5 Best Leadoff Hitters in MLB Right Now

The leadoff spot is arguably the most important spot in the batting order. He who bats atop the lineup sets the tone for the game. There's plenty of quality players who hit first in the league, but these five guys are the best leadoff hitters that the MLB has to offer right now.

5. DJ LeMahieu

Houston Astros v New York Yankees / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

DJ LeMahieu has been a hit machine for the Yankees. He's got 77 hits out of the leadoff spot alone with 11 home runs and 44 RBI to boot. His .377 wOBA is also fifth-best among AL leadoff hitters, and he paces the league in batting average. LeMahieu's combination of the ability to hit for average and power makes him one of the most exciting players atop the order in the league.

4. Max Kepler

Minnesota Twins v Kansas City Royals / Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Kepler has done it all for the Twins this year. Minnesota's leadoff man is slashing .274/.353/.584 with 18 home runs while batting first. He's got a 141 wRC+ when batting in that spot in the order, the third-highest mark in the AL. He's quietly been one of the most effective batters not just in the leadoff spot, but in the game as a whole.

3. Fernando Tatis Jr.

San Diego Padres v Pittsburgh Pirates / Justin Berl/Getty Images

The Padres' young star has played nicely out of the leadoff spot. In 102 plate appearances while batting first, he boasts the highest batting average in the league at .344. He's also the only leadoff man with a minimum of 100 plate appearances with an OBP over .400, proving that he's doing the job that's asked of him.

2. Charlie Blackmon

Colorado Rockies v Arizona Diamondbacks / Norm Hall/Getty Images

Blackmon has once again proven to be one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball. He's slashing .331/.375/.640 for the Rockies atop the order and is the only player in the NL with an OPS over 1.000 while batting first. Few players can match the offensive production that he gives the Rockies to kick off the game.

1. George Springer

Boston Red Sox v Houston Astros / Bob Levey/Getty Images

Spring was on an MVP track before he was injured, and there's absolutely no reason to think he won't continue it atop the Astros' batting order. His 172 wRC+ while batting first is a good 10 points ahead of the next closest qualified batter, and his 1.037 OPS is the top mark among leadoff men in baseball. He's a force to be reckoned with for Houston, and he's back in the lineup, set to build on an already stellar leadoff resume.