MLB Network has released its annual ranking of the top players at each position heading into the 2026 season, using a system called The Shredder that analyzes both traditional and advanced metrics as well as previous player performance.
At starting pitcher, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers is ranked first. Skubal, who has won back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards and led the league in ERA for two consecutive seasons, recorded 469 strikeouts since 2024—more than any other pitcher. His 0.89 WHIP last season was the best in Major League Baseball, and he posted a league-leading 6.5 bWAR among AL pitchers.
Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners leads at catcher after hitting 60 home runs last season—the fourth AL player and first non-Yankee to do so—and driving in an AL-best 125 runs. Raleigh’s .948 OPS topped all qualified primary catchers, and he played in 159 games, including 121 behind the plate.
Freddie Freeman remains MLB’s top first baseman. The Los Angeles Dodgers veteran led all primary National League first basemen in batting average (.295) and on-base percentage (.367), finishing second in OPS (.869). Freeman enters this season as the active leader among all players in hits (2,431), runs (1,379), doubles (547), RBIs (1,322), and total bases (4,145).
Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks is ranked first among second basemen for a second straight year. Marte led qualified players at his position last season with a .376 on-base percentage, .893 OPS, and 56 extra-base hits.
José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians continues to lead third basemen. He topped his peers with a .360 on-base percentage, .863 OPS, and 44 stolen bases while tying for highest bWAR (5.8) among third basemen.
At shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals stands out after leading all MLB players with 184 hits and 47 doubles last season. Witt also led shortstops in OPS (.852), slugging (.501), extra-base hits (76), stolen bases (38), bWAR (7.1), and defensive outs above average (21).
Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox ranks first in left field after recording double-digit triples for a second straight year along with 41 doubles and 16 home runs last season. Duran’s sprint speed places him among MLB’s fastest players.
Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners tops center fielders following his third All-Star campaign in which he matched his career high with 32 home runs and led AL players in plate appearances (710). Rodríguez also had elite defensive numbers with an MLB-high range factor.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is again named best right fielder after leading all MLB hitters last season in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688), OPS (1.145), and OPS+ (215). Judge hit 53 home runs with 114 RBIs en route to winning his third AL MVP Award.
In relief pitching, Aroldis Chapman had what was described as his best overall season in more than a decade for the Boston Red Sox by posting a 1.17 ERA over 67 appearances with 32 saves during his age-37 campaign. Chapman held opponents to a .132 average and set career highs including retiring 50 consecutive batters between July and September.
The full Top 10 lists for each position are available from MLB Network.
