ESPN released its list of the top-100 players in Major League Baseball for the 2025 season, headlined by Shohei Ohtani and Bobby Witt Jr.
Ohtani reaffirmed his status as baseball\'s premier talent after moving to the Dodgers and delivering a historic 2024 season. Despite not pitching due to elbow surgery rehabilitation, Ohtani shattered expectations by becoming the first player in MLB history to achieve a 50/50 season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. His offensive dominance earned him a third unanimous MVP award in four years.
Ohtani\'s first year in Los Angeles also saw him set career highs in adjusted OPS (190) while helping the Dodgers secure their first full-season championship since 1988. The two-way sensation elevated his team to playoff success while continuing to expand the boundaries of what\'s possible in baseball.
Looking ahead to 2025, Ohtani is expected to return to his two-way role, projecting to pitch around 100 innings while maintaining exceptional offensive production, albeit with fewer stolen bases.
has established himself as baseball\'s most coveted non-Ohtani franchise cornerstone, entering his age-25 season with a remarkably steep upward trajectory. Over three major league seasons, Witt has methodically enhanced every aspect of his game, evolving from a promising rookie to an elite performer who claimed a batting title with a .332 average in his third season.
Witt\'s development curve shows no signs of plateau. He\'s consistently increased his home run rate while nearly doubling his walk rate and significantly reducing strikeouts. Defensively, his metrics have improved from concerning to Gold Glove caliber, demonstrating his commitment to all-around excellence.
For 2025, Witt\'s focus on becoming a more efficient baserunner could translate to a 50-steal season to complement his projected 35 home runs and .300/.400/.500 slash line. Combined with his stellar defense at shortstop, Witt appears positioned to challenge for MVP honors after previously finishing second.
Betts was crafting another MVP-caliber campaign in 2024 before a hand fracture sidelined him for eight weeks. Through 72 games, the veteran star was slashing .304/.405/.488 with 10 home runs and nine steals. His return to right field for the championship run was tactical, but Betts has now committed fully to the unprecedented transition from Gold Glove outfielder to shortstop.
This positional shift at age 32 represents one of baseball\'s most ambitious mid-career transformations, especially for a player who earned six Gold Gloves in right field. Betts\' dedication to improving his footwork and arm angles at shortstop demonstrates his exceptional athletic versatility and commitment to team needs.
Betts has already shown his continued offensive prowess in 2025 with a dramatic walk-off home run during the Dodgers\' opening homestand. Projections suggest he\'ll evolve into an average major league shortstop defensively while maintaining his elite offensive production, potentially leading to his sixth top-five MVP finish in ten years.
The 2024 season saw Judge produce numbers reminiscent of the steroid era while playing clean: an 11.2 fWAR, 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and a staggering 1.159 OPS—the highest in a non-COVID season since Barry Bonds in 2004.
Judge\'s dominance forced opposing teams to employ Bonds-like strategies, pitching around him whenever possible and leading to a league-high 22 intentional walks. His 2024 campaign, which earned him his second American League MVP award, represents arguably the greatest season by a right-handed hitter in modern baseball.
Skenes has expanded his already impressive arsenal by adding \"splinkers,\" cutters, and sinkers to complement his overpowering fastball, positioning himself for an even more dominant sophomore campaign.
Skenes\' rookie performance—a 1.96 ERA across 23 starts—established him as one of baseball\'s most exciting young arms. The removal of workload constraints could see him approach 170 innings while maintaining sub-2.00 ERA production, which would place him firmly in Cy Young contention.
ESPN\'s Full MLB Top-100 Rankings
- Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
- Mookie Betts, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Aaron Judge, RF, New York Yankees
- Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians
- Yordan Alvarez, DH/LF, Houston Astros
- Juan Soto, RF, New York Mets
- Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
- Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
- Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
- Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
- Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
- Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, San Diego Padres
- Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets
- Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
- Corbin Carroll, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Kyle Tucker, RF, Chicago Cubs
- Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Atlanta Braves
- Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers
- Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jackson Merrill, CF, San Diego Padres
- Corbin Burnes, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Rafael Devers, DH, Boston Red Sox
- Julio Rodriguez, CF, Seattle Mariners
- Max Fried, SP, New York Yankees
- Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
- Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
- Brent Rooker, DH, Athletics
- Dylan Cease, SP, San Diego Padres
- Chris Sale, SP, Atlanta Braves
- Mike Trout, RF, Los Angeles Angels
- Blake Snell, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
- Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
- Garrett Crochet, SP, Boston Red Sox
- Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves
- Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres
- Willy Adames, SS, San Francisco Giants
- Matt Olson, 1B, Atlanta Braves
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Emmanuel Clase, RP, Cleveland Guardians
- Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins
- Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
- Framber Valdez, SP, Houston Astros
- Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox
- Cole Ragans, SP, Kansas City Royals
- Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners
- Marcus Semien, 2B, Texas Rangers
- Luis Castillo, SP, Seattle Mariners
- Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Teoscar Hernandez, LF, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Devin Williams, RP, New York Yankees
- Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco Giants
- Spencer Strider, SP, Atlanta Braves
- George Kirby, SP, Seattle Mariners
- Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres
- Oneil Cruz, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Roki Sasaki, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets
- Carlos Correa, SS, Minnesota Twins
- William Contreras, C, Milwaukee Brewers
- Michael Harris II, CF, Atlanta Braves
- Wyatt Langford, LF, Texas Rangers
- Matt Chapman, 3B, San Francisco Giants
- Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
- Jose Altuve, LF/2B, Houston Astros
- Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds
- Jacob deGrom, SP, Texas Rangers
- Lawrence Butler, RF, Athletics
- Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers
- Mason Miller, RP, Athletics
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, New York Yankees
- Tyler Glasnow, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Shota Imanaga, SP, Chicago Cubs
- Josh Hader, RP, Houston Astros
- Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves
- Cristopher Sanchez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
- Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
- Dansby Swanson, SS, Chicago Cubs
- Seth Lugo, SP, Kansas City Royals
- Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees
- Carlos Rodon, SP, New York Yankees
- Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners
- Matt McLain, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
- Hunter Brown, SP, Houston Astros
- J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies
- Christian Yelich, LF, Milwaukee Brewers
- Anthony Santander, RF, Toronto Blue Jays
- Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Guardians
- Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets
- Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B/DH, Kansas City Royals
- Cody Bellinger, CF, New York Yankees
- Willson Contreras, 1B/DH, St. Louis Cardinals
- Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
- Bryce Miller, SP, Seattle Mariners
- Salvador Perez, C/1B, Kansas City Royals
- Kodai Senga, SP, New York Mets