These seven hitters are driving the early MLB leaderboard

The early hitting leaderboard starts to take shape pretty quickly, and a few names have already separated themselves with solid production. This is not about a random hot week or a couple of lucky swings, it is sustained output across meaningful at bats. These hitters stand out for how complete their numbers have been so far. There are plenty of others off to strong starts, but these are a few worth focusing on right now.

CJ Abrams - Washington Nationals

Abrams is playing like he is tired of waiting on potential. His .377 average and 1.187 OPS are not luck or the result of a handful of loud swings. Six home runs, 23 hits and just 10 K's in almost 61 at-bats indicate a hitter in control of the plate. This looks like a breakout, not a hot streak.

Yordan Alvarez - Houston Astros

There is nothing subtle to what Alvarez is doing. An OPS of 1.250, seven home runs and a .488 OBP clearly establishes him on another level. Either he is crushing pitchers or the pitcher is avoiding him. When the walks (17) outnumber the K's (nine) it is time for the opposition to worry.

Andy Pages - Los Angeles Dodgers

Pages is overwhelming pitchers at the moment with a .409 average and 1.148 OPS with five home runs. The strikeouts are there (18 in 66 at-bats), but the production from his non-strikeout at-bats reduces the concern.

Jordan Walker - St. Louis Cardinals

Walker is looking a bit more like the guy he is supposed to be. Eight home runs and a .710 SLG are indicative of loud contact, and a .319 average shows consistent results. If he continues to slug, you have to accept some strikeouts (21 in 69 ABs).

Yandy Diaz - Tampa Bay Rays

Diaz is doing Diaz, just a more violent version of him. A .369 average and .468 OBP are consistency at its finest. A 1:1 walk to strikeout ratio only strengthens Diaz's impact.

Oneil Cruz - Pittsburgh Pirates

Cruz is impacting all facets right now with five home runs, a .945 OPS, and eight stolen bases make him one of the most disruptive bats in the league. If the power impact is this loud you can live with the strikeouts (26 in 73 at-bats).

Christian Walker - Houston Astros

Walker does not need to be loud, his .303 average and .958 OPS, four home runs and only 11 strikeouts make for a clear signal of efficiency and clean production.

Who will hold up over time?

This list is far from final, and it is not meant to be. Early season numbers can change quickly, and there are plenty of hitters building cases of their own that did not make this cut. Still, what these seven have done stands out, not just because of the numbers, but because of how complete the production has been. If this keeps up, these will not just be early season standouts, they will be names that stick around all year.