Looking ahead to next season is always one of my favorite exercises. After all, draft day is the best day on the fantasy baseball calendar, and managers love to get an early look at how players will be valued. Although I’m sure my opinions will change during the offseason, here is my initial top-50 rankings.
1. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees: Easily the best hitter in baseball and has exceeded 145 games in four of the past five seasons.
2. Shohei Ohtani, UT, Dodgers: A notch behind Judge as a hitter and unlikely to post another eye-popping steals total.
3. Bobby Witt Jr. SS, Royals: Coming off a down year but is a strong bet for a 30-30-.300 season.
4. Juan Soto, OF, Mets: One of baseball’s best pure hitters moves up a few spots thanks to his newfound base-stealing prowess.
5. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers: Yes, pitchers can be drafted this high. And he’s the one to take.
6. José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians: Death, taxes and Ramírez being a five-category star. Showing no signs of decline at age 33.
7. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks: Has become a consistent power hitter who is fast enough to return to the 50-steal plateau.
8. Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves: Still one of baseball’s best hitters but has question marks regarding speed and durability.
9. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds: Second-half power outage was likely injury-related. Too young (23) and talented to not bounce back.
10. Kyle Schwarber, OF, Phillies: Racks up so many counting stats that roto managers can live with a mediocre batting average.
11. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays: Sure, the Rays are moving back to the Trop, but that won’t dull the enthusiasm for a 22-year-old with 50-homer upside.
12. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics: Fewer games played than Caminero, but the same age and ceiling.
13. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates: Would sit beside Skubal on this list if the Pirates could assemble a credible supporting cast.
14. Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox: Large drop after the Big Three starters, which will push each of them up draft boards.
15. Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners: Factoring in position scarcity, was the fantasy MVP for 2025.
16. Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs: Injury-related second-half swoon is concerning, but has otherwise been consistent for several seasons.
17. Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners: Would approach top-five status by avoiding slow starts to the season.
18. Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers: Didn’t take a step forward after impressive rookie year, but treading water is acceptable at age 21.
19. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles: One of several Orioles with major bounce-back potential.
20. Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets: A poor man’s version of his former teammate, Ramírez, which is still very, very good.
21. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays: Supremely talented hitter who lacks the power or speed to climb any higher on this list.
22. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets: Stable power source who will be a value pick when managers chase younger, more exciting options.
23. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees: Injury prone and inconsistent, but racks up homers and steals at a pace few can match.
24. Yordan Álvarez, OF, Astros: Will get dinged for lost 2025 season but is still among baseball’s best pure hitters.
25. Trea Turner, SS, Phillies: High-average veteran isn’t slowing down — has the highest average sprint speed in the majors.
26. Fernando Tatís Jr., OF, Padres: Managers can’t forget his magical 2021 season, but has been more good than great since missing the 2022 campaign.
27. James Wood, OF, Nationals: Fell apart in second half but has outstanding skills and is barely 23 years old.
28. Zach Neto, SS, Angels: If not for pair of brief IL stints, would be wrapping up 30-30 season.
29. Hunter Brown, SP, Astros: Leads off a large tier of aces. He has a 2.38 ERA since 2024 All-Star break.
30. Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners: Strikeout rate spiked in 2025 for reliable righty who thrives at pitcher-friendly home park.
31. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers: Has become the staff ace for perennial powerhouse.
32. Chris Sale, SP, Braves: Would challenge the Big Three starters if not for age, injury concerns.
33. Jacob deGrom, SP, Rangers: Carbon copy of Sale — elite, but comes with risk.
34. Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies: Skills remain elite but no longer logs impressive homer totals.
35. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers: Small signs of decline are emerging, but still skilled and productive.
36. Manny Machado, 3B, Padres: Durable veteran can be penciled in for roughly 30 homers, 90-100 RBI, .275 average.
37. Matt Olson, 1B, Braves: Effective power hitter could anchor resurgent 2026 offense.
38. Rafael Devers, 1B, Giants: Previously reliable superstar was not as effective after joining Giants.
39. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs: Fell apart in the second half, but it’s hard to ignore players with 30-40 upside.
40. Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks: Misses a bit of time each year but always finishes with excellent stat line.
41. Oneil Cruz, OF, Pirates: Regressed as a hitter in 2025 but among steals leaders.
42. Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers: Disappointing season, but September surge puts him back on the early-round radar.
43. Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics: Veteran leader of improving lineup has three straight seasons with 30+ homers.
44. Bryan Woo, SP, Mariners: Fantasy baseball’s newest ace has a lifetime 0.98 WHIP.
45. Joe Ryan, SP, Twins: Plenty of whiffs and a low WHIP. May benefit from trade away from rebuilding team.
46. Hunter Greene, SP, Reds: 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 rate over 2024-25. Elite innings total is the final step.
47. Cristopher Sánchez, SP, Phillies: Large jump in strikeout rate moves him into ace tier.
48. Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox: Mild disappointment in 2025 but has great potential as sparkplug for emerging offense.
49. Corey Seager, SS, Rangers: Skills are consistent but seems to miss some time every year.
50. Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks: Started 2025 on waiver wire and will finish as top-20 player.
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