Stats!: Positional Breakdown

Some of the data I'm analyzing is collected straight from the cards while other things I have to go digging around for as I write each post. The stuff I can find on the card will probably be featured sooner rather than later and that is the case today.

Each player's position can easily be found on the lower right corner of the card.

Or if you flip it over, it's right in the upper center of the card.

There are nine position players on the field at any given time, but when you factor in the Designated Hitter and the possibility of utility players with multiple positions listed, there are 13 different "positions" listed in the 2018 Opening Day set.

Pitchers and outfielders make up more than half of the set. That's a little surprising at first, but also makes sense when you consider there are three outfielders and five starting pitchers plus the bullpen for most teams.

Just ten catchers made the set but when I glanced at the list, I didn't see any glaring omissions. All four of last year's All-Stars are there as well as four of the six from the year before.

Conversely, 22 first baseman are in the set! All ten teams from the NL Central and NL West are represented here, but just one AL East first baseman is. And surprisingly, it's not the Yankees or Red Sox!