The Astros' middle of the order threat is perhaps one of the most underrated hitters in the game, but has tallied over 30 homers five times in the last seven years with a career average of over .300.
The four-time all-star has also finished in the top five of MVP voting three times and has tallied over 120 RBI in a season three times.
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Berkman.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Michael Zagaris", "MLB Photos via Getty Images", "273", "363", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Braun","RYAN BRAUN
Brewers OF
In his rookie of the year 2007 season, Braun led the NL in slugging with a .634 mark.
The Brewers' basher is spending most of '08 proving it was no fluke. He leads the majors in extra-base hits, and it's no surprise Milwaukee surged in July, during which Braun hit .366 with nine homers and 23 RBI in 25 games.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Braun.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "273", "374", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Prince","PRINCE FIELDER
Brewers 1B
Milwaukee's big bopper smashed an NL-best 50 home runs last year, finishing second in the NL in slugging and third in the MVP award voting.
Though he got off to a slow start in '08, Fielder has hammered 17 homers in his last 203 at-bats.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Prince.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "273", "386", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Vlad","VLADIMIR GUERRERO
Angels OF
Though his production has started to wane as injuries begin to take their toll on the Angels slugger, Guerrero still casts a menacing figure at the plate with his mighty swing.
And perhaps Vlad was just pacing himself this year; he's hitting over .320 since June 1.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Vlad.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephen Dunn", "Getty Images", "273", "365", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Josh Hamilton","JOSH HAMILTON
Rangers OF
Essentially a second-year player (Hamilton played only 90 games in '07), the Rangers outfielder has quickly emerged as one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball, with a .361 average with two outs and runners in scoring position this year.
For most of '08, he's been averaging nearly one RBI per game (106 in 108 games) and he put on a performance to remember at the 2008 Home Run Derby, showcasing the power that was expected when Tampa Bay made him a No. 1 overall draft choice.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Hamilton.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Ronald Martinez", "Getty Images", "273", "336", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Holliday","MATT HOLLIDAY
Rockies OF
The Colorado Rockies' fantastic voyage to the World Series last year opened up the eyes of America to Matt Holliday, but he's already been a known commodity around the league for years.
Holliday led the NL in RBI last year while finishing second in the MVP voting, and has a career .323 average. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/MattHolliday.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Doug Pensinger", "Getty Images", "273", "425", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Ryan Howard","RYAN HOWARD
Phillies 1B
His batting average is down significantly and his strikeouts are still too frequent, but Howard's game-changing power is undeniable.
With 136 home runs since the start of 2006, Howard has cracked more round-trippers than any other player in the game.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/RyanHoward.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Rich Pilling", "MLB Photos via Getty Images", "273", "331", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Morneau","JUSTIN MORNEAU
Twins 1B
The 2006 AL most valuable player doesn't get a ton of ink playing in Minnesota, but has gained a reputation around the league for clutch-hitting with a lifetime average of over .300 with runners in scoring position.
Morneau hsa been among the top run producers in the game since 2006, and is currently second in the AL in RBI.
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Morneau.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Ron Vesely", "MLB Photos via Getty Images", "273", "447", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","David Ortiz","DAVID ORTIZ
Red Sox DH
Ortiz built a reputation for himself as one of the most clutch hitters in baseball during the 2004 playoffs, and despite injury issues in '08, his capacity for the big hit remains.
From '03 to '07, Ortiz finished in the top five in MVP voting every season, and he shines just as bright in the playoffs, where he's a .317 career hitter with 11 homers and 42 RBI in 52 games.
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/DOrtiz.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jim Rogash", "Getty Images", "273", "370", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Pujols","ALBERT PUJOLS
Cardinals 1B
Perhaps the most complete hitter in the game, Pujols is capable of doing anything with the bat, from utilizing the hit-and-run to crushing tape-measure blasts.
A .333 career hitter, Pujols' career OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.0411 is in the top five in MLB history, behind only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds.
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Pujols.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Doug Benc", "Getty Images", "273", "414", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","Manny","MANNY RAMIREZ
Dodgers OF
A career .313 hitter, Ramirez trails only Ken Griffey Jr., and Frank Thomas among active players in career RBI.
His consistency is especially astounding, with at least a .300 career average in every month of the year.
While Manny brings his fair share of drama to the field, opposing managers still view him among the elite hitters in the game.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Manny.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephen Dunn", "Getty Images", "273", "366", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spts_MLBMostFearedHitters[i++] = new Array("","ARod","ALEX RODRIGUEZ
Yankees 3B
Perhaps a challenger to Barry Bonds' all-time home run record one day, the 32-year-old Rodriguez is a three-time MVP whose career slugging percentage of .580 is 10th all time.
Nine times, he's finished in the top 10 in RBI (twice leading the league), and though the knock on him is an inability to come through in the clutch, he has a .303 career average with runners on base.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Chiappetta%2C%20Mike/MLB/MLBMostFearedHitters/Arod.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jim Mcisaac", "Getty Images", "273", "338", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); // END editorial data