Who’s The Best Player in the MLB Right Now?

The talent pool at the Major League Baseball level is at an all-time high as the league is loaded with talent in both the American and National Leagues. While many household names of MLB continue to produce at a high rate while landing on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings list, fresher younger faces are also making a stride to lead the list including the likes of Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. Henderson has been brilliant for the Orioles all season long at the plate while playing Gold Glove caliber defense at shortstop.

After winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award last season, Henderson has yet to slow down for the Orioles over his first 59 games played this season. Over that stretch Henderson has picked up 19 home runs over his first 228 at bats while currently sitting tied for second in all of Major League Baseball.

Landing just behind Tucker is possibly the hottest hitter in baseball Aaron Judge who was recently announced as the AL Player of the Month after a May that featured 15 home runs over 30 games played.

Joining Henderson and Judge among the best MLB players right now includes the Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker, the Philadelphia Phillies Ranger Suarez as well as Judge’s Yankee teammate Juan Soto.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings right now list:

Honorable Mention

Emmanuel Clase

Team: Cleveland Guardians

Position: Closer

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings is another Cleveland Guardians All-Star who has played lights out to start the season.

That star is potential 2024 AL All-Star Emmanuel Clase who has been lights out at the back of a very solid Guardians bullpen. The Guardians closer currently sits tied for the MLB lead in saves with 19 over 31 total games pitched on the season.

To go along with that impressive stat, Clase has allowed just one earned run over 30.1 innings of work while pitching to a .30 earned run average and a stellar .63 WHIP while picking up 31 strikeouts compared to just 16 hits and three walks.

Shohei Ohtani

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Designated Hitter

After landing a record-breaking MLB contract during the off-season Shohei Ohtani continues to rank among the best players in baseball while making the jump from the Los Angeles Angels to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While Ohtani will not take the mound this season, his play at the plate has been strong including ranking third in all of baseball with a .321 batting average over his first 234 at bats on the season.

The Dodger’s designated hitter has picked up 75 hits to start the season including 17 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs while also scoring 41 runs and driving in 38 runs over 59 games played. With a loaded roster the Dodgers star should continue to get his opportunity to drive the ball all season long.

Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings

10. Jose Ramirez

Team: Cleveland Guardians

Position: Third Baseman

Sliding in at number 10 on the top baseball players right now on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Ranking list is the Cleveland Guardian third baseman Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez enters play on June 5^th leading all of Major League Baseball with 58 runs batted in to start the season while helping the Guardians sit atop the AL Central division.

The Guardian’s All-Star has also added 13 doubles, one triple, and 16 home runs to start the season to help pace a 2.3 Wins Above Replacement mark. After failing to top the 100 runs batted in mark last season, Ramirez is looking to top the mark during the 2024 season while topping it for the fourth time in his career.

9. Tanner Houck

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Starting Pitcher 

As the Boston Red Sox continue to build momentum while getting back into contention in the American League East this season, one player that has done it all for the team is 27-year-old starting pitcher Tanner Houck who has been brilliant all season despite owning just a 5-5 overall record.

Over 78 innings of work Houck has allowed just 16 earned runs while pitching to a 1.85 earned run average over the season.

To go along with those numbers Houck has thrown one complete game shutout in a gem against the talented first place Cleveland Guardians back in April.

8. Shota Imanaga

Team: Chicago Cubs

Position: Starting Pitcher 

Possibly the current NL Rookie of the Year, Shota Imanaga has been as advertised all season for the Chicago Cubs after making the jump to Major League Baseball. Imanaga has pitched to a 5-1 overall record on the season for the cubs while allowing just 13 earned runs over his first 62.1 innings of work.

The strong start has landed the Cubs starter the fourth best earned run average mark in baseball (1.88). To go along with those numbers Imanaga has pitched to a 1.04 WHIP while striking out 65 hitters over his first 11 starts of the season.

Even more impressive has been the Cubs success when Imanaga takes the mound including winning nine of the 11 games he has taken the mound.

7. Elly De La Cruz

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Position: Shortstop

When you watch Elly De La Cruz on the baseball field it is hard to not say WOW as the Cincinnati Reds shortstop is as talented as any young player in the game.

The Reds shortstop has the speed to turn singles into doubles, doubles into triples and get to third on his own after picking up a walk. In addition to the offensive side of the game, De La Cruz is also tremendous in the field, ranking among the best defensive shortstops in baseball.

On the season the Reds star has stole a league leading 32 stolen bases while sitting on pace to top the 100 stolen base mark over the course of the 162 game MLB season. To go along with those numbers, De La Cruz has added 11 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs over 223 total at bats.

6. Marcell Ozuna

Team: Atlanta Braves

Position: Designated Hitter

One player who will need to continue their early season success is the Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.

As the Braves look to replace the production lost by the injury to Ronald Acuna Jr, the play of Ozuna has ranked among the best in the National League while ranking him in play for the NL MVP Award.

The Braves outfielder currently leads the National League in home runs (17) and runs batted in (53) over his first 58 games of the 2024 MLB season. To go along with those numbers, Ozuna has posted a .392 on base percentage mark, .313 batting average, and 67 hits over just 214 total at bats.

5. Kyle Tucker

Team: Houston Astros

Position: Right Fielder

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings list is the Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker has been a bright spot among the Astros roster that has struggled to put together winning baseball for most of the season.

Nonetheless it is hard to look past the play of Tucker who is currently tied for second in Major League Baseball in home runs with 19 while also driving in 40 runs, stealing 10 bases, and picking up 11 doubles over his first 60 games.

The strong play has also landed Tucker at number four among MLB players in Wins Above Replacement while posting a 3.6 mark to the season. After hitting at least 29 home runs in each of the previous three seasons, Tucker is on pace to continue that trend during the 2024 MLB season.

4. Juan Soto

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Right Fielder

The move to land Juan Soto has paid off rewardingly for the New York Yankees to start the season as the former San Diego Padres outfielder continues to rank among the best hitters in the game.

Entering play on June 5^th, 2024, Soto currently ranks second in all of baseball with 53 runs batted in, fourth in batting average with a .319 mark, and fifth with a 3.5 Wins Above Replacement mark.

In addition, Soto continues to rank among the best players in baseball getting on base including posting a .418 on base percentage while also picking up 42 walks to go along with 75 hits over his first 235 at bats on the season. With the production continuing to be red hot, the off-season could land Soto a new deal to rank among the tops in all of baseball.

3. Ranger Suarez

Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Position: Starting Pitcher

When you have one of the hottest teams in all of baseball like you do with the Philadelphia Phillies it is understandable that the team is loaded with talented players.

While Bryce Harper is equally deserving of a mention above the best players right now in Major League Baseball, it is hard to look past the Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez who has been brilliant over his first 12 starts of the season. Suarez currently sits tied for the league lead with nine ones tied with Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals.

In addition, Suarez has posted a league leading .80 WHIP to go with an opposing batting average mark of .167 on the season. Despite leaving his last game after two innings of work, Suarez has pitched at least six innings in nine of his other 11 starts while allowing two or fewer runs in eight of 11 games with at least five innings of work.

2. Aaron Judge

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Center Fielder

Over the past month there is no hitter in baseball that has been hotter than Aaron Judge who hit 15 home runs over a 30-game stretch to help the former home run champion to jump to the league lead overall with 21 home runs.

The hot play of Judge along with fellow teammates over the past month has also helped the Yankees climb the Orioles within the AL East while sitting tied with the Philadelphia Phillies with the best record in baseball.

Overall Judge currently ranks first in baseball in home runs (21), fifth in runs batted in (49), first in OPS (1.084), and second in Wins Above Replacement (4.2). Another hot few months and the Yankees All-Star slugger will make a case for another AL MVP Award.

1. Gunnar Henderson

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Shortstop

In at number one on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings right now is the Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

While multiple players have put together stellar seasons including the red-hot Aaron Judge, it is hard to look past what the reigning AL Rookie of the Year has brought to the table both at the plate as well as with his play in the field this season.

Through 59 games played this season, Henderson is currently tied for second with 19 home runs while also driving in 42 runs, scoring 47 runs, and posting a 4.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark that currently leads all of Major League Baseball.

Even more impressive has been the Gold Glove caliber defense and defensive web gems Henderson has put together at shortstop this season helping to back the team’s pitching staff.

How would you rank these players going into the 2024 MLB season? Rank below to be added in the MVP Ladder MLB Power Rankings or go to https://www.fanrankings.com/rankings/mvp-ladder-mlb and click “User Rankings”.

Related Links:

• Top 10 MLB Center Fielders 2023 Rankings
• Top 10 MLB Right Fielders 2023 Rankings
• Top 10 MLB First Basemen 2023 Rankings
• Top 10 MLB Pitchers 2023 Rankings
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• Top 10 MLB Shortstops 2023 Rankings
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• Top 10 MLB Designated Hitters 2023 Rankings
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