Top 25 Position Players for 2025

On the eve of the 2025 season, it’s time to celebrate the best players in Major League Baseball. Rather than the Top 100 we’ve done the past few years, we broke this year into two lists of 25 to celebrate 2025. Today, I’ll cover the top 25 position players, and Christian Otteman will follow with the top 25 pitchers in a day or two. Please note that these are not fantasy rankings – defense and the position you play matter.

Before we jump in, I wanted to give a little context on the methodology. I leaned heavily on fWAR, averaging the 2025 projections from five sources. In addition, I layered in what I deem the most essential comparative offensive statistics and topped it off with some PLV numbers from 2024. The results were interesting and, on occasion, surprising.

The list is below, in descending order. I’ve included projections for each player for key offensive categories, courtesy of Pitcher List. In addition, I included Fangraph’s Depth Charts’ defensive rating and WAR. Let’s get to it!

25. Elly De La Cruz – Cincinnati Reds, Shortstop

The 23-year-old De La Cruz is among the game’s most exciting young players. His 67 stolen bases led all of MLB last year, and he’s got 40 HR potential. Defensively, he’s not an elite shortstop, but he acquits himself fine and provides incredible offense from a defensively-focused position. If Elly can cut down on his K%, he’ll be a perennial MVP candidate for years to come.

24. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels, Outfielder

Poor Mike Trout. The best player of the last decade hasn’t been able to stay healthy in the 2020s, casting a shadow over his legacy. When he’s in the lineup, he remains one of the greats. However, he’s averaged only 66.5 games in the past four seasons. One of these years, he’s going to give us 140 games and remind people what a great hitter he is. Here’s hoping it’s this year.

23. Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox, Third Baseman

Devers is getting a lot of attention for his reluctance to switch positions in the wake of the Red Sox signing Alex Bregman. He probably should, considering he’s a below-average defender, and Bregman won a Gold Glove last season. That said, the Red Sox gave him a huge contract last season for what he does at the plate, so if he wants to stay at third, he’s earned the right. Despite missing the end of last season with a shoulder injury, Devers has consistently raked for the Bosox since joining the squad as a 20-year-old in 2017. Keep him happy, Red Sox, and keep him in the lineup.

22. Cal Raleigh – Seattle Mariners, Catcher

Unless you live in Seattle, you may not know how good Cal Raleigh was in 2024. The M’s backstop won not only his first Gold Glove after leading AL catchers in putouts, assists, and DRS last season, but he took home the coveted Platinum Glove. At the plate, Cal slugged 34 HRs and drove in 100. He hit only .220, but his 11.1% walk rate put his OBP in the respectable range. Quietly, Raleigh led all catchers in fWAR last season and has established himself as one of Seattle’s best players.

21. Freddie Freeman – Los Angeles Dodgers, First Baseman

World Series hero Freddie Freeman had a wild 2024. From the emotionally devastating Guillen-Barre syndrome diagnosis for his son Max to the ankle injury that almost knocked him out of the playoffs to his unbelievable MVP-winning performance in the Fall Classic, it was quite the ride. Through it all, Freeman continued to be a force at the plate, hitting for average, drawing walks, and driving in runs with the best of them. Though he’ll turn 36 in September, he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

20. Jackson Merrill – San Diego Padres, Outfielder

I confess I was surprised to see Jackson Merrill rank so high. It’s not that the NL Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up didn’t have a great rookie season. He just doesn’t have much experience, which usually results in modest projections. However, his 5.3 fWAR last season was the seventh-best in the NL among hitters, and in addition to his impressive offensive numbers, he had the second-best UZR among NL centerfielders. Not bad for a converted shortstop! Merrill has few weaknesses and, at 21, has plenty of upside potential.

19. Bryce Harper – Philadelphia Phillies, First Baseman

Bryce Harper is still one of MLB’s premier hitters. He adjusted well to first base last season, playing above-average defense and staying on the field for 145 games – his most since 2019. It feels like he’s been around forever, but he’s still only 32 and has plenty of baseball left in him. It seems like Harper is at his best when the lights are brightest. In 53 postseason games, he’s slashed .280/.394/.622 with 17 dingers, 41 runs, and 34 RBI. That will get it done.

18. Austin Riley – Atlanta, Third Baseman

A broken hand cut Riley’s 2024 season short. Despite a slow start, he was trending towards a fourth consecutive 30+ home run season before the injury. He’s not a great defender at third, but he makes up for any deficiencies with his bat. Riley squares up the baseball among the best in the game. Since 2021, his 14.4% Barrel% is the sixth-best in MLB.

17. Ronald Acuña Jr. – Atlanta Braves, Outfielder

A year ago, Acuna was ranked fourth in our Top 100 following his monster, MVP-winning 2023 season. Unfortunately, the dynamic outfielder played only 49 games last year before he tore his left ACL. The injury was the second ACL tear for Acuna, who blew out the right one in 2021. He recovered nicely from his first injury, but it’s hard to know what to expect from him this season. Atlanta has already indicated the team won’t rush him back, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll be running wild again this year. Acuna will likely ascend back to being one of MLB’s elite players, but it may not be this year.

16. Ketel Marte – Arizona Diamondbacks, Second Baseman

Ketel Marte is underappreciated. He’s been one of the best switch-hitters in baseball since 2019, though his 2022 was lackluster by his standards. Marte is a beast from the right side, where he generated a 1.080 OPS in 2024. He’s also an excellent defensive second baseman, and his 6.3 fWAR last season was the fourth-best in the NL. Perhaps it’s due to the market he plays in, but Marte deserves more recognition.

15. Julio Rodriguez – Seattle Mariners, Outfielder

As good as Julio Rodriguez has been over the first three years of his career, one has to wonder how much better he’d be if he weren’t playing half his games in one of the worst parks for hitters in MLB. J-Rod’s career OPS is .150 points higher away from T-Mobile Park. Last season, he suffered a power outage in the first half, posting a putrid .104 ISO. He turned it around in the second half, though, and hopefully, he can carry that momentum over to 2025.

14. William Contreras – Milwaukee Brewers, Catcher

William Contreras was the best offensive catcher in baseball last season, slugging 23 HRs and posting an .831 OPS. Equally important, Contreras has developed into an above-average backstop. Once considered a future designated hitter, he has proved his critics wrong since becoming the Brewers’ starting catcher in 2023. Contreras posted a DRS of 5 and 6 over the past two years and is, at the very least, a solid option behind the plate. Combined with his offensive prowess, he is arguably the most valuable catcher in MLB heading into 2025.

13. José Ramírez – Cleveland Guardians, Third Baseman

There aren’t many superstars as unassuming as José Ramírez, who took far less money than he could have earned to stay in Cleveland. And yes, he is a superstar. Ramirez has finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting seven times in the last eight years and has five Silver Sluggers. Only Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, and Francisco Lindor have a higher fWAR than “Enriquito” since 2017, who has also represented his city in six All-Star games. Ramirez does a bit of everything and is as consistent as they come. If he plays out his career in Cleveland, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the franchise’s greatest players.

12. Francisco Lindor – New York Mets, Shortstop

Speaking of Lindor, Ramirez’s former teammate is coming off one of his best seasons. The shortstop led the Mets on an improbable playoff run, thanks to his stellar offense and excellent defense. Though his batting average can fluctuate, Lindor always provides plenty of pop and speed while holding one of the most important defensive positions on the diamond. If not for Shohei Ohtani, he’d be the reigning NL MVP. As the revitalized Mets try to take the next step in 2025, Lindor will be leading the way.

11. Kyle Tucker – Chicago Cubs, Outfielder

I’m still trying to get my head around Tucker with the Cubs and why Houston didn’t go all out to sign him. After all, Tucker has been one of the best players in the AL over the past four seasons. His 19.1 fWAR over that span was surpassed by only six other players, despite his missing half of last season with a fractured shin. Tucker was putting up MVP-caliber numbers at the time of the injury and finished 2024 with a 4.2 fWAR in only 78 games. Not many players offer Tucker’s combination of power, speed, and on-base skills while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense.

10. Fernando Tatis Jr. – San Diego Padres, Outfielder

Tatis remains an incredible player when he’s in the lineup. Like Tucker, he’s the whole package who can hit for power, run, and play excellent defense. A leg injury cost him two months last year, but he rebounded nicely, belting seven HRs in September and four more in 30 postseason plate appearances. Despite the injuries and suspension, it appears the Padres were wise to lock him up with a long-term deal early in his career.

9. Corey Seager – Texas Rangers, Shortstop

How great would Corey Seager be if he could consistently stay on the field? In 2024, the Rangers shortstop had 30 HRs, 74 RBI, and a 4.5 fWAR in 123 games. In 2023, he was even better, notching 33 HRs, 96 RBI, and a 6.3 fWAR in only 119 games. Seager is, quite simply, one of the best hitters in the game and is a better defensive shortstop than advertised. He’d be in the MVP conversation annually if he could give the Rangers 150+ games.

8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays, First Baseman

A year ago, it was beginning to look like Vlad’s incredible 2021 might be an outlier in an otherwise good but not great career. However, he rebounded in 2024, putting up a .940 OPS after posting .818 and .788 in the prior two seasons. The fear that his .342 BABIP last season will lead to regression is offset by his 41.3% Hard Contact rate – tops in the league. When you hit the ball that hard often, good things are bound to happen. Guerrero is no Keith Hernandez in the field, but he’s not a significant liability and more than makes up for any deficiencies with his bat.

7. Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers, Shortstop/Outfielder

What more is there to say about Mookie Betts? Clubhouse leader? Check. Perennial MVP candidate? Check. Gold Glove outfielder? Check. Need a shortstop? Check. Mookie is perhaps the perfect baseball player. He can line up almost anywhere on the field and acquit himself nicely. He’s got power, can run, and is an on-base machine. On a star-studded team, Betts sets the example of a player willing to do whatever is necessary to win.

6. Gunnar Henderson – Baltimore Orioles, Shortstop

Gunnar Henderson followed up his 2023 AL Rookie-of-the-Year season with an 8.0 fWAR in 2024, the fourth-best in the American League. The young shortstop is a relatively average fielder but is a monster at the plate and played in 159 games last year. This combination put him in the 90th percentile in several key offensive categories, including home runs, runs, RBI, OBP, SLG, and wOBA. The 23-year-old slugger looks primed for a career filled with All-Star Games and a closet full of Silver Sluggers.

5. Yordan Alvarez – Houston Astros, Outfielder/Designated Hitter

To rank this high without any help from your defense means that you are a sensational hitter. Alvarez starts at DH more than left field, and it’s often not pretty when he’s out there. However, in the batter’s box, there are few better. The Astros’ slugger walks nearly as often as he strikes out, he has a lifetime .299/.391/.595 slash-line (AVG/OBP/SLG), and had one of the highest IPA% (Ideal Plate Appearance) in MLB last season. He has few weaknesses at the plate.

3. Juan Soto – New York Mets, Outfielder

After years of speculation, Juan Soto finally got his contract this offseason. It was huge and well-deserved, considering everything the slugger had accomplished before his 27th birthday. In seven seasons, Soto has never had an OBP below .400 and has led the league in the category twice. He also has a batting title and is coming off a 41 HR season. Soto isn’t the best fielder, but it matters naught when you have a .953 career OPS.

2. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees, Outfielder

It will come as no surprise to even the most casual baseball fan that our top two are the reigning MVPs. Aaron Judge has won two of the last three AL crowns and might have a trifecta if he hadn’t gotten hurt in 2023. The Yankees’ leader is the game’s premier power hitter, but he’s so much more than that. Judge holds a .288 lifetime batting average and, like his former teammate Soto, is an on-base machine. Centerfield, where he played last year, is not the big man’s best position. He should return to rightfield this year with the addition of Cody Bellinger, where he is excellent defensively.

1. Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers, Pitcher/Designated Hitter

When I first laid out the data, Shohei Ohtani ranked fourth as a hitter only. However, he was being pulled down by a negative defensive rating because he was strictly a DH. That didn’t seem fair since Ohtani will retake the mound this year and thus would contribute on offense and defense. Once I layered in his pitching WAR, it was clear that “The Sho” should remain atop our rankings. After all, only Aaron Judge has put up better offensive numbers than Ohtani over the past three seasons, so even if he’s a relatively average starter, which he never has been, he vaults to the top of the list. They’re not listed above, but our pitching projections for Shohei this year include 121 innings with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 19.8% K-BB ratio. Those are No. 1 starter numbers from one of baseball’s top hitters. Not since Babe Ruth has anyone come close to what Ohtani is doing. Let’s enjoy it while we can.

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