How We Ranked the MLB’s Top 100 in 2025
You want to separate the star from the superstar? So did we. That’s why over 60 ESPN baseball experts joined forces for the annual MLB Rank, an intensive tournament pitting the sport’s biggest names against each other. The challenge? How do you really compare an ace pitcher and a feared slugger—or a rookie to a seasoned MVP? The answer: you just do your best, debate it out, and accept that somewhere, Shohei Ohtani is probably winning the vote.
Our list is a patchwork of MVPs, Cy Young laureates, future Hall of Famers working on their résumés, and emerging megastars vying for eternal enshrinement (hello, Cooperstown aspirants). Where does your favorite land in this prestigious ranking?
The Throne: Shohei Ohtani and the Elite Crew
Let’s get this out of the way: the best player debate ended the moment Shohei Ohtani suited up for the Dodgers, shredded our expectations, and made « two-way phenom » feel like an understatement—even while rehabbing an elbow and skipping his pitcher gig. In 2024 he became the first player ever with 50 homers and 50 steals in a season, adding a third MVP (all unanimous) in four years. Oh, and he set career highs in home runs (54) and steals (59), smashed an OPS+ of 190, and delivered the Dodgers their first full-season title since 1988. The legend only grows: in 2025, Ohtani’s expected to pitch about 100 innings, hit like it’s his birthright, and easily contend for a fifth consecutive top-3 MVP finish.
Hot on Ohtani’s heels is Bobby Witt Jr., who’s been steadily cranking up his game—higher home run and walk rates, lower strikeouts, improved defense, and a batting average that soared from .254 as a rookie to .332, earning him the batting title last year. Expect Witt to flash a 50-steal season, 35-plus homers, Gold Glove defense, and numbers so good he might finally topple the Ohtani dynasty—or at least force MVP voters to think twice.
Don’t forget Mookie Betts, redefining « versatility » by trading his six Gold Gloves in right field for a new gig at shortstop in his thirties—and actually pulling it off (and yes, he’ll be an average MLB shortstop, which really is incredible). His expected stat line? Classic Betts: big offense, reliable defense, and his sixth top-five MVP nod in a decade.
Aaron Judge, fresh off leading the majors last season in nearly every category that matters—fWAR, home runs, RBIs, walks, OBP, slugging—and returning as the Yankees’ main man in right field (after a four-home-run opening series, no less), isn’t showing any signs of letting up. Pencil him in for 54 dingers, an OPS north of 1.000, and a triple shot at AL MVP.
- Honorable mentions: Paul Skenes (watch for a 20-strikeout game!), the perpetually consistent José Ramírez, and Yordan Alvarez shifting into a full-time DH role to keep his bat hot (Astros fans, exhale).
Superstars, Surprises & What to Watch
If you ever doubted that future Hall of Famers could still raise the bar, 2024/2025 will make you a believer. Juan Soto has finally found stability and, sandwiched between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in a stacked Mets lineup, is picked to break his own home run record and bag top-three MVP votes again. Zack Wheeler, Tarik Skubal (Detroit fans, could he really win 20 games?), Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman—experienced, clutch, and showing no signs of ceding their territory.
But keep an eye on the franchise faces about to make the leap—or their final stand as a one-team wonder. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could cement his legacy with the Blue Jays (or be gone next year), Gunnar Henderson is on MVP watch if he comes back strong from injury, and Elly De La Cruz might be the most dynamic 23-year-old in baseball—if he can just curb those strikeouts a little.
- Watch for Carroll joining an exclusive 20-20-20 club (homers, triples, steals).
- Kyle Tucker’s plate discipline is boosting his power numbers—expect a career-high in walks at Wrigley Field.
- Pitching prospects like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are primed for breakout seasons.
Each club, from the Dodgers (with a whopping nine names on the top 100) to franchises still seeking that elusive superstar, is represented—or not (sorry, Nationals and Rockies). The ranking distribution?
- Dodgers: 9
- Phillies, Braves, Yankees: 7 each
- Mariners: 6
- Mets, Red Sox, Royals, Astros: 5 each
- Others: see full list—let’s not get too carried away.
Who Dropped Off—and Who Might Crash the List Next?
Of course, making the list is a feat—staying on it is even harder. Injuries, slumps, and depth of talent see stars fall off as others rise. Watch for names like Matt McLain, Jackson Chourio, and Logan Gilbert to climb higher, and don’t rule out unforeseen breakouts or comebacks (Jake deGrom, anyone?).
As for predictions? This panel’s not shy about them. Expect monster years, rebounds from key veterans, and, inevitably, a few forecasts that’ll look hilarious come October. But that’s baseball—wild, unpredictable, and always worth the ride.
“Who’s No. 1? Any question about who the best baseball player in the world is was put to rest last year, when Ohtani transitioned to the team 30 miles north, raised his profile immensely and extended the boundaries of our imagination.”
So strap in for a season full of meteoric home runs, dazzling double plays, untimely slumps, and all the debates you can handle. One thing’s certain: baseball’s top 100 is as compelling—and ever-evolving—as the sport itself.
Jack Mercer is a writer with a passion for American culture and everyday style. After spending years exploring the country’s hidden gems and fashion scenes, he found his voice sharing stories that celebrate the authentic spirit of modern America. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him hunting for vintage denim or enjoying a good bourbon on his front porch.
