Image credit: Shohei Ohtani (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Through the years, Baseball America has evaluated the potential for thousands of prospects. Now for the third year in a row, we are carrying that exercise through to major league players.

This year, we sorted all MLB players by BA Grades on the 20-80 scale and ranked the top 100. Every player in the top 100 receives a 55 grade or higher.

Players are ranked in terms of their projected 2025 impact only. No value beyond this season is factored into these evaluations. Capsules are included for the top 25 players as we head into 2025.

This ranking was developed by Matt Eddy, Geoff Pontes and Dylan White.

How to interpret BA Grades in the MLB 100:

• 75–80: Franchise player or No. 1 starter. WAR: 5.0 or more
• 65–70: Perennial all-star or No. 1/2 starter. WAR: about 4.0 to 4.9
• 60: Occasional all-star or No. 2/3 starter. WAR: about 3.5 to 3.9
• 55: First-division regular or No. 3/4 starter. WAR: about 3.0

By the numbers: The Braves have the most MLB 100 players with nine, followed by the Dodgers and Astros with eight each and the Padres with six. The Rockies and White Sox have zero representatives.

Breakdown by position for MLB 100 players: 24 righthanders, 16 shortstops, 10 lefthanders, 9 third basemen, 9 right fielders, 7 catchers, 7 left fielders, 6 first basemen, 5 second basemen, 4 center fielders and 3 designated hitters.

1. Shohei Ohtani

Dodgers, DH/RHP
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 80.
2024 ranking: 3. | 2023 ranking: 1.

To watch Ohtani is to watch history. He was baseball’s first 50-50 man and has won MVPs in three out of the past four seasons. In that time, Ohtani has averaged 45 homers and 29 steals per season while batting .286/.382/.602. On the mound he throws five plus pitch types: four-seamer, sinker, cutter, slider and splitter.

2. Bobby Witt Jr.

Royals, SS
Age: 25. | BA Grade: 80.
2024 ranking: 9. | 2023 ranking: 100.

Witt is the definitive five-tool player. He won the American League batting title and Gold Glove at shortstop last year. He is good for at least 30 homers and 30 steals annually. In fact, with two 30-30 seasons in his first three MLB seasons, he already has more than any shortstop in history.

3. Aaron Judge

Yankees, RF
Age: 33. | BA Grade: 80.
2024 ranking: 7. | 2023 ranking: 2.

As he embarks on his 10th season, Judge continues to push the bar higher. Since his 2016 debut, he leads all hitters with 315 homers and a 173 wRC+. Judge owns the AL record with 62 homers and has topped 50 three times. Only Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hit 50 more often.

4. Gunnar Henderson

Orioles, SS
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 75.
2024 ranking: 27. | 2023 ranking: NR.

Corey Seager and Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan account for 11 of the top 20 best offensive seasons by lefthanded-hitting shortstops, according to the metric OPS+. Henderson crashed the party in 2024 by placing third on the list, and he figures to make many more entries with his elite bat and game-changing power.

5. Juan Soto

Mets, RF
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 75.
2024 ranking: 6. | 2023 ranking: 13.

Soto drew 769 walks through his age-25 season, the highest total of all time. His 201 home runs rank seventh on that list. Soto would have pushed those totals even higher had he not lost 100 games to the shortened 2020 season. He embarks on the next phase of his career after signing a record contract with the Mets.

6. Paul Skenes

Pirates, RHP
Age: 23. | BA Grade: 75.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

A three-time first-team All-American. A College World Series champion at LSU in 2023. The No. 1 overall draft pick later that year. The National League Rookie of the Year in 2024 after fashioning a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings. Skenes has accomplished a lot in baseball—and he’s just getting started.

7. Tarik Skubal

Tigers, LHP
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 75.
2024 ranking: 33. | 2023 ranking: NR.

Among the many reasons the Tigers were able to crash the 2024 postseason party ahead of schedule was Skubal’s Cy Young Award season. His 2.39 ERA and MLB-leading 228 strikeouts fully confirmed his brilliant half-season in 2023 and pointed to a full recovery from flexor tendon surgery.

8. Jose Ramirez

Guardians, 3B
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 11. | 2023 ranking: 6.

Ramirez is a third baseman without precedent. With six 20-homer, 20-steal seasons, he has double the number of 20-20s produced by Howard Johnson or Alex Rodriguez when they were third basemen. With each great season, Ramirez climbs the MVP close-but-no-cigar leaderboard. With three top-three finishes but no wins, he’s encroaching on Eddie Murray and Mike Piazza territory.

9. Mookie Betts

Dodgers, SS
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 2. | 2023 ranking: 4.

After spending a decade as the standard-bearer in right field, Betts started more games at shortstop than any other position in 2024. The Dodgers say that plan will continue this season. Betts has the type of profile that tends to age gracefully. He’s capable of hitting .300, launching 35 bombs, stealing 20 bags and, apparently, playing any field position.

10. Francisco Lindor

Mets, SS
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 20. | 2023 ranking: 25.

Despite playing for a New York team, Lindor may be the most underrated player in MLB today. He ranks fourth in fWAR since joining the Mets in 2021, yet hasn’t made an all-star team, won a Gold Glove or received his due for compiling five career 30-homer seasons, more than any shortstop in history but Alex Rodriguez.

11. Elly De La Cruz

Reds, SS
Age: 23. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 42. | 2023 ranking: NR.

De La Cruz has one full MLB season under his belt and has flashed what he can do: hit at least 25 home runs, steal a major league-best 67 bases and hit about .260 despite a 31% strikeout rate. He also plays a lockdown shortstop. If De La Cruz takes the next step with his selectivity, then he could quickly ascend to MVP candidate.

12. Julio Rodriguez

Mariners, CF
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 4. | 2023 ranking: 11.

Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz have succeeded Rodriguez as the youngest players in the top tiers of this ranking, but J-Rod’s potential remains immense even after a down year in 2024. He went 20-20 in his first three MLB seasons and has the type of upside to reach 40-40 at peak with a strong center field glove. 

13. Yordan Alvarez

Astros, DH
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 8. | 2023 ranking: 9.

If Aaron Judge is the best hitter of the 2020s, then Alvarez is right there with Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani as runners-up. He brings little to the table defensively or on the bases, but the average Alvarez season since 2021 includes a .296/.387/.571 batting line with 34 homers and 96 RBIs.

14. Kyle Tucker

Cubs, RF
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 12. | 2023 ranking: 51.

Tucker will spend at least this season as the focal point of the Cubs’ lineup as he eyes free agency in the fall. His superpower is that he does everything well, without necessarily being recognized as the best in any department. Tucker’s 143 wRC+ since 2020 has been exceeded by just eight hitters.  

15. Ronald Acuña Jr.

Braves, RF
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 1. | 2023 ranking: 16.

Two of Acuña’s past four seasons have been short-circuited by ACL reconstruction surgery, but when fully healthy in 2023 he authored the first-ever 40-homer, 70-steal season while hitting .337. Acuña will be back at full strength at some point this season and is still very much in his prime.  

16. Fernando Tatis Jr.

Padres, RF
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 14. | 2023 ranking: 29.

With one completely healthy season in the last four, Tatis has only teased at his upside since his epic introduction as a 2019 rookie. With 30-homer potential, a Gold Glove in right field and an elite arm, Tatis has the goods to be great as he heads deeper into his mid 20s.

17. Corey Seager

Rangers, SS
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 26. | 2023 ranking: 50.

Like Francisco Lindor, Seager is a bit of an overlooked shortstop superstar. His 2023 season was a masterpiece: .327 with 33 homers, 42 doubles and a 174 OPS+ that stands as the top single-season mark among qualified shortstops since integration. Seager still has a few peak seasons in his bat.

18. Zack Wheeler

Phillies, RHP
Age: 35. | BA Grade: 70.
2024 ranking: 22. | 2023 ranking: 31.

Few pitchers throw more fastball variants than Wheeler—and why not? Since joining the Phillies in 2020 he has a 2.94 ERA and leads all starters in FIP and WAR. While Wheeler doesn’t have a Cy Young Award to show for it—he has two runner-up finishes—he has pitched like a Hall of Famer in his early 30s.

19. William Contreras

Brewers, C
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 44. | 2023 ranking: NR.

The Braves were so deep behind the plate that they parted with Contreras after the 2022 season to acquire Sean Murphy from the Athletics. Contreras has thrived with everyday play in Milwaukee and stands as the best overall catcher in baseball. He finished fifth in 2024 National League MVP voting, while his 133 wRC+ the past two seasons leads all catchers. 

20. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Blue Jays, 1B
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 58. | 2023 ranking: 28.

Guerrero authenticated his 2021 breakout—when he played roughly half his home games in minor league parks—with a strong 2024 performance. He put up his second 6 WAR campaign in his four full MLB seasons, hitting .323/.396/.544 with 30 homers, a fourth straight all-star appearance and sixth-place finish in American League MVP voting. 

21. Ketel Marte

D-backs, 2B
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 53. | 2023 ranking: 94.

As Jose Altuve enters his mid 30s—and faces a possible shift to left field—Marte assumes the mantle of top MLB second baseman. While he will be stretched to replicate his 2024 career year, which included 36 home runs, Marte has played brilliantly the past two seasons, with lots of hard contact and easy plus power production. 

22. Austin Riley

Braves, 3B
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 15. | 2023 ranking: 19.

Riley scuffled through an injury-riddled 2024 season on the heels of three straight top-10 National League MVP finishes. Look for him to get back on track and drive Atlanta’s lineup this season with 35-plus home runs. It’s a golden age for MLB third basemen with Riley, Jose Ramirez, Rafael Devers, Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman and Alex Bregman.

23. Logan Gilbert

Mariners, RHP
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 38. | 2023 ranking: 77.

Gilbert’s combination of velocity, precision and durability stand out. In the past three seasons, he has averaged 96 mph, while walking just 5.2% of batters and tossing 585 innings, the last of which ranks fourth among all starters. Gilbert led MLB with 208.2 innings and a 0.89 WHIP last season and will be in the thick of this year’s American League Cy Young Award race.

24. Adley Rutschman

Orioles, C
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 10. | 2023 ranking: 43.

A hand injury torpedoed Rutschman’s second-half production last season. Assuming a likely bounce back, the burgeoning switch-hitter should return to his all-star ways with elite offensive production for a catcher, strong framing and overall leadership for an Orioles club looking to take the next step.

25. Bryce Harper

Phillies, 1B
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 30. | 2023 ranking: 20.

Harper’s metronomic production has him on a track to Cooperstown. Tommy John surgery took a bite out of his 2023 season and shifted him from right field to first base, but he’s coming off a 30-homer, 42-double season in 2024 that vaulted him to sixth in National League MVP voting. Harper ranks seventh among active hitters with a 150 wRC+ in the 2020s.

26. Corbin Carroll

D-backs, RF
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 13. | 2023 ranking: NR.

27. Jackson Merrill

Padres, CF
Age: 22. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

28. Freddie Freeman

Dodgers, 1B
Age: 35. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 5. | 2023 ranking: 18.

29. Logan Webb

Giants, RHP
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 24. | 2023 ranking: 70.

30. Trea Turner

Phillies, SS
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 31. | 2023 ranking: 10.

31. Riley Greene

Tigers, LF
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 90. | 2023 ranking: NR.

32. Garrett Crochet

Red Sox, LHP
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

33. Cal Raleigh

Mariners, C
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

34. Manny Machado

Padres, 3B
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 34. | 2023 ranking: 5.

35. Corbin Burnes

D-backs, RHP
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 65.
2024 ranking: 17. | 2023 ranking: 14.

36. Jackson Chourio

Brewers, RF
Age: 21. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 85. | 2023 ranking: NR.

37. Matt Chapman

Giants, 3B
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

38. George Kirby

Mariners, RHP
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 21. | 2023 ranking: 82.

39. Michael Harris II

Braves, CF
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 43. | 2023 ranking: 81.

40. Chris Sale

Braves, LHP
Age: 36. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

41. Will Smith

Dodgers, C
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 36. | 2023 ranking: 53.

42. Willy Adames

Giants, SS
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 89. | 2023 ranking: 88.

43. Rafael Devers

Red Sox, 3B
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 47. | 2023 ranking: 36.

44. Framber Valdez

Astros, LHP
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 61. | 2023 ranking: 40.

45. Dansby Swanson

Cubs, SS
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 54. | 2023 ranking: 87.

46. Cole Ragans

Royals, LHP
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 67. | 2023 ranking: NR.

47. Blake Snell

Dodgers, LHP
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 35. | 2023 ranking: 72.

48. Dylan Cease

Padres, RHP
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 70. | 2023 ranking: 45.

49. Marcus Semien

Rangers, 2B
Age: 34. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 29. | 2023 ranking: 85.

50. Wyatt Langford

Rangers, LF
Age: 23. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 65. | 2023 ranking: NR.

51. Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Yankees, 2B
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 69.

52. Andres Gimenez

Blue Jays, 2B
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 88. | 2023 ranking: 74.

53. Gabriel Moreno

D-backs, C
Age: 25. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 76. | 2023 ranking: NR.

54. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Dodgers, RHP
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 39. | 2023 ranking: NR.

55. Jarren Duran

Red Sox, LF
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

56. Pablo Lopez

Twins, RHP
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 23. | 2023 ranking: NR.

57. Mike Trout

Angels, RF
Age: 33. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 19. | 2023 ranking: 3.

58. Jacob deGrom

Rangers, RHP
Age: 37. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 12.

59. Steven Kwan

Guardians, LF
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 90.

60. Alex Bregman

Red Sox, 3B
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 57. | 2023 ranking: 57.

61. Masyn Winn

Cardinals, SS
Age: 23. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

62. Aaron Nola

Phillies, RHP
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 60. | 2023 ranking: 27.

63. Max Fried

Yankees, LHP
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 45. | 2023 ranking: 33.

64. Tyler Glasnow

Dodgers, RHP
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 51. | 2023 ranking: 48.

65. Michael King

Padres, RHP
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

66. Matt Olson

Braves, 1B
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 16. | 2023 ranking: 35.

67. Sonny Gray

Cardinals, RHP
Age: 35. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: 95. | 2023 ranking: NR.

68. Cristopher Sanchez

Phillies, LHP
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 60.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

69. Christian Walker

Astros, 1B
Age: 34. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

70. Bo Bichette

Blue Jays, SS
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 56. | 2023 ranking: 60.

71. Oneil Cruz

Pirates, CF
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 83. | 2023 ranking: NR.

72. Jordan Westburg

Orioles, 3B
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

73. Sandy Alcantara

Marlins, RHP
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 22.

74. Jose Altuve

Astros, LF
Age: 35. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 32. | 2023 ranking: 38.

75. Kevin Gausman

Blue Jays, RHP
Age: 34. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 41. | 2023 ranking: 62.

76. Isaac Paredes

Astros, 3B
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

77. Brent Rooker

Athletics, DH
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

78. Xander Bogaerts

Padres, SS
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 78. | 2023 ranking: 30.

79. Hunter Greene

Reds, RHP
Age: 25. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 99. | 2023 ranking: NR.

80. Justin Steele

Cubs, LHP
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 37. | 2023 ranking: NR.

81. Roki Sasaki

Dodgers, RHP
Age: 23. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

82. Zach Neto

Angels, SS
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

83. Spencer Strider

Braves, RHP
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 49.

84. Carlos Correa

Twins, SS
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 24.

85. Yainer Diaz

Astros, C
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

86. Luis Castillo

Mariners, RHP
Age: 32. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 25. | 2023 ranking: 41.

87. Tanner Bibee

Guardians, RHP
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 74. | 2023 ranking: NR.

88. Anthony Volpe

Yankees, SS
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

89. Sean Murphy

Braves, C
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 50. | 2023 ranking: 78.

90. Freddy Peralta

Brewers, RHP
Age: 29. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 48. | 2023 ranking: NR.

91. Spencer Schwellenbach

Braves, RHP
Age: 25. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

92. Shota Imanaga

Cubs, LHP
Age: 31. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

93. Pete Alonso

Mets, 1B
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 49. | 2023 ranking: 37.

94. Hunter Brown

Astros, RHP
Age: 26. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

95. Junior Caminero

Rays, 3B
Age: 21. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

96. Lawrence Butler

Athletics, RF
Age: 24. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

97. Anthony Santander

Blue Jays, LF
Age: 30. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

98. Jeremy Peña

Astros, SS
Age: 27. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: 97.

99. James Wood

Nationals, LF
Age: 22. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: NR. | 2023 ranking: NR.

100. Ozzie Albies

Braves, 2B
Age: 28. | BA Grade: 55.
2024 ranking: 40. | 2023 ranking: NR.