MLB Community continued its annual custom of rating the “High 10 Gamers Proper Now” at every place.
Utilizing rankings based mostly on previous efficiency, varied offensive and defensive metrics (together with each superior statistics and conventional numbers) and evaluation by the MLB Community analysis staff, “The Shredder” produced its checklist of the ten finest gamers at every place proper now.
The ten-show rollout started with the highest middle fielders being introduced and concluded with the highest left fielders.
The highest spot within the left-field rankings hasn’t modified a lot these days, however the remainder of the checklist certain has. Though the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez claimed the No. 1 spot for the third straight 12 months, neither of the 2 gamers proper behind him — Jarren Duran or Ian Happ — even made the highest 10 at any place heading into 2024. The Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, coming off a robust rookie season, is among the many different newcomers, whereas veterans Christian Yelich, Brandon Nimmo and Bryan Reynolds are all holdovers.
1. Yordan Alvarez, HOU (Final 12 months: 1)2. Jarren Duran, BOS (NR)3. Ian Happ, CHC (NR)4. Christian Yelich, MIL (8)5. Riley Greene, DET (NR)6. Brandon Nimmo, NYM (2)7. Jackson Chourio, MIL (NR)8. Steven Kwan, CLE (NR)9. Taylor Ward, LAA (NR)10. Bryan Reynolds, PIT (4)
Coming off his World Collection heroics, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman once more leads the primary basemen rankings — and identical to final 12 months, Bryce Harper and Matt Olson are proper behind him. The remainder of the highest 10 appears somewhat completely different, together with two newcomers: transformed catcher Willson Contreras and Nationals commerce acquisition Nathaniel Lowe. Pete Alonso, who helped the Mets attain the NL Championship Collection in 2024, is among the many different returnees at first base.
1. Freddie Freeman, LAD (Final 12 months: 1)2. Bryce Harper, PHI (2)3. Matt Olson, ATL (3)4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR (7)5. Yandy Díaz, TB (5)6. Willson Contreras, STL (No. 5 catcher)7. Christian Walker, HOU (9)8. Pete Alonso, FA (6)9. Nathaniel Lowe, WSH (NR)10. Paul Goldschmidt, NYY (4)
Discuss star energy. Proper area is crammed with a number of the largest names within the Majors, together with final 12 months’s No. 1 middle fielder in Aaron Decide, who’s shifting again to proper after the Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger. Two stars with new golf equipment — Kyle Tucker of the Cubs and Juan Soto of the Mets — are proper behind Decide, with the identical gamers as final 12 months within the Nos. 4-6 spots (in a distinct order). Ronald Acuña Jr., who gained’t be prepared for Opening Day whereas rehabbing a torn left ACL, makes an look at No. 7, forward of newcomers Kerry Carpenter and Matt Wallner.
1. Aaron Decide, NYY (Final 12 months: No. 1 CF)2. Kyle Tucker, CHC (2)3. Juan Soto, NYM (3)4. Fernando Tatis Jr., SD (5)5. Seiya Suzuki, CHC (6)6. Corbin Carroll, AZ (4)7. Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL (1)8. Kerry Carpenter, DET (NR)9. Matt Wallner, MIN (NR)10. Teoscar Hernández, LAD (8)
Thanks to 2 place modifications by star gamers, shortstop is much more loaded coming into 2025. Orioles standout Gunnar Henderson, who entered 2024 ranked because the No. 6 third baseman, tops this 12 months’s checklist at brief, whereas Mookie Betts (final 12 months’s top-ranked second baseman) is available in at No. 5. Corey Seager and Francisco Lindor are nonetheless close to the highest, whereas the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. soared 5 spots to No. 4 after a wonderful 2024. Think about gamers like Elly De La Cruz and Willy Adames, and the shortstop place this season is completely stacked.
1. Gunnar Henderson, BAL (Final 12 months: No. 6 3B)2. Corey Seager, TEX (1)3. Francisco Lindor, NYM (2)4. Bobby Witt Jr., KC (9)5. Mookie Betts, LAD (No. 1 2B)6. Dansby Swanson, CHC (4)7. Carlos Correa, MIN (7)8. Elly De La Cruz, CIN (NR)9. Willy Adames, SF (8)10. Trea Turner, PHI (5)
There’s been fairly a little bit of turnover on the keystone, however the high three gamers on this 12 months’s checklist are established stars on the place. Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien held on to the Nos. 2-3 spots, however the D-backs’ Ketel Marte leapt as much as No. 1 heading into 2025. (Final 12 months’s No. 1 second baseman, Mookie Betts, can be enjoying shortstop this season.) Among the many different names on the checklist, solely the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner and new Blue Jay Andrés Giménez return from the 2024 high 10. Tyler Fitzgerald checks in at No. 6 after a robust rookie season with the Giants — though he performed shortstop in 2024, he can be moved to second base in 2025 after San Francisco signed free agent Willy Adames.
1. Ketel Marte, AZ (Final 12 months: 5)2. Jose Altuve, HOU (2)3. Marcus Semien, TEX (3)4. Brendan Donovan, STL (NR)5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., NYY (NR)6. Tyler Fitzgerald, SF (NR)7. Brandon Lowe, TB (NR)8. Nico Hoerner, CHC (10)9. Andrés Giménez, TOR (7)10. Gleyber Torres, DET (NR)
As has typically been the case lately, not a lot has modified relating to the highest third basemen on this checklist. The highest 5 right here had been the highest 5 going into 2024, though the order has modified a bit — the Braves’ Austin Riley had the highest spot a 12 months in the past, nevertheless it now belongs to Guardians star José Ramírez. The Giants’ Matt Chapman and the D-backs’ Eugenio Suárez are the one newcomers right here, because the Nos. 7-9 spots are literally unchanged from one 12 months prior: the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, the Dodgers’ Max Muncy and new Astro Isaac Paredes.
1. José Ramírez, CLE (Final 12 months: 2)2. Rafael Devers, BOS (4)3. Alex Bregman, FA (5)4. Manny Machado, SD (3)5. Austin Riley, ATL (1)6. Matt Chapman, SF (NR)7. Nolan Arenado, STL (7)8. Max Muncy, LAD (8)9. Isaac Paredes, HOU (9)10. Eugenio Suárez, AZ (NR)
Each Cy Younger Award winners and probably the greatest rookie starters in current historical past are new to this checklist. AL Cy Younger winner Tarik Skubal, NL honoree Chris Sale and Pirates phenom Paul Skenes took spots Nos. 2-4 on this checklist, whereas lefties Cole Ragans and Framber Valdez additionally made the highest 10. Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell, who every signed huge free-agent offers with NL West golf equipment, stayed on the checklist, too, as did reliable right-handers Gerrit Cole and Logan Webb. However it was Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who ranked No. 8 coming into 2023 and No. 6 coming into 2024, who earned the highest spot right here.
9 of the highest 10 catchers going into 2024 stay on the checklist a 12 months later, however the order has been shaken up fairly a bit. William Contreras’ standout 2024 earned him the highest spot, bumping the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman right down to the No. 2 place and the Dodgers’ Will Smith right down to No. 3. Mariners backstop Cal Raleigh makes an look at No. 4, rising 5 spots from final 12 months’s checklist, whereas Yankees catcher Austin Wells enters at No. 10 after a robust rookie season.
1. William Contreras, MIL (Final 12 months: 5)2. Adley Rutschman, BAL (1)3. Will Smith, LAD (2)4. Cal Raleigh, SEA (9)5. J.T. Realmuto, PHI (4)6. Yainer Diaz, HOU (8)7. Gabriel Moreno, AZ (10)8. Alejandro Kirk, TOR (7)9. Sean Murphy, ATL (3)10. Austin Wells, NYY (NR)
Devin Williams modified groups this offseason, however his spot within the high 10 right here didn’t budge. Rating No. 1 for the second straight 12 months, Williams enters his first season in Yankees pinstripes after being traded by the Brewers in December. The 2024 Nationwide League and American League saves leaders, Ryan Helsley and Emmanuel Clase, are excessive on the checklist — however Clase’s Cleveland teammate, Cade Smith, ranks above each. Flamethrowing Athletics nearer Mason Miller makes his first look.
The highest of this checklist appears completely different than it did a 12 months in the past on account of Aaron Decide’s impending transfer again to proper area, which places Seattle standout Julio Rodríguez into the No. 1 spot. Proper behind him is Jackson Merrill, who’s coming off a powerful rookie season for the Padres. Byron Buxton, Michael Harris II, Mike Trout, Brandon Marsh and Luis Robert Jr. all return from final 12 months’s checklist, however there are a number of different new names — together with Oneil Cruz, who switched from shortstop to middle late within the 2024 season, and defensive whiz Daulton Varsho.
