ESPN's annual MLB Rank list for 2026 reveals Shohei Ohtani as baseball's top player, with the two-way superstar earning his fourth MVP in five seasons. The Dodgers' phenom returns to full-time pitching and hitting duties after elbow surgery, aiming to add a Cy Young Award to his trophy case. More than two dozen ESPN experts ranked the top 100 players, averaging their ballots to create the final list.

Aaron Judge claims the second spot as the game's best hitter, coming off historic production with 210 home runs over four seasons. The Yankees captain seeks his fourth AL MVP while adding more stolen bases to his game. Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. ranks third, fresh off a 7.1 WAR season and poised for a potential 40-40 campaign in the smaller Kauffman Stadium dimensions.

Detroit's Tarik Skubal leads pitchers at No. 4, entering his free agent year with two consecutive Cy Young Awards and a 2.04 ERA in postseason starts. The 27-year-old left-hander could become baseball's first $500 million pitcher. New York Mets' Juan Soto ranks fifth, on pace for 250 career home runs and 1,000 walks before turning 28. Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes follows at No. 6 with baseball's best ERA since his 2024 debut, while Seattle's Cal Raleigh breaks into the top 10 as the highest-ranked catcher.