ESPN Ranks the Top 50 MLB Players Right Now: List & Reaction

Reaction

What immediately jumps out is that not a single player from MLB’s best team, the Milwaukee Brewers (76-44), made the list. I can’t wrap my head around that, especially given the resurgent season Christian Yelich is having. Yelich's consistency lands him a spot over Washington's James Wood, who has struggled mightily post-All-Star break.

I was also surprised to see Rays All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero omitted. Caminero's .300 on-base percentage is an area he needs to improve, but the 22-year-old ranks sixth in MLB in home runs (34) and ninth in RBI (84), while boasting a low strikeout rate (20.4%) compared to his peers.

At a minimum, the case for Caminero can be made at the expense of fellow third baseman Matt Chapman. While Chapman's Gold Glove-level defense is unquestioned, his offensive game pales in comparison. Caminero's absence could look somewhat egregious by season's end.

Of course, Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani will fuel much of the debate. It's difficult to find fault in Judge's standing at No. 1. He's inarguably the greatest offensive force of his generation, and is in the midst of another historic campaign, one that should result in a second straight AL MVP award.

That said, Ohtani's elite skills as both a pitcher and hitter are something only Babe Ruth can truly relate to. The fact he can hit 50+ home runs while also mowing down opposing lineups is unfathomable in today’s game. Throw in his base stealing ability (59 steals in 2024), and it can be said that Ohtani has redefined what it means to be an all-around player.

Like Judge, Ohtani's also on track to claim a second consecutive MVP, which would make him just the second player in MLB history to win four or more in a career, joining Barry Bonds. Simply put, we may never see anything like this again.

You can’t go wrong with either superstar, but in my view, Ohtani’s unmatched two-way excellence makes him the best player in baseball.

40-31

40) Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers

39) Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Texas Rangers

38) Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco Giants

37) Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

36) Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers

35) Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins

34) Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

33) Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

32) Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

31) Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles

30-21

30) Max Fried, SP, New York Yankees

29) Kyle Stowers, LF, Miami Marlins

28) Framber Valdez, SP, Houston Astros

27) Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

26) Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins

25) Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets

24) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays

23) Hunter Brown, SP, Houston Astros

22) Julio Rodriguez, CF, Seattle Mariners

21) Jeremy Pena, SS, Houston Astros

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20-11

20) Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

19) Cristopher Sanchez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

18) Corbin Carroll, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks

17) Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres

16) Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

15) Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds

14) Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies

13) Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, San Diego Padres

12) Juan Soto, RF, New York Mets

11) Kyle Tucker, RF, Chicago Cubs

10-1

10) Garrett Crochet, SP, Boston Red Sox

9) Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

8) Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians

7) Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Chicago Cubs

6) Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

5) Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals

4) Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners

3) Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers

2) Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Dodgers

1) Aaron Judge, RF, New York Yankees

Reaction

What immediately jumps out is that not a single player from MLB’s best team, the Milwaukee Brewers (76-44), made the list. I can’t wrap my head around that, especially given the resurgent season Christian Yelich is having. Yelich's consistency lands him a spot over Washington's James Wood, who has struggled mightily post-All-Star break.

I was also surprised to see Rays All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero omitted. Caminero's .300 on-base percentage is an area he needs to improve, but the 22-year-old ranks sixth in MLB in home runs (34) and ninth in RBI (84), while boasting a low strikeout rate (20.4%) compared to his peers.

At a minimum, the case for Caminero can be made at the expense of fellow third baseman Matt Chapman. While Chapman's Gold Glove-level defense is unquestioned, his offensive game pales in comparison. Caminero's absence could look somewhat egregious by season's end.

Of course, Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani will fuel much of the debate. It's difficult to find fault in Judge's standing at No. 1. He's inarguably the greatest offensive force of his generation, and is in the midst of another historic campaign, one that should result in a second straight AL MVP award.

That said, Ohtani's elite skills as both a pitcher and hitter are something only Babe Ruth can truly relate to. The fact he can hit 50+ home runs while also mowing down opposing lineups is unfathomable in today’s game. Throw in his base stealing ability (59 steals in 2024), and it can be said that Ohtani has redefined what it means to be an all-around player.

Like Judge, Ohtani's also on track to claim a second consecutive MVP, which would make him just the second player in MLB history to win four or more in a career, joining Barry Bonds. Simply put, we may never see anything like this again.

You can’t go wrong with either superstar, but in my view, Ohtani’s unmatched two-way excellence makes him the best player in baseball.