In the world of advanced stats in MLB, wRC+ is perhaps the most useful one to evaluate offensive performance.
Per MLB.com, “wRC+ takes the statistic Runs Created and adjusts that number to account for important external factors — like ballpark or era. It’s adjusted, so a wRC+ of 100 is league average and 150 would be 50 percent above league average.”
Runs Created tries to estimate how much a player contributes in terms of total runs, combining his abilities to reach via walk and to hit for extra bases.
Having said this, you would expect players with slugging ability and a keen eye at the plate to lead the league in wRC+, and that’s exactly the case.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is the wRC+ leader in baseball since September 1, 2022, at 226.
It means he has been 126 percent better than the league-average hitter.
Second is Mike Trout, the star of the Los Angeles Angels, with a 198 wRC+ over that timeframe.
No surprises there, either.
If we tell you that a Toronto Blue Jays player is third, you will probably think of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Matt Chapman.
Wrong.
It’s shortstop Bo Bichette.
“wRC+ leaderboard since Sept. 1, 2022: 1. Aaron Judge: 226 2. Mike Trout: 198 3. Bo Bichette: 197,” MLB.com reporter Thomas Harrigan tweeted.
wRC+ leaderboard since Sept. 1, 2022:
1. Aaron Judge: 226
2. Mike Trout: 198
3. Bo Bichette: 197Here's how Bichette has taken his game to another level at the plate: https://t.co/XhwEdNwwij
— Thomas Harrigan (@HarriganMLB) April 21, 2023
After finishing 2022 on a high note, Bichette has picked up right where he left off this year.
He is slashing, as of Friday afternoon, .354/.384/.549 with four homers, 11 runs, and 12 RBI.
He has been one of the most valuable players on the Blue Jays roster, and could have a career season if he keeps this up.
He is right up there with the best.
The numbers don’t lie.
NEXT: Matt Chapman Dominates An Elite MLB Category
