MLB Madness: Who's the best player in baseball?

March Madness, one of the most exciting points on the sports calendar, has finally arrived. Over the next two days, eight teams will compete for the final four spots in the NCAA's Round of 64, putting in motion a thrilling three-week stretch of buzzer-beaters, bracket-busters, and some of the most memorable images of the 2016 sports year.

With spring training underway, the March Madness frenzy has us MLB types debating a tournament of our own: trying to crown the best player in baseball. Our editors whittled the field down to 16 players and four seeded regions, based on the geographic location of the players' major-league teams. Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson, and Paul Goldschmidt were our top four ranked players, and, therefore, represent the No. 1 seeds.

The multi-part series continues Wednesday with MLB's Elite Eight, and concludes Thursday with the reveal of theScore's best player in baseball. Vote the field of 16 in the polls below:

NORTH REGION

(1) JOSH DONALDSON
(4) JOSE BAUTISTA

The Blue Jays' offense is so good that one of their two cornerstones is going to send the other home in the first round. Donaldson's the reigning AL MVP and his 8.8 WAR in 2015 easily led the Jays. Bautista remains a force in his mid-30s, compiling 5.1 WAR and pacing the AL in walks in 2015. Oh, and he also hit a certain home run in October.

(2) MIGUEL CABRERA
(3) JOEY VOTTO

Despite missing almost 25 percent of last season, Cabrera still managed to win his fourth batting title. He's baseball's elite slugger, slashing .332/.415/.577 with 87 homers over the past three seasons. Votto is one of the few who rival Cabrera's power and ability to get on base. He led the league in walks in two of the last three seasons while also clubbing 59 homers.

Vote for both North Region matchups here:

EAST REGION

(1) BRYCE HARPER
(4) CHRIS SALE

Perhaps the best hitter in the game takes on one of baseball's most fearsome lefties. Harper is more than just numbers: At 23 years old, the reigning NL MVP is quickly becoming the sport's most recognizable face. Sale is a strikeout machine, racking up over 200 K's in each of the past three seasons to establish himself as one of baseball's best southpaws.

(2) ANDREW MCCUTCHEN
(3) MANNY MACHADO

Machado showed just how dangerous he can be when healthy. The two-time Gold Glove-winner exploded for 35 homers, 20 stolen bases, and posted 6.8 WAR last season and is among the league's elite at just 23. McCutchen compiled his lowest WAR (5.8) in four years in 2015 but still managed to finish fifth in MVP voting and win his fourth-straight Silver Slugger award.

Vote for both East Region matchups here:

WEST REGION

(1) MIKE TROUT
(4) NOLAN ARENADO

Mike Trout won't turn 25 until August and already owns an AL MVP award and was runner-up three other years. While it's hard to rival the man who amassed 37.8 WAR over the past four seasons, Arenado's 2015 breakout puts him in the conversation as one of the league's best young players. Also 24 years old, Arrenado clubbed a NL-leading 42 homers while also winning a Gold Glove at third.

(2) CLAYTON KERSHAW
(3) BUSTER POSEY

Posey is perhaps the best catcher in the game, and has given the Giants consistent production during their recent string of success. Kershaw, arguably the game's best pitcher, became the first hurler in over a decade to surpass the 300-K mark last year. Head-to-head, Kershaw's had his NL West rival's number, holding Posey to a .224 average since 2009 ... but Buster's got the edge where it counts, owning three rings to Clayton's zero.

Vote for both West Region matchups here:

SOUTH REGION

(1) PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT
(4) ZACK GREINKE

Another set of teammates square off here. Goldschmidt's 8.8 WAR easily paced the D-Backs last year, and he's put up MVP numbers his entire career. Greinke joined the first baseman in Arizona over the offseason, and brought his 9.3 WAR and 1.66 ERA from 2015 with him. Together, Goldschmidt and Greinke are aiming to turn a struggling D-Backs franchise around. Today, however, they're battling for MLB's Elite Eight.

(2) GIANCARLO STANTON
(3) CARLOS CORREA

Health continues to hold Stanton back. He's clubbed 125 home runs and drove in 320 over the past four seasons - despite missing 190 games - and is a perennial MVP candidate if he can stay in the lineup. Correa is another player who could benefit from playing a full season. The AL Rookie of the Year won the award despite only appearing in 99 games in 2015. In that time, he hit 22 homers, and compiled 3.3 WAR.

Vote for both South Region matchups here: