Before the start of the new baseball season, it was important for us to come up with a ranking of the top 10 MLB players in 2024. Obviously, any ranking of the best players in MLB is subject to change during the season. But that doesn't mean we can't decide to create our own top ten list.
Ranking of the top 10 players in MLB ahead of the 2024 season
To come up with a list of the best players in baseball right now, we couldn't just look at each player's record. We had to imagine what each player would do during the next season. It goes without saying that it is difficult to get baseball predictions right. However, here is our initial ranking of the top 10 MLB players in 2024.
10. Bryce Harper
It looks like Bryce Harper is finally starting to win the Trout vs. Harper debate. With Mike Trout getting older and struggling with injuries in recent years, Harper is better prepared for a big year in 2024.
The injury that sidelined Harper for the first part of 2023 is behind him. Upon his return, he managed to hit .293 with an OPS of .900 while settling into a new position in the field. With the injury clearly in the rearview mirror, we expect Harper to bounce back in a big way and keep his name in the discussion among the best players in baseball.
9. Matt Olson
After a 54 home run and 139 RBI season, it would be impossible not to include Matt Olson on this list. Even if he produced 80% of that, he would be a top 10 player.
Keep in mind that Olson is not a veteran who had a good season. He's only 30 the day after the home opener in Atlanta, so he's in top form right now. Olson also has two Gold Gloves on his resume, bringing more to the table than just power.
8. Corey Seager
Corey Seager, now a two-time World Series MVP, has made it clear that he belongs among the best of all time.
His 2023 regular season was something special, as he hit .317 with 33 homers and 96 RBI. This was more than enough to make him a first-team MLB player and earn his third Silver Slugger. There may be some concern that there could be a decline after a shorter offseason, but there aren't many reasons to doubt Seager while he's in the prime of his career.
7. Francisco Lindor
Is Francisco Lindor the best shortstop in baseball? He's definitely the best two-way shortstop.
He was robbed of a Gold Glove in 2023 because he had an outstanding defensive season in Year 1 with the new shift rules. On the bright side, Lindor won the Silver Slugger Award. He also joined the 30-30 club for the first time with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases. In other words, the 30-year-old still fits the definition of a five-tool player, and he does so while playing an elite defensive position. This makes Lindor a much more valuable player than his offensive numbers would have you believe.
6. Shohei Ohtani
It's impossible not to include the reigning AL MVP and $700 million man on your list of the best players in baseball. Of course, Shohei Ohtani was the number lock. One point if he's healthy enough to play this season.
Unfortunately, being a DH – and perhaps an occasional outfielder – caused him to drop some spots. However, Ohtani's bat is enough to make him a top-10 prospect. After all, the guy led the AL with 44 home runs last year while also batting over .300. If not for his oblique injury late in the year, his number would have been even higher. Now that he's primarily focused on hitting in 2024, we expect a huge offensive year from Ohtani.
5. Julio Rodriguez
When you combine what he's accomplished in the major leagues with the fact that he's only 23 years old, there shouldn't be any debate that Julio Rodriguez is an elite player. He is a two-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger.
Then again, he only turned 23 last December. It almost boggles the mind how good he is at this age. As mentioned earlier, part of putting this list together is to anticipate next season, and we envision that the kid who had 32 homers, 103 RBI, and 37 stolen bases last season will be even better in 2024 and be mentioned among the best players in baseball. now.
4. Haroun Al-Qadi
Multiple trips to the IL limited Aaron Judge to just 106 games in 2023, preventing him from properly defending the MVP and home run awards he won in 2022. However, when Judge was healthy enough to play , he still looked like one of the best in the game.
He still posted a 1.019 OPS and hit 37 home runs. In fairness, we don't expect Judge to return to his level in 2022; That was a career year for him. He will also turn 32 in April, so he may be in his late prime. However, Judge is still an elite player capable of hitting 50+ homers with over 100 RBI and flirting with at least .300. He is still on the short list of players capable of doing so.
3. Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman is now 34 years old, and shows no sign of slowing down. He has compiled a resume that will likely take him to Cooperstown one day, carving out a place among the greatest baseball players of all time. Freeman earned first-team MLB honors in 2023, showing that he is still the best starting shortstop in baseball.
He has hit .300 or better in seven of the past eight seasons, and his .331 average in 2023 is the second-best of his career. Also, last year was the fourth time he eclipsed 100 RBI. As mentioned, there are no signs of Freeman slowing down, which is why we expect another strong campaign from Freeman in 2024.
2. Mookie Betts
It doesn't matter if the Dodgers want to play him at second base or in the outfield, Mookie Betts is still one of the best players in baseball. He will be an elite player at any position and will remain one of baseball's great motivators at the top of the batting order.
A year ago, Betts hit .307 with 80 extra-base hits, including a career-high home run. He had the best season of his career outside of his MVP year in 2018. We don't expect much to fall from him in 2024. With the Dodgers putting so much talent around him and his desire to win a World Series, Betts is bound to have a big year. Other.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr
Last year, Ronald Acuna Jr. reminded us how great he is when he can stay healthy. Injuries got the better of him in 2021 and 2022, but there was no stopping Acuna in 2023.
He hit .337 with an OPS of 1.012, 41 home runs, and 106 RBI. He rightly earned MLB First-Team and NL MVP honors. Don't forget that Acuna also stole 73 bases in 2023 and was successful on nearly 84% of his attempts. This is an element of his game that almost no other elite player can match, and why we think he will be the best player in the MLB in 2023. The other reason is that he is only 26 years old. He should be in the middle of his prime, so unless he suffers an injury, Acuna will be the best the MLB has to offer this year.
