New baseball season, new great crop of players, and of course, the similar core of greats that have held down their positions for years. A new wave of talent is coming to the majors, so you might need a refresher for who is at the top. Here are our 2025 American League rankings for the best players at each position.
Catcher
Cal Raleigh – Mariners: He isn’t just the best catcher in baseball; he’s one of the best players in the majors. He’s put himself in legit MVP territory. It feels like we’ve become comfortable giving catchers a pass at the plate, but Raleigh isn’t that guy. He has 23 homers already, as I write this story, with no signs of slowing down.
Alejandro Kirk- Blue Jays: The Jays gave Kirk a nice extension at the start of the year, and he’s lived up to it, with the highest batting average in the AL amongst catchers.
Logan O’Hoppe – Angels: The team from Anaheim is hit or miss. They will be hot, then cold. But when they’re hot, he has a lot to do with it, and he’s a reason they have a bright outlook.
First Baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Blue Jays: There was a period there where it looked like the Jays weren’t going to lock up Vladdy Jr. and he may have hit the open market. Right now, they are glad they signed him as he hits over .800 in OPS and remains one of the scariest hitters in baseball.
Paul Goldschmidt – Yankees: He is defeating father time. Goldy is back with a vengeance, hitting over .320 with an OPS over .850. He’s been a consistent hitter for a long time but after a down year, he’s found his groove in New York.
Jonathan Aranda – Rays: Tampa Bay may have found a hidden gem in Aranda. He made his debut in 2022 but is just now having his breakout season. He owns the highest first baseman WAR in the AL.
Second Baseman
Gleyber Torres – Tigers: The Yankees didn’t want him back, so he went to Detroit and has looked like an All Star to start the year. Torres is hitting over .270, driving in runs, and he plays a clean position.
Dylan Moore – Mariners: Moore found his power in 2025 and has eight home runs which is great for any second baseman. You have to be happy when it comes to an offense that has struggled in years past.
Jackson Holliday – Orioles: While Baltimore has struggled big time this season, Holliday has shown a healthy dose of development.
Third Baseman
Jose Ramirez – Guardians: If we are making this list, there is no one who gets placed higher than Ramirez who practically already has a spot in Cooperstown. He is hitting .330 (it seems like he always is) and while he has just 11 home runs, a second-half surge wouldn’t shock me.
Alex Bregman – Red Sox: Before injuring himself, Bregman put up a 3.0 WAR which is near the top for all major leaguers. He moved into Fenway Park and made himself at home with the Green Monster in left.
Maikel Garcia – Royals: The Royals are looking to stay in the AL Central race and Garcia will have a lot to do with it if they do. He was good in 2024, but he looks great in 2025 with an average over .310.
Shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. – Royals: Who else but Witt Jr. at the top? I thought he would have a better chance to be in the MVP conversation, but the Royals have been average out of the gates. He’s hitting a modest .287 but with his home run south of double digits, he has some work to do.
Jeremy Pena – Astros: It feels like we’ve been waiting for Pena to fully come into the Carlos Correa shell and break through, and this has been the year. He is hitting .312 with 9 home runs and playing a great short.
Jacob Wilson – Athletics: Wilson is my front runner for AL Rookie of the Year. He looks like a 10-year veteran at the plate with an average over .350.
Honorable – Corey Seager: His injuries have kept him out most of this season, but when healthy, it’s tough to claim there is anyone better.
Left Field
Steven Kwan – Guardians: Kwan is in the conversation for most underrated players over the last few years. He seems to always have a high average, a great glove, and he has speed as well. Few players go as hard as Kwan does on the field and it is really showing this season.
Jarren Duran – Red Sox: He broke out in 2024 and has carried that over in 2025. Duran is a guy who can turn a single into a double and will hustle every second he is out there.
Riley Greene – Tigers: He is the best hitter on a really good team. Greene has 13 home runs and has already knocked in over 40 runs.
Center Field
Julio Rodriguez – Mariners: JRod is starting to prove that he may not be an MVP candidate year-in and year-out like the Mariners were hoping but he still has an insane glove and is hitting for power.
Byron Buxton – Twins: Buxton remains one of the more consistent guys in baseball over the last few years. His glove, his speed, his power makes him one of the most dangerous guys in baseball when he stays healthy.
Jake Meyers – Astros: The AL center field group is going through a major overhaul and this guy being at the top of the list might be a surprise. He’s hitting well enough to keep him near the top of Houston’s lineup.
Right Field
Aaron Judge – Yankees: The best player in baseball. No one comes close this year. Judge has been next level. He is hitting right around .400 and is crushing baseballs like he doesn’t know how to do anything else. Judge is a runaway for the American League MVP at this point.
Lawrence Butler – Athletics: He had a slow start, but Law Dog has improved the average and the power in recent weeks and looks more like the phenom from a year ago.
Kerry Carpenter – Tigers: He’s just another one of these Tigers players that is developing like a fine wine and putting them atop the AL Central.
Designated Hitter
Rafael Devers – Red Sox: The Sox looked to have really messed with Devers’ head after his historically bad start, but now he has 12 home runs, and more than 50 runs batted in as his average sits over .285. He is one of the best hitters in baseball and that isn’t changing anytime soon.
Brent Rooker – Athletics: The A’s gave Rooker a huge extension in the offseason as he’s emerged as a huge power threat in recent years. Rooker is once again hitting for average and power.
Jorge Polanco – Mariners: A couple guys could fit this spot, but Polanco is my pick. He is doing what you want out of a DH which is hits for power and drives in runs.
Starting Pitchers
Tarik Skubal – Tigers: It really isn’t close when it comes to this. Skubal is putting together a historically good season and is certainly on pace to be the Cy Young winner. Skubal has the lowest WHIP and most Ks per nine in baseball.
Nathan Eovaldi – Rangers: Another guy that is defeating father time. Eovaldi has looked untouchable up to this point. He has a 1.56 ERA and a .81 WHIP and hasn’t lost anything off his fastball.
Garrett Crochet – Red Sox: The Sox have to be happy with their big offseason acquisition as Crochet overpowers hitters and throws filthy pitches.
Bullpen
Carlos Estevez – Royals: He has 17 saves which is tied for the most in the American League and has been a pleasant surprise for Kansas City. He is going to get you punch outs and prevent guys from scoring.
Andres Munoz – Mariners: He wants people to forget who Edwin Diaz is in Seattle as he is tied for most saves in the AL with Estevez. Munoz has an 11.9 K per nine.
Luke Weaver – Yankees: He wasn’t supposed to be the closer when they traded for Devin Williams, but he’s had to step into the role more times than not and has been amazing out of the ‘pen.