Ranking the top 10 players in baseball at each position

MLB Network continued its annual tradition of ranking the ¡°Top 10 Players Right Now¡± at each position.

Using rankings based on past performance, various offensive and defensive metrics (including both advanced statistics and traditional numbers) and analysis by the MLB Network research team, ¡°The Shredder¡± produced its list of the 10 best players at each position right now.

The 10-show rollout began with the top center fielders being announced and concluded with the top left fielders.

• The top player at every position entering 2025

Top 10 left fielders

The top spot in the left-field rankings hasn¡¯t changed much lately, but the rest of the list sure has. Although the Astros¡¯ Yordan Alvarez claimed the No. 1 spot for the third straight year, neither of the two players right behind him -- Jarren Duran or Ian Happ -- even made the top 10 at any position heading into 2024. The Brewers¡¯ Jackson Chourio, coming off a strong rookie season, is among the other newcomers, while veterans Christian Yelich, Brandon Nimmo and Bryan Reynolds are all holdovers.

LEFT FIELDERS

1. Yordan Alvarez, HOU (Last year: 1)
2. Jarren Duran, BOS (NR)
3. Ian Happ, CHC (NR)
4. Christian Yelich, MIL (8)
5. Riley Greene, DET (NR)
6. Brandon Nimmo, NYM (2)
7. Jackson Chourio, MIL (NR)
8. Steven Kwan, CLE (NR)
9. Taylor Ward, LAA (NR)
10. Bryan Reynolds, PIT (4)

Top 10 first basemen

Coming off his World Series heroics, the Dodgers¡¯ Freddie Freeman again leads the first basemen rankings -- and just like last year, Bryce Harper and Matt Olson are right behind him. The rest of the top 10 looks a little different, including two newcomers: converted catcher Willson Contreras and Nationals trade acquisition Nathaniel Lowe. Pete Alonso, who helped the Mets reach the NL Championship Series in 2024, is among the other returnees at first base.

FIRST BASEMEN

1. Freddie Freeman, LAD (Last year: 1)
2. Bryce Harper, PHI (2)
3. Matt Olson, ATL (3)
4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR (7)
5. Yandy D¨ªaz, TB (5)
6. Willson Contreras, STL (No. 5 catcher)
7. Christian Walker, HOU (9)
8. Pete Alonso, FA (6)
9. Nathaniel Lowe, WSH (NR)
10. Paul Goldschmidt, NYY (4)

Top 10 right fielders

Talk about star power. Right field is filled with some of the biggest names in the Majors, including last year¡¯s No. 1 center fielder in Aaron Judge, who is moving back to right after the Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger. Two stars with new clubs -- Kyle Tucker of the Cubs and Juan Soto of the Mets -- are right behind Judge, with the same players as last year in the Nos. 4-6 spots (in a different order). Ronald Acu?a Jr., who won¡¯t be ready for Opening Day while rehabbing a torn left ACL, makes an appearance at No. 7, ahead of newcomers Kerry Carpenter and Matt Wallner.

RIGHT FIELDERS

1. Aaron Judge, NYY (Last year: No. 1 CF)
2. Kyle Tucker, CHC (2)
3. Juan Soto, NYM (3)
4. Fernando Tatis Jr., SD (5)
5. Seiya Suzuki, CHC (6)
6. Corbin Carroll, AZ (4)
7. Ronald Acu?a Jr., ATL (1)
8. Kerry Carpenter, DET (NR)
9. Matt Wallner, MIN (NR)
10. Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez, LAD (8)

Top 10 shortstops

Thanks to two position changes by star players, shortstop is even more loaded entering 2025. Orioles standout Gunnar Henderson, who entered 2024 ranked as the No. 6 third baseman, tops this year¡¯s list at short, while Mookie Betts (last year¡¯s top-ranked second baseman) comes in at No. 5. Corey Seager and Francisco Lindor are still near the top, while the Royals¡¯ Bobby Witt Jr. soared five spots to No. 4 after an excellent 2024. Factor in players like Elly De La Cruz and Willy Adames, and the shortstop position this season is absolutely stacked.

SHORTSTOPS

1. Gunnar Henderson, BAL (Last year: No. 6 3B)
2. Corey Seager, TEX (1)
3. Francisco Lindor, NYM (2)
4. Bobby Witt Jr., KC (9)
5. Mookie Betts, LAD (No. 1 2B)
6. Dansby Swanson, CHC (4)
7. Carlos Correa, MIN (7)
8. Elly De La Cruz, CIN (NR)
9. Willy Adames, SF (8)
10. Trea Turner, PHI (5)

Top 10 second basemen

There¡¯s been quite a bit of turnover at the keystone, but the top three players on this year¡¯s list are established stars at the position. Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien held on to the Nos. 2-3 spots, but the D-backs¡¯ Ketel Marte leapt up to No. 1 heading into 2025. (Last year¡¯s No. 1 second baseman, Mookie Betts, will be playing shortstop this season.) Among the other names on the list, only the Cubs¡¯ Nico Hoerner and new Blue Jay Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez return from the 2024 top 10. Tyler Fitzgerald checks in at No. 6 after a strong rookie season with the Giants -- although he played shortstop in 2024, he will be moved to second base in 2025 after San Francisco signed free agent Willy Adames.

SECOND BASEMEN

1. Ketel Marte, AZ (Last year: 5)
2. Jose Altuve, HOU (2)
3. Marcus Semien, TEX (3)
4. Brendan Donovan, STL (NR)
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., NYY (NR)
6. Tyler Fitzgerald, SF (NR)
7. Brandon Lowe, TB (NR)
8. Nico Hoerner, CHC (10)
9. Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez, TOR (7)
10. Gleyber Torres, DET (NR)

Top 10 third basemen

As has often been the case in recent years, not much has changed when it comes to the top third basemen on this list. The top five here were the top five going into 2024, although the order has changed a bit -- the Braves¡¯ Austin Riley had the top spot a year ago, but it now belongs to Guardians star Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez. The Giants¡¯ Matt Chapman and the D-backs¡¯ Eugenio Su¨¢rez are the only newcomers here, as the Nos. 7-9 spots are actually unchanged from one year prior: the Cardinals¡¯ Nolan Arenado, the Dodgers¡¯ Max Muncy and new Astro Isaac Paredes.

THIRD BASEMEN

1. Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, CLE (Last year: 2)
2. Rafael Devers, BOS (4)
3. Alex Bregman, FA (5)
4. Manny Machado, SD (3)
5. Austin Riley, ATL (1)
6. Matt Chapman, SF (NR)
7. Nolan Arenado, STL (7)
8. Max Muncy, LAD (8)
9. Isaac Paredes, HOU (9)
10. Eugenio Su¨¢rez, AZ (NR)

Top 10 starting pitchers

Both Cy Young Award winners and one of the best rookie starters in recent history are new to this list. AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, NL honoree Chris Sale and Pirates phenom Paul Skenes took spots Nos. 2-4 on this list, while lefties Cole Ragans and Framber Valdez also made the top 10. Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell, who each signed big free-agent deals with NL West clubs, stayed on the list, too, as did dependable right-handers Gerrit Cole and Logan Webb. But it was Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who ranked No. 8 entering 2023 and No. 6 entering 2024, who earned the top spot here.

STARTING PITCHERS

1. Zack Wheeler, PHI (Last year: 6)
2. Tarik Skubal, DET (NR)
3. Chris Sale, ATL (NR)
4. Paul Skenes, PIT (NR)
5. Blake Snell, LAD (5)
6. Corbin Burnes, AZ (2)
7. Cole Ragans, KC (NR)
8. Gerrit Cole, NYY (1)
9. Logan Webb, SF (8)
10. Framber Valdez, HOU (NR)

Top 10 catchers

Nine of the top 10 catchers going into 2024 remain on the list a year later, but the order has been shaken up quite a bit. William Contreras¡¯ standout 2024 earned him the top spot, bumping the Orioles¡¯ Adley Rutschman down to the No. 2 position and the Dodgers¡¯ Will Smith down to No. 3. Mariners backstop Cal Raleigh makes an appearance at No. 4, rising five spots from last year¡¯s list, while Yankees catcher Austin Wells enters at No. 10 after a strong rookie season.

CATCHERS

1. William Contreras, MIL (Last year: 5)
2. Adley Rutschman, BAL (1)
3. Will Smith, LAD (2)
4. Cal Raleigh, SEA (9)
5. J.T. Realmuto, PHI (4)
6. Yainer Diaz, HOU (8)
7. Gabriel Moreno, AZ (10)
8. Alejandro Kirk, TOR (7)
9. Sean Murphy, ATL (3)
10. Austin Wells, NYY (NR)

Top 10 relief pitchers

Devin Williams changed teams this offseason, but his spot in the top 10 here didn¡¯t budge. Ranking No. 1 for the second straight year, Williams enters his first season in Yankees pinstripes after being traded by the Brewers in December. The 2024 National League and American League saves leaders, Ryan Helsley and Emmanuel Clase, are high on the list -- but Clase¡¯s Cleveland teammate, Cade Smith, ranks above both. Flamethrowing Athletics closer Mason Miller makes his first appearance.

RELIEF PITCHERS

1. Devin Williams, NYY (Last year: 1)
2. Cade Smith, CLE (NR)
3. Ryan Helsley, STL (2)
4. Emmanuel Clase, CLE (NR)
5. Mason Miller, ATH (NR)
6. Edwin Uceta, TB (NR)
7. Tanner Scott, LAD (NR)
8. Kirby Yates, LAD (NR)
9. Jeff Hoffman, TOR (NR)
10. Raisel Iglesias, ATL (NR)

Top 10 center fielders

The top of this list looks different than it did a year ago due to Aaron Judge¡¯s impending move back to right field, which puts Seattle standout Julio Rodr¨ªguez into the No. 1 spot. Right behind him is Jackson Merrill, who is coming off an impressive rookie season for the Padres. Byron Buxton, Michael Harris II, Mike Trout, Brandon Marsh and Luis Robert Jr. all return from last year¡¯s list, but there are several other new names -- including Oneil Cruz, who switched from shortstop to center late in the 2024 season, and defensive whiz Daulton Varsho.

CENTER FIELDERS

1. Julio Rodr¨ªguez, SEA (Last year¡¯s rank: No. 2)
2. Jackson Merrill, SD (NR)
3. Byron Buxton, MIN (7)
4. Michael Harris II, ATL (5)
5. Mike Trout, LAA (4)
6. Brandon Marsh, PHI (10)
7. Daulton Varsho, TOR (NR)
8. Garrett Mitchell, MIL (NR)
9. Oneil Cruz, PIT (NR)
10. Luis Robert Jr., CWS (3)