ESPN 500: Players No. 1-10

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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
1	Albert Pujols @PujolsFive 1B | @Angels | Age: 32 2011 STATS GM HR RBI BA OBP 147 37 99 .299 .366	9.62
@ESPN_MLB #ESPN500 #1 is that even close?? Next guy should be #5 or #6 — ramon pereira pino (@panamanianpo) April 3, 2012
2	Roy Halladay RHP | @Phillies | Age: 35 2011 STATS G K W-L ERA BAA 32 220 19-6 2.35 .239	9.56
@ESPN_MLB I would put him at 2. Future hall of famer and the best starting pitcher in baseball — Sam Miner (@MajorMiner_) April 3, 2012
3	Miguel Cabrera Third Base | @Tigers | Age: 29 2011 STATS GM HR RBI BA OBP 161 30 105 .344 .448	9.50
@ESPN_MLB Miguel Cabrera should be top 5. always consistent, durable, and gonna get a lot of pitches to hit with Fielder behind him — Kelvin Hache (@Kelvinh140) April 3, 2012
4	Justin Verlander @JustinVerlander RHP | @Tigers | Age: 29 2011 STATS G K W-L ERA BAA 34 250 24-5 2.40 .192	9.44
@ESPN_MLB If last year foreshadows anything, it's that Verlander should be number one. Not just for 2012, but years to come. #MVP #CyYoung — Brad Jeffers (@brjeffers13) April 3, 2012
5	Felix Hernandez @RealKingFelix RHP | @Mariners | Age: 26 2011 STATS G K W-L ERA BAA 33 222 14-14 3.47 .248	9.12
@ESPN_MLBtop 5 mostly always throws complete games even his first start this year was good low era and never has had an offense #ESPN500 — Matthew Kydd (@K_Y_D_D) April 3, 2012
6	Ryan Braun Left Field | @Brewers | Age: 28 2011 STATS GM HR RBI BA OBP 150 33 111 .332 .397	9.06
@ESPN_MLB Braunie should be #1 and I'm not just saying that because I drafted him with my number one pick last Saturday, LOL. #gobrewers — C. Marie (@HelwigianWasp) April 3, 2012
7	Clayton Kershaw LHP | @Dodgers | Age: 24 2011 STATS G K W-L ERA BAA 33 248 21-5 2.28 .207	8.97
@ESPN_MLB putting Kershaw in the top10 just because he won Cy Young last year is a total prisoner of the moment move. #espn500 — Vincent Julian Ong (@vincentjulian23) April 3, 2012
8	Troy Tulowitzki Shortstop | @Rockies | Age: 27 2011 STATS GM HR RBI BA OBP 143 30 105 .302 .372	8.91
@ESPN_MLB I believe Troy should be number one on the #ESPN500 because he is an excellent defensive shortstop, can hit well, and is only 27. — Zachary J. Loesl (@mmm9731) April 3, 2012
9	Tim Lincecum @TimLincecum RHP | @SFGiants | Age: 28 2011 STATS G K W-L ERA BAA 33 220 13-14 2.74 .222	8.88
@ESPN_MLB #1 because he's #theFreaKKKKKKKKKKKKK — David H. Colón (@davidmrsport) April 3, 2012
10	Robinson Cano @RobinsonCano Second Base | @Yankees | Age: 29 2011 STATS GM HR RBI BA OBP 159 28 118 .302 .349	8.88
@ESPN_MLB @RobinsonCano needs to be top 5! Gold glove defense and hits for avg power and drives in runs! #2012MVP — Patrick Button (@PatButton) April 3, 2012

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