It’s MLB Opening Day, so what better time to rank our top 10 players heading into the 2026 season?
Before we dive in, a few honorable mentions go to Garrett Crochet and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two absolute aces who just missed the cut and could very well crack this list in short order.
1. Shohei Ohtani
Choosing between Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge is splitting hairs, but we gave the nod to the back-to-back World Series champion, who, along with being one of the best hitters in the world, is also one of the best pitchers.
Since moving to the other side of Los Angeles, he’s somehow taken things to a new level, posting 54- and 55-home-run seasons. Now that’s fully healthy to pitch again, many see him as a sneaky bet for the NL Cy Young, and it’s hard to argue given this type of talent.
2. Aaron Judge
Nobody strikes fear into opponents like the king of New York: Aaron Judge. At 6’7″ and 282 pounds, he covers the entire strike zone and mashes, putting up otherworldly numbers every season. A fifth 50+ home run campaign feels like a given, health permitting.
What has eluded number 99 is a championship, and critics have been quick to weigh in after the WBC. Still, he was fantastic last postseason, and a generational talent like his is impossible to hold down for long.
3. Tarik Skubal
The best pitcher in baseball and back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, stands alone atop the pitching mountain. He’s an absolute horse, and a third straight Cy Young is more than possible for the powerful lefty.
4. Juan Soto
Nobody knows the strike zone better than Juan Soto, arguably the toughest out in baseball. He’ll work a walk like no one else, and when he gets a good pitch to hit, he can also take it out of the park like very few others
5. Bobby Witt Jr.
Bobby Witt Jr. does it all for the Kansas City Royals. There’s no weakness in his game—batting, baserunning, or fielding—and at just 25, we could be looking at the best shortstop in baseball for the next decade
6. Paul Skenes
If anyone is going to catch—or even surpass—Skubal, it’s Paul Skenes. A 1.96 ERA through his first two career seasons is nearly unheard of, and at just 23 years old, he’s only scratching the surface of his true potential.
7. José Ramírez
José Ramírez is one of the most underrated and consistent superstars in the game. He plays in a smaller market in Cleveland and doesn’t make headlines off the field, but that shouldn’t diminish his dominance on it.
8. Ronald Acuña Jr.
If Ronald Acuña Jr. can stay healthy, he has the upside to be third on this list. His athleticism, speed, power, and cannon of an arm combine to make him one of the best pure talents in baseball today.
9. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn’t yet replicated his MVP-like 2021 season (48 HRs, 111 RBIs), but his 2025 postseason was unbelievable, proving he’s as clutch as they come and a top-10 player—especially when it matters most.
10. Cal Raleigh
What a 2025 it was for Cal Raleigh. Always considered a very good player, he exploded last season, skyrocketing up the ranks among the game’s elite. That’s what hitting 60 home runs will do for you.
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