Now in its fifteenth 12 months, the most recent version of MLB Community’s “High 10 Proper Now” collection wrapped up on Wednesday night time. One takeaway from the 2025 position-by-position rankings produced by The Shredder? There are noticeable shakeups close to the tops of many lists.
Twelve gamers who didn’t rank inside the highest 10 at a place final 12 months not solely made it onto a 2025 record, they jumped into the highest 5. Phenomenal rookies, breakout stars, bounce-back gamers — their success in ’24 was too good to disregard.
Listed here are the 12 gamers who’ve soared into the highest 5 at their place, in response to The Shredder.
Tarik Skubal, Tigers (No. 2 SP)That is Skubal’s first look on a “High 10 Proper Now” record, however he gave us a glimpse of what was to return on the finish of the 2023 season when he recorded a 0.90 ERA and a 43:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his ultimate 5 begins. That dominance was on show for all of 2024. The lefty led the Tigers to their first playoff look in 10 years and captured the American League pitching Triple Crown alongside the best way. Moreover his 18 wins, 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts, Skubal had the most effective strikeout-minus-walk fee amongst certified AL starters (25.6%), and his +40 pitching run worth was the best within the Majors.
Jackson Merrill, Padres (No. 2 CF)We have not seen a place participant this excessive on a “High 10 Proper Now” record instantly after their debut season since Yasiel Puig in 2014. Nevertheless, Merrill deserves such a lofty placement. He was considered one of solely 11 gamers to rank within the 94th percentile or higher in anticipated batting common (.303), anticipated slugging share (.534) and anticipated weighted on-base common (.372). He was simply 20 years outdated when he was named the Padres’ Opening Day heart fielder and regardless of by no means enjoying that place beforehand as a professional, he tallied 12 outs above common, tied for seventh-most on the place.
A Silver Slugger recipient, an All-Star and the runner-up within the Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months voting, Merrill additionally displayed a aptitude for the dramatic as 5 of his 24 residence runs have been game-tying or go-ahead homers within the ninth inning or later. No different participant had greater than three such dingers final 12 months.
Jarren Duran, Pink Sox (No. 2 LF)Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Decide and Bobby Witt Jr. These are the one gamers who had extra extra-base hits final season than Duran. His breakout season was headlined by 48 doubles and 14 triples. Duran led the Majors in every class and have become considered one of 10 gamers within the Fashionable Period (since 1900) to succeed in these particular marks in a single season. The opposite 9 are all Corridor of Famers — they usually all did it earlier than integration.
Cade Smith, Guardians (No. 2 RP)What was essentially the most beneficial pitch in baseball final season? Skubal’s four-seam fastball? Perhaps Chris Sale’s slider? Emmanuel Clase or Corbin Burnes’ cutter? These are all good guesses, however the appropriate reply is Smith’s four-seamer, which produced a +28 run worth. Batters might hardly contact the rookie’s heater, hitting simply .174 with a 39.9% strikeout fee, the best in MLB (minimal 150 plate appearances ending on four-seamers).
Smith complemented that providing with a splitter that garnered a .175 opponents’ batting common with a .228 slugging share. All advised, Smith registered a 1.91 ERA over 75 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed just one residence run, and his 1.40 FIP was the most effective amongst pitchers with at the very least 75 innings.
Chris Sale, Braves (No. 3 SP)Up to now, we have talked solely about gamers who’re “High 10 Proper Now” first-timers. Conversely, Sale was ranked as a top-10 starter yearly from 2013-19. He peaked at No. 2 in ’19. However then got here an injury-filled four-year stretch wherein Sale logged a complete of 31 begins and 151 innings. He was traded from the Pink Sox to the Braves forward of the 2024 season and appeared each bit just like the Sale of outdated in his new residence. The lanky lefty mirrored Skubal’s AL success, claiming the NL Triple Crown and the Cy Younger Award. Sale’s 2.38 ERA was the most effective amongst certified starters, and so was his strikeout fee (32.1%), Okay-BB fee (26.5%), FIP (2.09) and HR/9 fee (0.46).
Ian Happ, Cubs (No. 3 LF)Happ was the No. 9 left fielder forward of the 2023 season. His transfer up six spots provides the Cubs their highest-ranked participant since catcher Willson Contreras and shortstop Javier Báez got here in at No. 3 at their positions 5 years in the past. Due to a five-year excessive in his barrel fee (11.7%), Happ tied his profession excessive with 25 residence runs final season. He additionally set private bests with 89 runs and 86 RBIs. The switch-hitter continued to show nice command of the strike zone together with his 12.2% stroll fee (94th percentile) and a 23.2% chase fee (84th percentile). He additionally earned his third consecutive Gold Glove.
Paul Skenes, Pirates (No. 4 SP)The No. 1 general Draft choose in 2023 and the sport’s high pitching prospect by the point he debuted in Might 2024, Skenes lived as much as each shred of hype as a rookie. He struck out 33.1% of the batters he confronted and left opponents with a .198/.257/.295 slash line over 133 frames. Amongst pitchers who threw at the very least 100 innings of their first Main League season, Skenes’ 1.96 ERA was the sixth-lowest within the Dwell-Ball Period (since 1920). He was named NL Rookie of the 12 months, was a Cy Younger Award finalist and is on the duvet of the MLB The Present 25.
The 22-year-old Skenes is poised to dominate in 2025 and past. He’s simply the second beginning pitcher to make The Shredder’s high 10 following his rookie 12 months. The primary was former Marlins phenom José Fernández, who was the No. 5 beginning pitcher in 2014.
Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (No. 4 RP)It isn’t stunning to see a number of members of the Guardians’ bullpen — unquestionably MLB’s finest ‘pen in 2024 — among the many high 5 relievers. It’s a little stunning, nevertheless, that Clase is even eligible for this text since he has been maybe the sport’s high reliever since 2021. However after top-five finishes in ’22 and ’23, Clase was not among the many “High 10 Proper Now” heading into final season. That got here after the right-header turned in a 3.22 ERA — greater than double his profession mark to that time — and noticed his year-to-year Okay/9 fee drop from 9.5 to 7.9.
So, how did Clase reply? By being nearly excellent. Clase allowed solely 5 earned runs in 74 1/3 innings final 12 months, and his ensuing 0.61 ERA tied for the third-lowest in a single season (minimal 50 IP). He led the AL in saves for the third straight 12 months and have become the primary reliever in 16 seasons to be named a Cy Younger Award finalist.
Brendan Donovan, Cardinals (No. 4 2B)The versatile Donovan spent practically twice as many video games in left subject final season (105) as he did at second base (53), however he will get a nod on the keystone place for the second time in three seasons. He was the No. 7 second baseman heading into 2023.
The most effective contact hitters within the league, Donovan’s strikeout and whiff charges have been above the ninetieth percentile in every of the previous two seasons. In 2024, his Okay fee was a career-low 12.4% (97th percentile) whereas his whiff fee was 15.1% (94th percentile). Though he would not make a ton of damaging contact, Donovan tends to get essentially the most out of his swings, as evidenced by his 35.2% squared-up fee. That ranked sixth within the Majors amongst certified hitters. General, he collected 14 homers, 51 extra-base hits and a 112 OPS+ throughout 652 plate appearances.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees (No. 5 3B)That is Chisholm’s first look on a “High 10 Proper Now,” record and it might not have been potential with out the commerce that introduced him to the Yankees on July 27. On that date, Chisholm owned a .249/.323/.407 slash line by means of 101 video games with the Marlins, good for a 97 OPS+. However he went from beneath common on the plate to properly above it with New York, slashing .273/.325/.500 with 11 dingers and 18 steals in simply 46 video games. Chisholm completed with 24 homers and 40 stolen bases, making him considered one of 4 gamers — together with Ohtani, Elly De La Cruz and José Ramírez — to succeed in the 20-40 plateau. Chisholm additionally excelled at a brand new place, registering 8 OAA at third base with the Yanks.
Mason Miller, Athletics (No. 5 RP)The entire darkish purple on Miller’s Baseball Savant web page actually tells the story of simply how overpowering he was final season. The second-year flamethrower had the most effective strikeout fee amongst relievers final season at 41.8% over 65 innings. Fifty-three of his 104 Okay’s got here on pitches clocked at 100 mph or quicker. Within the pitch-tracking period (since 2008), solely Aroldis Chapman has racked up extra triple-digit strikeouts in a single season.
However Miller does greater than throw gasoline; he mixes in an influence slider that could be a super secondary pitch. In 92 plate appearances ending on Miller’s slider, opposing hitters struck out 47 instances and had an xBA of .098.
Riley Greene, Tigers (No. 5 LF)Tarik Skubal garnered lots of the headlines through the Tigers’ ascent in 2024, however do not overlook the membership’s rising star within the outfield. Greene, the fifth general choose within the 2019 Draft, compiled 5.4 bWAR final 12 months, which trailed solely Aaron Decide, Juan Soto and the aforementioned Duran amongst major outfielders. From 2022-23, Greene recorded 16 residence runs and a 108 OPS+ by means of 754 at-bats. He then bashed 24 homers and had a 133 OPS+ in 512 at-bats this previous season. Greene is the primary Tigers’ place participant to crack the highest 5 at any spot since Miguel Cabrera (No. 2 1B) and Ian Kinsler (No. 5 2B) in 2017. Even higher accomplishments could be within the 24-year-old’s future.
Here’s a rundown of the gamers who have been amongst The Shredder’s “High 10 Proper Now” at their place between Nos. 6 and 10 after not showing on any of final 12 months’s lists.
No. 6: Tyler Fitzgerald, Giants (2B); Matt Chapman, Giants (3B); Eugenio Suárez, D-backs (3B); Edwin Uceta, Rays (RP)
No. 7: Brandon Lowe, Rays (2B); Jackson Chourio, Brewers (LF); Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays (CF); Cole Ragans, Royals (SP); Tanner Scott, Dodgers (RP)
No. 8: Elly De La Cruz, Reds (SS); Steven Kwan, Guardians (LF); Garrett Mitchell, Brewers (CF); Kerry Carpenter, Tigers (RF); Kirby Yates, Dodgers (RP)
No. 9: Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (1B); Taylor Ward, Angels (LF); Oneil Cruz, Pirates (CF); Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays (RP)
No. 10: Austin Wells, Yankees (C); Gleyber Torres, Tigers (2B); Framber Valdez, Astros (SP); Raisel Iglesias, Braves (RP)
