 248 | 17.7 | 6 |
| 2 | Zack Wheeler | Phillies | 247 | 21.1 | 3 |
| 3 | Gerrit Cole | Yankees | 243 | 22.4 | 2 |
| 4 | Max Scherzer | Dodgers | 236 | 25.1 | 1 |
| 5 | Corbin Burnes | Brewers | 234 | 18.1 | 5 |
| 6 | Kevin Gausman | Giants | 227 | 13.7 | 18 |
| 7 | Dylan Cease | White Sox | 226 | 14.4 | 15 |
| 8 | Aaron Nola | Phillies | 223 | 10.7 | 38 |
| 9 | Charlie Morton | Braves | 216 | 12.7 | 25 |
| 10 | Walker Buehler | Dodgers | 212 | 16.7 | 10 |
More details on wins leaders, including how the top 13 fared in Box-Toppers points.
Strikeouts
Six of the 10 top strikeout leaders in 2021 were also among the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points for the season.
Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray led all players with 248 strikeouts. He ranked sixth overall in Box-Toppers points with 17.7, second among AL pitchers.
Box-Toppers points leader Max Scherzer of the Dodgers (25.1) ranked fourth with 236 strikeouts.
The other four strikeout leaders who were also among Box-Toppers’ top 10 players for 2021:
Zack Wheeler of the Phillies ranked second in strikeouts (247) and third in Box-Toppers points (21.1), second among NL pitchers (behind Scherzer).
Gerrit Cole of the Yankees ranked third in strikeouts (243) and second in Box-Toppers points (22.4), first among AL pitchers.
Corbin Burnes of the Brewers ranked fifth in strikeouts (234) and fifth in Box-Toppers points (18.1), fourth among NL pitchers.
Walker Buehler of the Dodgers ranked 10th in strikeouts (212) and 10th in Box-Toppers points (16.7), eighth among NL pitchers.
More details on strikeout leaders, including how the top 10 fared in Box-Toppers points.
WAR leaders’ Box-Toppers points
Here is how 2021 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leaders fared in Box-Toppers points. Players are ranked by WAR. Also shown are their 2021 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their rank in Box-Toppers points among all players.| Player | Team | WAR | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | Angels | 9.1 | 16.1 | 12 |
| 2 | Zack Wheeler | Phillies | 7.7 | 21.1 | 3 |
| 3 | Marcus Semien | Blue Jays | 7.3 | 6.2 | 130 |
| 4 | Carlos Correa | Astros | 7.2 | 7.0 | 102 |
| 5 | Juan Soto | Nationals | 7.1 | 6.0 | 134 |
| 6 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Blue Jays | 6.8 | 3.7 | 264 |
| 7 | Walker Buehler | Dodgers | 6.7 | 16.7 | 10 |
| 7 | Jose Ramirez | Indians | 6.7 | 13.0 | 21 |
| 9 | Robbie Ray | Blue Jays | 6.7 | 17.7 | 6 |
| 10 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | Padres | 6.6 | 10.2 | 45 |
Wins above replacement
Just three of the top 10 in wins above replacement (WAR) were also among the overall top 10 in Box-Toppers points for 2021:
Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler ranked second in WAR with 7.7 and was third with 21.1 Box-Toppers points, second among NL pitchers, behind Max Scherzer of the Dodgers (25.1).
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler ranked tied for seventh in WAR with 6.7 and was 10th with 16.7 Box-Toppers points, eighth among NL pitchers.
Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray ranked ninth in WAR with 6.7 and was sixth with 17.7 Box-Toppers points, second among AL pitchers, behind Gerrit Cole of the Yankees (22.4).
Shohei Ohtani of the Angels led all players in WAR in 2021 (9.1). He ranked 12th among all players in Box-Toppers points with 16.1.
In 2021, six of the top 10 players in WAR were primarily batters and four were primarily pitchers. (Box-Toppers counts Ohtani as primarily a pitcher in 2021.) This continues a trend since 2004 in which a majority of the WAR top 10 each season were batters. But Box-Toppers’ top 10 list for 2021 includes no batters and, in fact, has not included a single batter in any top 10 list in any the past eight seasons.
The WAR statistic gives the misleading impression that batters persist as a dominant force in baseball, as they’ve consistently held most of the top 10 spots in WAR over the past quarter century. But in reality, pitchers have risen over the past 10 or 15 years to strike out more batters and hold them to lower batting averages to the point that no batter has occupied a top 10 spot in Box-Toppers player rankings in any season since 2013. That’s after batters held between one and five spots in Box-Toppers’ overall season-end top 10 lists each year but one (2005) from 1995 through 2009.
In short, Box-Toppers reflects batters’ decline and WAR blithely, blindly keeps batters among the games leaders, despite the obvious shifts favoring pitchers. Box-Toppers sees pitchers primarily and overwhelmingly as the players who most help their teams win the most games.
More details on wins above replacement leaders, including how the top 10 fared in Box-Toppers points.
About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.
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