Honestly, if you’re looking for a simple list of major league baseball players, you could just pull up a 40-man roster and call it a day. But that doesn’t tell you the story. It doesn’t tell you why everyone in Toronto is still buzzing about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s massive extension or why folks in New York are checking Aaron Judge’s home run pace every single morning like it's the weather report.
Baseball is different now. The 2026 season is shaping up to be a collision between the "old" legends who refuse to retire and a crop of kids who play like they’re in a video game.
The Power Hitters Dominating the Chat
Let’s talk about the long ball. You can’t discuss an active list of major league baseball players without starting at the top of the stat sheet from last year. Cal Raleigh—yeah, the "Big Dumper" himself—shocked the world in 2025 by leading the league with 60 home runs. Seeing a catcher do that is basically like seeing a unicorn. It's rare.
Aaron Judge is still doing Judge things. He hit 53 last year and just passed the 350-career mark. He’s the guy every pitcher hates seeing in the box. Then you’ve got Shohei Ohtani. 55 homers last year. He’s already crossed the 250-homer milestone and is looking at 300. It’s kinda ridiculous when you think about it.
Some of the names that popped off in 2025:
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- Kyle Schwarber: Still the king of the "Schwar-bomb," hitting 56 last year.
- Junior Caminero: The Rays’ young gun who mashed 45.
- Juan Soto: He’s with the Mets now (yeah, that $765 million contract is real) and hit 43.
- Riley Greene: 36 homers for Detroit, though he led the league in strikeouts.
The Rotation: Who’s Actually Healthy?
Pitching is a mess, let’s be real. It feels like everyone is one bad slider away from Tommy John. But there’s good news. Jacob deGrom is back. He actually stayed healthy enough to make 30 starts for the Rangers last year. He even dialed back his velocity a bit to save his arm. Smart move. He’s ranked 50th in the MLB Top 100 right now, which feels a little low if he’s truly "back," but that’s the injury tax for you.
Paul Skenes is the name you’ll hear the most. The kid is 23 and already has a Cy Young. His ERA is still under 2.00 after two full seasons. That shouldn't be possible. He’s the ace of the Pirates and basically the most terrifying person to face in the National League.
Then there’s Roki Sasaki. The Dodgers made a splash getting him, and he’s been racking up saves—11 already in the postseason/early look. If you’re building a list of major league baseball players who define this era, he’s on the first page.
The Milestone Watch
We are living through some historic stuff. Clayton Kershaw finally hit the 3,000-strikeout mark last July. It was a whole thing at Dodger Stadium. Mike Trout is sitting on the edge of 400 home runs—he’s at 378 and everyone is just praying he stays on the field to hit those last 22.
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Freddie Freeman and Jose Altuve are both chasing 2,500 hits. Freeman is at 2,431; Altuve is at 2,388. These guys are the "old guard," but they’re still hitting .300 like it’s easy.
The New Kids (2026 Breakout Candidates)
If you’re a prospect nerd, 2026 is your year. The "list of major league baseball players" is about to get a lot of new entries.
- Sebastian Walcott (Rangers): The kid is 6'4" and hits the ball harder than almost anyone in the minors.
- Travis Bazzana (Guardians): An Aussie second baseman who is basically a hitting machine.
- Samuel Basallo (Orioles): The next great catcher/1B in Baltimore.
The Money of it All
You can't ignore the contracts. The list of major league baseball players is also a list of the highest-paid athletes on earth. Juan Soto's deal with the Mets is the current record-holder at $765 million. He's making over $61 million this year alone. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is right behind him with his new $500 million deal.
The Dodgers are still the "Death Star." They have Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman all locked up. Mookie Betts has moved to shortstop full-time now, which is just another flex on his part.
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What to Watch Next
Keep an eye on the velocity trends. We’re seeing more guys like deGrom actually slow down to stay in the game longer. Also, watch the stolen base numbers. Elly De La Cruz is basically trying to break the game of baseball by himself.
If you want to track these players effectively this season:
- Follow the "Statcast" leaders instead of just batting average; exit velocity tells you who is actually hitting well versus who is just getting lucky.
- Watch the waiver wire in June. That's when the "Super Two" prospects like Sebastian Walcott or Konnor Griffin usually get the call-up.
- Check the "Milestone Tracker" on MLB.com weekly. Seeing Altuve hit 2,500 or Trout hit 400 is the kind of stuff you’ll tell your grandkids about.
The game is faster, younger, and more expensive than ever. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just trying to keep up with your fantasy league, this list of major league baseball players is constantly shifting. Stay curious.