Top-25 MLB Players for 2026

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25405322-ranking-shohei-ohtani-paul-skenes-and-top-25-mlb-players-2026

No. 1: Shohei Ohtani — DH/RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2025 Offensive Stats: .282 batting average, 55 HR, 102 RBI, 1.014 OPS, 7.5 WAR

2025 Pitching Stats: 1-1, 2.87 ERA, 1.90 FIP, 47 IP, 1.9 WAR

Age During 2026 Season: 31

If you have Shohei Ohtani fatigue, you just don't get it.

Over the past five seasons, Ohtani has won his league's MVP four times. The only time he didn't win MVP was in 2022, when he finished runner-up to Judge, who hit 62 home runs that season. Not only did Ohtani homer 34 times in 2022, but he also finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting. And that's his worst year of the last five.

Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has found another gear in terms of power, clubbing 109 home runs and posting a 1.025 OPS. What's scary is this is the first year as a Dodger that he's entered the season at 100 percent as a pitcher. The Dodgers aren't going to push Ohtani to 200 innings during the regular season, but it would hardly be a shock if he looks like one of the best pitchers in baseball when he's on the mound in 2026.

Ohtani is one of the game's elite power hitters now, in an era that's not short on star sluggers. Outside of Skubal, Skenes and Crochet, he's probably as talented as any pitcher in the sport. There's never been another player like this, and probably never will be again. Enjoy it while you can.

No. 2: Aaron Judge — RF, New York Yankees

2025 Stats: .331 batting average, 53 HR, 114 RBI, 1.144 OPS, 10.1 WAR

Age During 2026 Season: 34

Aaron Judge won't end up with the same career totals as an all-time great like Albert Pujols, but it's hard to think of a right-handed hitter who has had a better five-year stretch than Judge.

Since the start of the 2021 season, Judge has hit .306 with 249 home runs, a 1.075 OPS and 42.8 WAR, per FanGraphs. During that period, he's won three AL MVPs, four Silver Slugger Awards and been selected to five All-Star Games. He's become an inner-circle Hall of Famer.

How much longer can Judge keep this up? It's fair to wonder, especially for a guy who has, at times, struggled with injuries in his career. But Judge didn't break into the league until he was 24, with his first full season coming at 25. So he has less wear and tear than the typical 34-year-old superstar.

No. 3: Tarik Skubal — LHP, Detroit Tigers

2025 Stats: 13-6, 2.21 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 195.1 IP, 6.6 WAR

Age During 2026 Season: 29

No pitcher has ever won the AL Cy Young Award three years in a row. Tarik Skubal—the two-time defending winner of the honor—will try to change that this season. Bet against him at your own peril.

Skubal topped all MLB pitchers last season in WAR (6.6), WHIP (0.891), BB/9 (1.5) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.30). He had to settle for only leading the AL in ERA (2.21), FIP (2.45) and ERA+ (187).

Even with as great as Skenes, Crochet and some of the other arms in the sport are, Skubal is unquestionably the best pitcher the sport has to offer today. Barring injury, he's going to rewrite the record books as a free agent next offseason.

#4: SS Bobby Witt, Jr. KC Royals

#5: SP Paul Skenes, Pirates

#6: OF Juan Soto, Mets

#7: OF Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves

#8: C Cal Raleigh, Mariners

#9: SS Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

#10: 3B Jose Ramierz, Guardians

#11: SP Garrett Crochet, Red Sox

#12: 1B Vlad Guerroro, Jr Blue Jays

#13: OF Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

#14: SP Christopher Sanchez, Phillies

#15: OF Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

#16: SS Francisco Lindor, Mets

#17: OF Fernando Tatis, Padres

#18: OF Kyle Tucker, Dodgers

#19: OF Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

#20: OF/DH Yordan Alvarez, Astros

#21: 2B Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks

#22: SP Logan Webb, SF Giants

#23: SS Mookie Betts, Dodgers

#24: SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers

#25: 1B Nick Kurtz, Athletics