Shohei Ohtani has been No. 1 on MLB Network's Top 100 Players Right Now list in three of the past four years, including 2025. We'll soon find out if he will hold onto his crown for 2026, but we first have to see who slots in from No. 2 to No. 100. And the unveiling is underway.
MLB Network’s production and research team has once again ranked the very best players in the Majors using a formula that differs from "The Shredder," which is used to determine the Network’s annual rankings of the top 10 players at each position.
The first episode of this year’s Top 100 countdown featured players Nos. 81-100.
Here is MLB Network's full Top 100 Players Right Now schedule (all times ET):
Nos. 80-61: Jan. 14 at 8 p.m.
Nos. 60-41: Jan. 15 at 8 p.m.
Nos. 40-21: Jan. 19 at 8 p.m.
Nos. 20-11: Jan. 21 at 8 p.m.
Nos. 10-1: Jan. 22 at 8 p.m.
No. 81-No. 90
It wasn’t that long ago when Jose Altuve and Mike Trout were near the very top of this list. (Trout was ranked No. 3 as recently as 2023.) Now, as they prepare for their age-36 and age-34 seasons, respectively, the likely Hall of Famers fall into the 80s. They are directly followed by a couple of veteran closers who were outstanding in 2025. Edwin Díaz and Aroldis Chapman each recorded a sub-2.00 ERA and were among the top three in strikeout rate among qualified relievers last season.
Three shortstops with serious pop land in this range. Last season, Willy Adames became the first Giants player to have a 30-homer season since Barry Bonds in 2004. The Angels’ Zach Neto produced 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases last year while Colson Montgomery, the White Sox former No. 1 prospect, smashed 21 dingers in his first 71 MLB games.
- Jose Altuve, LF, Astros (2025 rank: 30)
- Mike Trout, RF, Angels (2025 rank: 39)
- Edwin Díaz, RP, Dodgers (2025 rank: no rank)
- Aroldis Chapman, RP, Red Sox (2025 rank: no rank)
- Matt Chapman, 3B, Giants (2025 rank: 38)
- Willy Adames, SS, Giants (2025 rank: 41)
- Zach Neto, SS, Angels (2025 rank: no rank)
- Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (2025 rank: no rank)
- Cole Ragans, SP, Royals (2025 rank: 43)
- Andrew Abbott, SP, Reds (2025 rank: no rank)
No. 91-No. 100
The back end of the Top 100 contains a quartet of backstops on the rise, highlighted by National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. The Rockies’ Hunter Goodman led all NL catchers last season with 31 homers, a number that was matched by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers. And Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera launched 19 homers and had an .837 OPS in 107 games.
The Yankees’ Ben Rice can set up behind the plate as well, but he will see most of his playing time at first base following a breakout year in the Bronx. He will have plenty of matchups against new AL East foe Dylan Cease in the seasons ahead. Cease, who checks in at No. 100, joined the Blue Jays this offseason on a record-setting seven-year contract.
- Brent Rooker, RF, Athletics (2025 rank: 46)
- Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics (2025 rank: no rank)
- Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, Royals (2025 rank: no rank)
- Kerry Carpenter, RF, Tigers (2025 rank: 89)
- Ben Rice, 1B, Yankees (2025 rank: no rank)
- Drake Baldwin, C, Braves (2025 rank: no rank)
- Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies (2025 rank: no rank)
- Iván Herrera, C, Cardinals (2025 rank: no rank)
- Carlos Rodón, SP, Yankees (2025 rank: no rank)
- Dylan Cease, SP, Blue Jays (2025 rank: 55)