New faces, old legends. Major League Baseball is seeing somewhat of a change of the guard in its best players. To keep you caught up, here are our 2026 National League rankings for the top three players at each position.
Catcher
1) William Contreras (Brewers) – Contreras has taken over as the best catcher in MLB. The younger brother of Wilson Contreras, William has become one of the best bats in the Brewers lineup and is hitting over .300 this season.
2) Will Smith (Dodgers) – Smith is as consistent as they come. Even with Dalton Rushing taking away some days at the plate, Smith continues to impress with his bat.
3) Liam Hicks (Marlins) – Hicks is new to this list. The 26-year-old is in just his second season but has already belted 11 home runs for Miami.
First Baseman
1) Matt Olson (Braves) – Olson is a big reason why the Braves have one of the best records in the bigs with his 2.5 WAR. He’s belted 14 home runs and is on pace to drive in over 100 runs.
2) Sal Stewart (Reds) – This is my Rookie of the Year vote. Stewart has been sensational. He’s already hit 12 home runs and driven in 34 runs. If he can keep his average up, we are looking at a legit first baseman.
3) Alec Burleson (Cardinals) – Burleson is just 27 years old and proving to be a reliable bat in the heart of St. Louis lineup. He is hitting over .280 and has a 1.5 WAR.
Second Baseman
1) Brice Turang (Brewers) – He was the best second baseman last year and is the best second baseman this year, with a 2.4 WAR and a great bat in the Brewers lineup, he does it all.
2) Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) – Marte is as steady as they come. All this guy does is rake. He is a superstar in a small market, and he is proving again why he is one of the best.
3) JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) – Not only does JJ Wetherholt have a great bat, but his glove is just as impressive with plenty of range at second. He is also vying for ROTY votes.
Third Baseman
1) Max Muncy (Dodgers) – Muncy might be 35 but he is having a career year. He has the highest WAR of any NL third baseman (2.4) and has belted 12 home runs already this season. He’s one of the most underrated Dodgers of all time.
2) Nolan Arenado (Diamondbacks) – The Dbacks traded for Arenado, and it’s worked out so far. He is back to his old ways, with an .804 OPS and an even more valuable glove.
3) Nick Gonzales (Pirates) – Gonzales impressed last year and got a full-time job this year and has responded with a batting average over .300 and a reliable glove.
Shortstop
1) Otto Lopez (Miami) – The new face of the Marlins is raking. He is hitting .332 with 14 doubles. He has speed, he has a flashy glove, and he is just 27 with one of the best OPS in the league.
2) CJ Abrams (Nationals) – The Nats will always love this trade when they sent Jaun Soto for a bundle of prospects that included Abrams. He is hitting .288 with 12 home runs and has blossomed into one of the best shortstops in the league.
3) Elly De La Cruz (Reds) – One of the flashiest players in the league. De La Cruz is a true 5-tool prospect who can hit for power, run the bases with speed, and make jaw-dropping throws from across the diamond.
Left Field
1) Juan Soto (Mets) – The Mets might not be playing well, but Soto is. His average is over .290, he’s hit 10 home runs and has an OPS near .950. His defense leaves something to be desired but his bat makes up for it.
2) Brandon Marsh (Phillies) – Marsh has the highest WAR amongst all left fielders this season. There was a world where the Phillies let him go this offseason, but he hung around and is rewarding them with a .318 average.
3) Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers) – Sometimes it’s the smaller LA stars who do the dirty work and Hernandez is a perfect example of that. He is slugging the ball and has added a 1.1 WAR.
Center Field
1) Andy Pages (Dodgers) – Pages has been one of the best surprises in the bigs this season. He has a 3.3 WAR and is hitting over .280 with excellent defense. At 25-years-old, the Dodgers have a true stud in the making.
2) Michael Harris (Braves) – Harris has been a steady player that is really blossoming into a star in Atlanta. He has a 1.8 WAR, has hit 11 home runs, and plays a mean center field.
3) Oneil Cruz (Pirates) – We’ve all been waiting for Cruz to become a legit major leaguer. This is the year. He hits for power and swipes bags at a high rate.
Right Field
1) Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks) – There has been no better outfielder over the last few years. Carroll is truly a 5-tool player. His power, speed, and glove are all ranked at the very top and he has added to that with a 2.9 WAR.
2) Jordan Walker (Cardinals) – Walker was one of the best prospects in baseball who looked like he was on the path to becoming a bust. He turned that around this year and has been a powerhouse, crushing 15 home runs and adding 3.1 WAR.
3) James Wood (Nationals) – Wood’s biggest issue is his strikeouts. While those are still far too high, his power is too much to overlook in a younger, new-look Nats lineup.
Designated Hitter
1) Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) – Schwarber nearly won the NL MVP a season ago and is continuing to impress this year with 21 bombs crushed already.
2) Casey Schmitt (Giants) – What a surprise Schmitt has been who has been the best bat in the Giants lineup and can play practically anywhere on the field. He is hitting .295 with 11 home runs and has a 1.3 WAR.
3) Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) – There isn’t a list without Shohei. He is pitching near the top of the league, but his bat hasn’t caught up. Ohtani is hitting just .273 with 8 home runs as he warms up.
Starting Pitchers
1) Christopher Sanchez (Phillies) – He was my Cy Young Pick this year and it’s panning out so far. Sanchez has 1.15 WHIP with a 3.6 WAR. He strikes out over 10 batters a game and has the best ERA in the NL.
2) Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) – The Brewers young ace is easily the most electric pitcher in baseball with a K/9 rate of 14.1 and a WHIP of .83. He and Sanchez will battle it out this season for the top award.
3) Chase Burns (Reds) – There was a reason he was a top prospect, and it panned out this year. Burns has a .95 WHIP and the second highest WAR amongst NL pitchers.
Relief Pitchers
1) Mason Miller (Padres) – The Pads gave up one of the game’s best prospects to trade for Miller last year and he has rewarded them as the best closer in MLB. 16 saves and a .76 ERA has made him untouchable.
2) Riley O’Brien (Cardinals) – O’Brien is 31 but really blossoming as a closer right now with 14 saves and a .99 WHIP.
3) JoJo Romero (Cardinals) – Romero isn’t a closer but he is the best setup man in the game with 14 holds. He has a way of working himself out of jams and getting the ball to O’Brien.