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Olney: Juan Lagares among the top center fielders in baseball

The Mets have one of the best center fielders in baseball, says Buster Olney.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

ESPN's Buster Olney unveiled his list of the top center fielders in baseball this morning. Juan Lagares, winner of the 2014 National League Gold Glove Award, finished tenth in Olney's rankings, behind Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Gomez, Adam Jones, Yasiel Puig, Jacoby Ellsbury, Lorenzo Cain, Denard Span, and Adam Eaton.

Lagares has established himself as arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game, and he has the highlights to prove it. Aside from winning the National League Gold Glove Award, Lagares was also a recipient of the Fielding Bible Award for outstanding defense, leading all center fielders with 28 defensive runs saved.

Lagares finished the 2014 season with a .281/.321/.382 line at the plate and a 3.8 fWAR. Over his last fifteen games of the season, the Mets utilized Lagares's elite closing speed in the outfield and on the basepaths, as he stole seven bases over that span and showed the potential to be the Mets' leadoff hitter for years to come.