MLB players say the best player in baseball is ...

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. In the leadup to Opening Day, MLB.com is publishing a series of stories based on the results of that survey.

Today's topic: Who is the best player in the game?

It is a great time to be a baseball fan. The levels of talent and athleticism across the Major Leagues have never been higher. There are so many players who can make your jaw drop on a nightly basis. It is a great time to be a baseball fan, and we should never take it for granted.

But of all the outstanding players in The Show, who do the players think is No. 1? Here are the five stars who got the most votes in our survey.

1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

As one National League third baseman said: "It's kind of obvious."

He can hit 50 home runs. He can steal 50 bases. He can be a frontline starter pitcher. He just won the World Series. He has been named a league MVP three times in the past four years -- all by a unanimous vote. He is the sport's biggest global superstar. Ohtani is simply one of one. That's why he was the no-doubt No. 1 pick by many players. To wit, Ohtani's vote share was the largest of any player mentioned in any of our survey questions.

"I know we rave about him -- and we should continue to do so -- but it¡¯s truly remarkable," an American League relief pitcher said of Ohtani.

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

Even players who chose Ohtani as their answer to the topic question gave some love to the face of the Royals' franchise.

"It's Shohei, but I can see a case for Bobby Witt Jr," a National League outfielder said. "He hit a homer against us one time and you're mad, but you're also like, 'Man, he has so much aura.'"

At just 24 years old, Witt may already own the title of baseball's most well-rounded player. He is coming off a campaign that included a batting title, 30-plus homers and 30-plus steals for the second straight year, and a playoff appearance with Kansas City one season after it lost 106 games. He has turned himself into an elite defender after struggling in that area at the outset of his career, and he's been the fastest player in MLB since debuting in 2022.

¡°On all sides of the ball, Bobby is really hard to gameplan for and to handle," an NL catcher said. "You make good pitches and he puts the ball in play. He has unbelievable speed. Great defensive player. Stupid power that's really starting to come out. I think the next couple of years, you're going to see him take off."

3. Aaron Judge, Yankees

Baseball's preeminent power hitter today, Judge does much more than crush home runs. He has a career .288 average and .406 on-base percentage. His 1.010 OPS is the best among active players. The Yankees' captain clobbered an AL-record 62 homers in 2022 and had 58 homers last season, but he flirted with a Triple Crown in each of those years, too.

"He's such a hard out," an AL starting pitcher said of Judge. "He controls the plate really well, and he's just an all-around phenomenal player."

Judge was feted as AL MVP in '22 and '24 and compiled a Baseball-Reference WAR above 10.0 each year. Only 14 players have multiple such seasons on their ledger, including three other Yankees: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle.

4. Mookie Betts, Dodgers

Betts broke into the Majors in 2014, and he has accrued more bWAR over that 11-season span than any other player (69.6). Eight All-Star selections, seven Silver Slugger Awards, six Gold Gloves, three World Series titles -- he's done it all and then some. As he prepares for Year 12, the 32-year-old Betts remains at the top of his game and continues to challenge himself to improve.

"He does every single part of his job well," an NL relief pitcher said.

A fractured left hand limited Betts to 116 games last season, but he still recorded 19 home runs, 16 steals and a .289/.372/.491 slash line.

5. Corey Seager, Rangers

Seager's .530 slugging percentage over the past five seasons is tied with Betts for sixth-best in MLB (minimum 2,000 plate appearances). Seager's 144 OPS+ during that period ranks ninth. The 30-year-old has been among the game's most potent hitters even while injuries have frequently cut into his playing time. He reached the 30-homer plateau in 2023 and '24 despite missing more than 30 games each season due to various physical ailments. He registered 75 extra-base hits over 119 games during that former year, which ended with him leading the Rangers to their first World Series title and being named World Series MVP for the second time in his career.

Seager is also solid at shortstop, as highlighted by his 12 outs over average over the past three seasons.

"He's a great defender," an NL first baseman said. "When the ball's hit at him, he makes a play. He takes a great at-bat."

Others receiving votes: Ronald Acu?a Jr., Braves; Juan Soto, Mets; Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, Guardians; Mike Trout, Angels; Francisco Lindor, Mets; Freddie Freeman, Dodgers; Jarren Duran, Red Sox; Garrett Crochet, Red Sox