There are a lot of Major League Baseball players.  They play for a lot of different teams.  I have a favorite team, which naturally has a number of my favorite players, but there are others across the league that I really enjoy watching play.

I started thinking about that second list after seeing this on Twitter:

I don’t necessarily have the patience to spend 30 days running through the list, or rather, to remember 30 days in a row to do it.  So let’s just get them all out there at once!  For some of the teams, I knew right away which guy to choose without a second of thought or having to look at the roster.  Others took some more time and ended up being a reluctant pick from a group I don’t care about at all.  Some trade deadline moves this year definitely helped save me from a few of those situations, too.

In order of the current standings list on MLB.com, here we go.

Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts
An actual choice to start things off! He gets lots of hits, many of them go far, and like most of my instant picks on this list, he seems like he genuinely enjoys playing the game of baseball.

New York Yankees: Aaron Judge
Two in a row!  I mean, come on.  The Yankees have a lot of good players, but wouldn’t you love to have Judge on your team smashing dingers and smiling every day?

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Kiermaier
Not quite at the other end of the spectrum, but the Rays don’t have a lot for me to choose from.  Every few weeks I see a clip of Kiermaier making a cool catch, so I guess he’s the guy.

Toronto Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman
I don’t see the Blue Jays play much, but I do remember being very into watching Stroman pitch for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic.  Plus he has a blue glove and that’s fun.

Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones
No-brainer choice.  He plays a fun center field, hits well and if you follow his off-the-field stuff at all, you know he’s the type of role model you can root for no matter what city he plays in.

Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor
Probably my favorite non-Nationals player.  Watch him for one inning and I defy you to not feel the same way.  Nobody in the league has more fun than Lindor.

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer
I think he would have been a unanimous choice a few years ago, but maybe people don’t remember how good he was in his prime.  I saw him play once in single A during a rehab stint and that was cool.

Detroit Tigers: Jordan Zimmermann
One of my favorite Nats of all time.  Definitely my favorite Nats pitcher to watch in person (pre-Scherzer) given his habit of working very quickly and effectively.  Plus he threw the only no-hitter I’ve seen in person.

Chicago White Sox: Reynaldo Lopez
This is absolutely an I guess so pick.  I don’t have any real affinity for a single player on the White Sox, but Lopez was okay when he was in DC and I wouldn’t mind having him as a fifth starter right now.

Kansas City Royals: Salvador Perez
I really expected to find someone else on the Royals, but it appears they have traded everyone.  This would have been Lorenzo Cain, but I actually do like Perez when I remember he’s on this team.

Houston Astros: George Springer
Houston is a tricky team.  They have so many good players it’s hard to choose (sorry Verlander, Correa, Altuve…), but I really like watching Springer hit and he seems like a nice guy.

Oakland Athletics: Blake Treinen
I very much admit to being happy when the Nats traded Treinen.  He had not performed particularly well that season, but I am very glad to see him bounce back and be awesome in Oakland.

Seattle Mariners: Denard Span
Like the Royals, I thought there would be someone else here.  I guess maybe Cano.  Whatever, I’ll stick with Span.  He was so great for the Nats I’ll continue to honor him.

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout
Didn’t even look at the roster and you shouldn’t either.  I wish I could see him play more.  Mental note, Christopher: watch more Angels games!

Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltre
Is there a better character in the league?  The way he interacts with his teammates and everyone on opposing teams is just magical and really shows the fraternity those guys have.  I would guess he’s top five among the most respected players with his peers, plus he’s like really good.

Philadelphia Phillies: Wilson Ramos
The thought of having to pick someone from this team was terrifying.  But then!  Then I remembered they traded for Ramos, one of my absolute favorite players in Nats history and the problem disappeared.  Man I wish the Nats had held onto him.  WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON.

Atlanta Braves: Freddie Freeman
This is certainly a love-hate.  I hate that he demolishes the Nats seemingly every time they play, but what’s not to like about Freddie?  I think he’d be a favorite of anyone on any team.

Washington Nationals: Everyone
Okay that’s not true.  But really I have to pick?  Let’s take the weasel way out and do my top-five Nats: Scherzer, Rendon, Harper, Zimmerman, Soto.  Scherzer is a complete animal of a competitor and an absolute joy to watch every five days.  You know he doesn’t take even a pitch off and takes pride in things like batting that would be fine if he didn’t care about at all.  Rendon is the most laid back dude in the whole league.  I love the fact that his favorite sport is really basketball.  I don’t know why, I just enjoy it.  Plus his swing is magical.  Harper is a rocket ship waiting to take off at any moment.  Sure, he goes through slumps, but for pure WOW moments, nobody has more potential.  Zimmerman was my first favorite Nationals player and him hitting an opposite field double is the most pure feat in hitting.  Soto is my hope for the future and without a doubt my next jersey.

Miami Marlins: J.T. Realmuto
Who even still plays for the Marlins was my thought.  And that’s coming from someone who has watched them multiple times this year, including in person.  I don’t particularly like any of their players, but I guess Realmuto?

New York Mets: Jacob DeGrom
I was hoping for his sake he would get traded away from the mess that is the Mets right now.  Genuinely enjoyable to watch him pitch, even if it’s against my team.

Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant
A little more love-hate.  I like a few players on the Cubs (Baez, Rizzo) but if I could pick just one of them to have on my team, it would be Bryant.

Milwaukee Brewers: Christian Yelich
He would have easily taken the Marlins spot, but luckily for him now plays for a team that can actually win games.  Every time I see him bat he seems to hit a double and that fits my interests just fine.

St. Louis Cardinals: Dexter Fowler
Like with the Phillies, I was loathing the idea of having to pick a Cardinals play and say I like them.  But they have Fowler!  He seems like a cool guy and from what I’ve seen on social media seems to have a nice relationship with his wife.  That’s enough, right?

Pittsburgh Pirates: Chris Archer
I really thought there was someone I like on the Pirates.  Maybe it’s just the ghost of Andrew McCutchen.  Oh well, fortunately they just traded for Archer and I like him!  He has cool socks.

Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto
Not only a really special hitter to watch, but a character like Beltre who always seems to be up to something.  I know some people see him as a jerk, but he’s fine by me.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt
He gets a vote out of support for players who seem to be chronically underrated.  Greinke was a thought for a moment, but let’s go with Goldschmidt.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw
If you don’t love watching Kershaw pitch there is something very wrong with you.  I’m glad I’m always up late and can see a lot of West Coast games.

Colorado Rockies: Nolan Arenado
Listen.  Anthony Rendon is a complete saint in my book.  I would love to see him in the All-Star game every year and win every gold glove.  But, have you seen Arenado?  He does something amazing every single day.

San Francisco Giants: Buster Posey
Reluctant choice from a team I don’t like at all.  Posey is fine, but this was definitely and I guess so pick.

San Diego Padres: Eric Hosmer
I honestly tried to think of who plays for the Padres before I looked at their roster.  I did not get very far.  And I forgot they have Hosmer!  I liked him when he was on the Royals, so why not now?

That’s it for my list.  This was a fun exercise and very much encourage you to try it out!