Most underrated player? Best city to visit? Players cast their votes

During Spring Training, MLB.com beat writers surveyed their clubhouses, asking players for their opinions on a range of topics. Well over 100 players participated, in exchange for anonymity. As Opening Day approaches, here's a look at the results:

Best player: Shohei Ohtani
Even though he won’t be pitching in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery last September, Ohtani edged out Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. in the best player category. Ohtani, who won his second MVP Award last year, begins his debut season with the Dodgers after signing a record 10-year, $700 million contract over the offseason.

Sandwiched between former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop the Dodgers’ vaunted lineup, it’s not hard to see Ohtani winning a third MVP honor in ’24, as he focuses solely on his offensive production.

The comments from players who chose Ohtani underscore the continued awe of the two-way phenom’s talents across baseball, and show that it’s about what he can do, even if he won’t do it all this season.

“There's not a single human on Earth that can do what he does,” said an AL outfielder.

“He’s the best baseball player, I think, ever,” is how an AL reliever put it.

Then there were the pithy, but no-less-effusive explanations.

“He’s two people,” one NL outfielder said.

“No-brainer,” said another.

An AL infielder, when asked to name the best in the game, answered the question with a question of his own:

“Is that even a question?” More >

Most underrated player: José Ramírez and Yandy Díaz (tie)
Ramírez has been one of the very best players in the game for years now, but he still hasn’t won an MVP Award -- he finished among the top 10 in AL MVP voting six times in the last seven years, including four top-four finishes. Over that span, he averaged a .280/.362/.529 slash line with 197 home runs and 160 steals.

“I feel like if you put Ramírez in a New York or an L.A., he'd be one of those guys we're talking about all the time,” said an AL infielder.

Díaz, meanwhile, won the AL batting crown last year by hitting .330 in a breakout season. He also belted a career-high 22 homers and slugged a career-best .522 in an All-Star campaign, finishing sixth in AL MVP voting. But some still feel he deserves more recognition.

“We only played the Rays twice last year, and you're looking at his numbers -- swings at quality pitches, good swing decisions, does damage,” an AL reliever said. “Playing in Tampa, it's not an everyday name for the average fan, but he's an absolute stud.” More >

Fiercest competitor: Max Scherzer
Scherzer wasn’t at his most dominant last season, but that in no way diminished his intensity on the mound, which is legendary.

Some of the comments regarding the competitive fire inside the three-time Cy Young Award winner are pretty entertaining -- and spot-on.

“If you foam at the mouth when you're pitching, you know,” is how an AL catcher put it.

“Just his attitude on the mound and the look he gives you and the way he attacks every day, even at his age,” said an AL outfielder.

Even players who haven’t faced Scherzer know.

“I've heard a lot of stories,” an NL outfielder said.

A different NL outfielder perhaps summed it up best:

“He scares me.” More >

Friendliest infielder to chat with on the bases: Freddie Freeman
Call him friendly Freddie.

Freeman, one of the elite hitters in the game and a former NL MVP, is also the MVP among players when it comes to chatting while on the bases.

“Good dude,” said an NL reliever, making it plain and simple.

One respondent, an AL infielder, chalked up Freeman’s amiable personality to his roots.

“He’s part-Canadian, isn’t he?” he asked.

An NL reliever, obviously not one to be on the basepaths now that MLB has a universal designated hitter rule, can tell that Freeman is friendly just from observation.

“I see him talking to a lot of guys,” he said. More >

Most stylish player: Francisco Lindor
Lindor is smooth at shortstop, making difficult defensive plays at that difficult position look easy. But he’s also pretty smooth when it comes to his wardrobe, according to his peers.

An NL outfielder gave a great answer when asked why he picked Lindor:

“Frankie’s got some fits, man.” More >

Surprise team: Royals
Could a surprising offseason lead to a surprising regular season for the Royals? Players across baseball think so.

“I wouldn't be surprised if the Royals are in first place in the AL Central,” an NL reliever said. “Everyone saw all the moves they made. Almost every week or so, it was like, 'Oh, Royals sign this guy.’ … They had enough young offensive guys that could really swing it. Now they're bringing in pitchers, they're bringing in veterans. If they're doing that, it's a clear attempt to be at the top of the division.”

Well said. Kansas City bolstered its rotation by signing veterans Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, upgraded its bullpen with the additions of Will Smith, Chris Stratton and John Schreiber, and strengthened the lineup by inserting Hunter Renfroe.

Adding that group to an exciting young core featuring Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino makes the Royals a team to watch in the standings this year.

“They battled through a lot of injuries last year to some pretty important players,” said another NL reliever. “Pasquantino rakes. If he can stay healthy and in the middle of that lineup, that helps out Bobby Witt. They went out and got a lot of veteran arms who know how to pitch, which will help their young guys." More >

World Series winner: Dodgers
This one was very close, but the Dodgers edged the Braves as the players’ choice for World Series winner (players weren’t permitted to choose their own club).

There’s a plethora of reasons why the Dodgers appear to be the team to beat. Already a juggernaut offensively, they added two-way superstar Ohtani over the offseason, not to mention right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

There was also a plethora of short and sweet explanations by players as to why they chose the Dodgers.

“That’s a loaded lineup,” an NL infielder said.

“They’re just so star-studded,” said an NL outfielder.

“They’re stacked,” is how an AL starting pitcher described them.

Another AL starter really didn’t need to say much at all to express his thoughts on the Dodgers, saying: “I mean … yeah.” More >

Favorite road city: San Diego
It’s hard to compete with the major metropolis feel of New York or Chicago, among other cities, but San Diego gets the nod from the players in our survey.

The elements of San Diego that were brought up most? The idyllic weather and beautiful Petco Park.

“You can't beat that ballpark and the weather,” an AL reliever said.

An NL infielder agreed, saying: “The infield surface, the weather, the stadium, the atmosphere, the city. You can't beat it.”

Sometimes, no explanation is needed. If you know, you know -- you know?

An AL reliever does, saying: “I love San Diego, man.” More >