Ranking baseball players is a fool’s errand. I mean, honestly, how do you compare a guy like Shohei Ohtani—who basically broke the sport—to a lockdown closer or a vacuum at shortstop? But here we are. The 2025 season has already thrown us enough curveballs to make these lists look a lot different than they did even six months ago.
We’ve seen the "old guard" like Mike Trout deal with the reality of age, while kids who were in high school three years ago are suddenly the most terrifying names in a pitcher's meeting. If you’re looking for a dry list of stats, you’re in the wrong place. We're looking at who is actually dictating the flow of the game in 2025.
The Top 100 MLB Players 2025: The Unstoppable Tier
It starts with the big two. You know who they are.
Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are currently playing a version of baseball that doesn't seem real. Judge just finished a 2025 campaign where he flirted with a .400 average for half the summer and ended up with 53 homers. He’s 33 now, but the way he’s adjusted his swing to cover the outer half of the plate makes him almost impossible to pitch to. Then there’s Shohei. The big story for Ohtani in 2025 was the return to the mound. Even though the Dodgers "slow-played" his pitching return—limiting him to about 10 starts to save his arm—he still managed to hit 52 home runs. Think about that. He’s a part-time ace and a full-time MVP candidate.
But the real movement in the top 100 MLB players 2025 rankings comes from the guys right behind them. Bobby Witt Jr. has officially graduated from "rising star" to "the guy you don't want to see with the game on the line." He’s the best defensive shortstop in the league right now, hands down. His 2025 stat line—23 homers, 38 steals, and a league-leading 47 doubles—proves he doesn't need a massive supporting cast in Kansas City to produce.
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- Shohei Ohtani (LAD): The dual-threat remains the gold standard.
- Aaron Judge (NYY): Pure power combined with an elite eye.
- Bobby Witt Jr. (KCR): The most complete athlete in the game.
- Juan Soto (NYM): Now the centerpiece of the Mets after a massive $700 million-plus deal.
- Gunnar Henderson (BAL): The heart of the Orioles' young core.
Why Juan Soto is the 2025 Wildcard
Soto’s move to the Mets was the earthquake of the offseason. He’s basically a walking 1.000 OPS. In 2025, he put up 43 home runs and walked more than he struck out, which is just unheard of in the modern "swing and miss" era. Playing in Queens hasn't slowed him down; if anything, the protection he’s getting in that lineup has made him even more dangerous.
The Pitching Revolution: Skenes and the New Wave
If you aren't watching Paul Skenes, you’re missing out on history. It’s rare for a pitcher to live up to the "generational" tag, but Skenes did it. In 2025, he became the first pitcher ever to start consecutive All-Star games in his first two seasons. He finished the year with 216 strikeouts and an ERA that sat comfortably at the top of the National League.
The gap between the elite starters and the rest of the pack is widening. Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet are leading the charge for the "strikeout is king" philosophy. Crochet actually led the majors with 255 K’s in 2025. It’s a weird time for pitching—innings are down, but the sheer velocity and spin rates are making hitters look silly.
- Paul Skenes: The mustache, the 102 mph heater, the "splinker." It's all working.
- Tarik Skubal: The most polished lefty in the American League.
- Roki Sasaki: The Dodgers' newest weapon. He’s already showing why he was the most hyped international signing in years.
- Garrett Crochet: Pure, unadulterated swing-and-miss stuff.
The Injury Comebacks
We have to talk about Ronald Acuña Jr. and Sandy Alcantara. Acuña’s 2025 was a "feel-out" year coming back from the ACL tear. He hit .290 with 21 homers—great for a normal human, but "quiet" for him. By the end of September, though, he looked like the 40-70 version of himself again. He’s a top-10 player who spent most of 2025 ranked in the 20s because of the injury floor. Expect him to skyrocket back up the list for 2026.
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Shortstops are Taking Over the World
The depth at shortstop right now is just stupid. It’s the deepest the position has been in the history of the sport. You’ve got Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, Elly De La Cruz, and Trea Turner all competing for a spot in the top 15.
Elly De La Cruz is the most chaotic player in baseball. He lead the majors in steals again in 2025, and while his strikeout rate is still a bit of a nightmare, his "tools" are so loud you can't ignore them. He’s the kind of player who can win a game with a bunt, a stolen base, and a 450-foot homer in the span of three innings.
Lindor, meanwhile, remains the most underrated superstar in New York. People focus on the contract, but the guy just shows up and plays 160 games of elite defense while hitting 30 homers. With Soto now in that Mets lineup, Lindor’s counting stats (runs and RBIs) saw a massive bump in 2025.
The Prospect Jumpers
Look at the guys who weren't even on this list a year ago.
Roki Sasaki is the obvious one, but what about Jackson Jobe in Detroit? Or Roman Anthony in Boston? The Red Sox have been patient, and it's paying off as Anthony has climbed into the top tier of outfielders. These rankings aren't just about the established names anymore; the "service time" games are ending, and teams are letting these kids play.
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What Most People Get Wrong About These Rankings
Fans love to argue about WAR (Wins Above Replacement). It's a great stat, but it doesn't tell the whole story. A guy like Yordan Alvarez might have a lower WAR because he’s a DH, but ask any pitcher in the league who they’d rather face: a high-WAR shortstop or Yordan with the bases loaded.
The "Top 100" is also heavily influenced by health. Mike Trout is still one of the best 10 players on earth when he’s on the field. The problem is he’s rarely on the field for 140 games anymore. In 2025, we’ve seen a shift where "durability" is becoming a primary metric. If you can’t give me 500 plate appearances, you’re sliding down the list. That’s why guys like Jose Ramirez—who just relentlessly produces every single year without fail—are finally getting the top-5 respect they deserve.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the top 100 MLB players 2025 to gain an edge in fantasy or just to be the smartest person at the bar, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Dodger Six-Man Rotation: Watch how Ohtani and Sasaki affect the rest of the staff. It’s a new blueprint for keeping arms fresh, and if it works, other teams will copy it.
- The Strikeout Ceiling: Pitchers like Garrett Crochet are hitting high K totals but low innings. Value the "bulk" starters like Logan Webb who can actually give you 200 innings.
- The "Soto Effect": Watch how the Mets' lineup protection changes the career trajectories of guys like Pete Alonso (if he stays) or Lindor.
The 2025 season is proving that the talent gap is closing. You can find a superstar on almost every roster now, whether it's a veteran like Bryce Harper still mashing in Philly or a kid like Paul Skenes reinventing what a fastball looks like.
Check the waiver wires if you're in a league, or just enjoy the fact that we're living in an era where 50-50 seasons and 102 mph starters are becoming the norm. The list is always moving, but for now, the crown stays in Los Angeles and New York.