Everyone loves a good list, and a couple of big ones have been unveiled in recent days: MLB Pipeline’s preseason Top 100 Prospects list, and the Top 100 Players Right Now list.
But do you know what’s better than one list? Ten lists!
That’s what we’ll get over the next couple of weeks as MLB Network continues its annual tradition of ranking the Top 10 Players Right Now at every position.
Using rankings based on past performance, various offensive and defensive metrics (including both advanced statistics and traditional numbers) and analysis by the MLB Network research team, “The Shredder” produces its list of the 10 best players at each position right now.
The 10-show rollout began Monday with the ranking of the top 10 second basemen and continued with the top shortstops on Thursday. Here is the schedule of when the remaining top 10 lists will debut on MLB Network (all times ET):
Jan. 30, 8 p.m.: Top 10 center fielders
Feb. 2, 7 p.m.: Top 10 catchers
Feb. 3, 7 p.m.: Top 10 right fielders
Feb. 4: 7 p.m.: Top 10 third basemen
Feb. 9: 7 p.m.: Top 10 relief pitchers
Feb. 10: 7 p.m. Top 10 first basemen
TOP 10 SHORTSTOPS
Bobby Witt Jr.’s climb up the Top 10 Shortstops Right Now list is complete. Witt, who debuted on the list at No. 9 in 2024, goes from No. 4 to No. 1 after pacing the big leagues in hits for the second consecutive season.
The D-backs’ Geraldo Perdomo checks in at No. 6 after a surprising breakout year that included 20 homers as well as 7.1 FanGraphs WAR, which ranked fifth in the Majors. Through his first four big league seasons, Perdomo had a total of 14 homers and 4.8 WAR.
The Astros’ Jeremy Peña (.840 OPS) and the Angels’ Zach Neto (26 HRs, 26 SBs) also make it into the top 10 for the first time in their careers.
1. Bobby Witt Jr., KC (Last year: 4)
2. Corey Seager, TEX (2)
3. Francisco Lindor, NYM (3)
4. Gunnar Henderson, BAL (1)
5. Mookie Betts, LAD (5)
6. Geraldo Perdomo, AZ (not ranked)
7. Trea Turner, PHI (10)
8. Jeremy Peña, HOU (not ranked)
9. Elly De La Cruz, CIN (8)
10. Zach Neto, LAA (not ranked)
TOP 10 STARTING PITCHERS
The top four starters from last year’s top 10 are back on the list for 2026 and back into the top four, just in a different order. Reigning Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes ascend to Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler, the top starting pitcher heading into the 2025 season, slips to No. 3, and the Braves’ Chris Sale drops one spot to No. 4.
Five of the next six hurlers make the cut for the first time in their careers. That group is headed by Cy Young runners-up Cristopher Sánchez and Garrett Crochet. They each finished last season inside MLB’s top six in innings, ERA, FanGraphs WAR and pitching run value.
1. Tarik Skubal, DET (Last year: 2)
2. Paul Skenes, PIT (4)
3. Zack Wheeler, PHI (1)
4. Chris Sale, ATL (3)
5. Cristopher Sánchez, PHI (not ranked)
6. Garrett Crochet, BOS (not ranked)
7. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, LAD (not ranked)
8. Hunter Brown, HOU (not ranked)
9. Max Fried, NYY (not ranked)
10. Hunter Greene, CIN (not ranked)
TOP 10 LEFT FIELDERS
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez sat atop this list for the past three years, but he drops to No. 7 after recording a relatively pedestrian .797 OPS during an injury-marred campaign. The Red Sox’s Jarren Duran hops up to the No. 1 spot, and he’s backed by teammate Roman Anthony, who looked like a superstar in the making during his 71-game MLB debut.
Cody Bellinger and James Wood also crack the top five after not being included in last year’s list. Bellinger hit 29 home runs in his walk year with the Yankees, which earned him a five-year deal to return to the Bombers. Wood bashed 31 homers and stole 15 bases in his age-22 season.
1. Jarren Duran, BOS (Last year: 2)
2. Roman Anthony, BOS (not ranked)
3. Cody Bellinger, NYY (not ranked)
4. Riley Greene, DET (5)
5. James Wood, WSH (not ranked)
6. Ian Happ, CHC (3)
7. Yordan Alvarez, HOU (1)
8. Kyle Stowers, MIA (not ranked)
9. Jackson Chourio, MIL (7)
10. Brandon Marsh, PHI (No. 6 CF)
TOP 10 SECOND BASEMEN
D-backs star Ketel Marte reigns atop the keystone position for the second straight year and for the fourth time in his career. (He was also No. 1 entering the 2020 and ‘22 seasons.) His 149 wRC+ since the start of 2024 ranks sixth in the Majors. The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner jumps up five spots to No. 3 after winning his second career Gold Glove.
The two newcomers to this top 10 -- the Marlins’ Xavier Edwards and the Brewers’ Brice Turang -- each finished last season with at least a .280 average and 20 stolen bases while providing plus defense.
1. Ketel Marte, AZ (Last year: 1)
2. Jazz Chisholm Jr., NYY (5)
3. Nico Hoerner, CHC (8)
4. Brendan Donovan, STL (4)
5. Marcus Semien, NYM (3)
6. Jose Altuve, HOU (2)
7. Gleyber Torres, DET (10)
8. Xavier Edwards, MIA (not ranked)
9. Brandon Lowe, PIT (7)
10. Brice Turang, MIL (not ranked)