ESPN 500: Players No. 251-300

Updated: March 23, 2012, 3:57 PM ET

ESPN.com

Who are the best players in Major League Baseball heading into the 2012 season? ESPN formed a panel of MLB writers, analysts and contributors to rank the top 500. The countdown from No. 500 to No. 1 began March 20 and ends April 3.

The results are being announced on ESPN.com, on Facebook and Twitter (@ESPN_MLB). Fans can use the hashtag #ESPN500 to join the discussion or to follow along.

To compile a top-500 ranking, 34 ESPN experts started with a list of the top 600 players projected to play in the majors in 2012. Using a 0-to-10 scale, they evaluated only the quality of each player for the 2012 season. Players who are expected to miss 2012 with an injury, such as Victor Martinez, were not included. But Arodys Vizcaino (No. 376) was included because he was injured after the voting. Ages are listed as of July 1, 2012.

Panelists were polled over the final two weeks of February. Dan Szymborski's ZiPS system, which projects 2012 performance, was used to break ties to the fourth decimal point.

RANK	PLAYER	SCORE
251	Brennan Boesch Left Field \| @Tigers \| Age: 27 \| Stats	5.16
Brennan Boesch is ranked far to low on ESPN's list if it's based on 2012 projections. 20-25 HRs 100+ runs scored #ESPN500 — Dan Gladstone (@gladdyontherise) March 26, 2012
252	Jason Kipnis @TheJK_Kid Second Base \| @Indians \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.16
253	Gerardo Parra @88_gparra Left Field \| @Dbacks \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.16
254	Joel Peralta RHP \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.13
255	Jeff Niemann RHP \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.13
256	Antonio Bastardo LHP \| @Phillies \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.12
257	Alfredo Aceves RHP \| @RedSox \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.12
@ESPN_MLB Alfredo Aceves #257, with a 24-3 carrer record he looks like a Top 50 #ESPN500 — Edgar Gómez (@edgom) March 23, 2012
258	Melky Cabrera Center Field \| @SFGiants \| Age: 27 \| Stats	5.12
259	Carlos Zambrano RHP \| @Marlins \| Age: 31 \| Stats	5.12
Well, Carlos Zambrano at 259 ruins that segment of the list. He has done nothing on the field except complain and rant since 07'. #ESPN500 — Connor Murphy (@SmurphinDayton) March 23, 2012
260	Aaron Hill Second Base \| @Dbacks \| Age: 30 \| Stats	5.10
261	Jason Kubel LF \| @Dbacks \| Age: 30 \| Stats	5.10
262	Edinson Volquez RHP \| @Padres \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.10
263	Vinnie Pestano @VinnieP52 RHP \| @Indians \| Age: 27 \| Stats	5.06
264	Luke Gregerson RHP \| @Padres \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.06
265	Chase Headley Third Base \| @Padres \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.06
266	Frank Francisco RHP \| @Mets \| Age: 32 \| Stats	5.06
267	Javy Guerra @JavyGuerra54 RHP \| @Dodgers \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.03
268	Wade Davis RHP \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.03
269	Mike Pelfrey RHP \| @Mets \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.03
@ESPN_MLB Mike Pelfrey #269. R.A. Dickey #277. Makes no sense. Pelfrey's the Mets 5th starter right now and Dickey's their 2nd. #ESPN500 — Chris Taduran (@Chris_Taduran) March 23, 2012
270	Paul Goldschmidt Catcher \| @Dbacks \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.00
271	Chris Iannetta Catcher \| @Angels \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.00
272	Julio Teheran RHP \| @Braves \| Age: 21 \| Stats	5.00
273	Marco Scutaro Second Base \| @Rockies \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.00
274	Aaron Crow @acrow43 RHP \| @Royals \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.00
275	Koji Uehara RHP \| @Rangers \| Age: 37 \| Stats	4.97
276	David Hernandez @DHern_30 RHP \| @Dbacks \| Age: 27 \| Stats	4.97
277	R.A. Dickey @RADickey43 RHP \| @Mets \| Age: 37 \| Stats	4.97
@ESPN_MLB Showing no love for the knuckleballer, really R.A. Dickey at 277? #ESPN500 — Jakeb Smith (@Smith11v) March 23, 2012
278	Kyle Lohse RHP \| @Cardinals \| Age: 33 \| Stats	4.97
@espn Kyle Lohse had a great year!! Why he number 278 #espn500 — Jason Livingston (@jwlivingston) March 23, 2012
279	Franklin Gutierrez Center Field \| @Mariners \| Age: 29 \| Stats	4.96
280	Kyle Farnsworth RHP \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 36 \| Stats	4.94
281	Jonathan Broxton RHP \| @Royals \| Age: 28 \| Stats	4.94
282	Kerry Wood @KerryWood RHP \| @Cubs \| Age: 35 \| Stats	4.94
283	Kelly Johnson Second Base \| @BlueJays \| Age: 30 \| Stats	4.94
284	Brian Roberts @1brianroberts Second Base \| @Orioles \| Age: 34 \| Stats	4.94
285	Ryan Roberts @RRoberts14 Third Base \| @Dbacks \| Age: 31 \| Stats	4.94
286	Mike Leake @MikeLeake44 RHP \| @Reds \| Age: 24 \| Stats	4.94
287	Eric O'Flaherty LHP \| @Braves \| Age: 27 \| Stats	4.93
288	Fernando Salas RHP \| @Cardinals \| Age: 27 \| Stats	4.93
289	Adam Lind First Base \| @BlueJays \| Age: 28 \| Stats	4.93
290	Ramon Hernandez Catcher \| @Rockies \| Age: 36 \| Stats	4.93
291	Brandon Belt First Base \| @SFGiants \| Age: 24 \| Stats	4.91
292	Mark Reynolds Third Base \| @Orioles \| Age: 28 \| Stats	4.91
293	Jason Bay Left Field \| @Mets \| Age: 33 \| Stats	4.91
Hows Jason Bay at 293 lower then Coca Crisp. He hasnt done anything since he was w/KC #ESPN500 — Nick Mowka (@Mowka___Latte) March 26, 2012
294	Jeremy Guthrie @JGuthrie46 RHP \| @Rockies \| Age: 33 \| Stats	4.91
295	Dallas Braden @DALLASBRADEN209 LHP \| @Athletics \| Age: 28 \| Stats	4.91
296	Alfonso Soriano Left Field \| @Cubs \| Age: 36 \| Stats	4.91
297	Marlon Byrd Center Field \| @Cubs \| Age: 34 \| Stats	4.91
298	Yonder Alonso @YonderalonsoU First Base \| @Padres \| Age: 25 \| Stats	4.88
299	Mark Melancon RHP \| @RedSox \| Age: 27 \| Stats	4.87
300	Grant Balfour RHP \| @Athletics \| Age: 34 \| Stats	4.84