Top 10 MLB Player Rankings 2024 Preview

The 2024 MLB schedule is less than two full weeks away as the excitement for the upcoming season continues to build. Excitement that began to build with another exciting MLB off-season that saw a few of the game’s top stars land on new teams to deliver those teams hopes at a World Series run while other top teams will rely on their stars including young stars and top rookies to take a big step forward this season. One of those MLB All-Stars that found a new team this season is the reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani who remains in Los Angeles while landing atop the Top 10 Best MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview.

Ohtani entered the off-season as the top MLB free agent on the market and the two time AL MVP was rewarded as that while landing a 10-year $700 million dollar contract from the Dodgers.

The former Angels star who will not be able to pitch this due to Tommy John surgery, however Ohtani will still bring his big bat to the Dodgers after posting a .304 batting average last season with 44 home runs and 95 runs batted in.

Rounding out the top five MLB players entering the 2024 MLB season include Ronald Acuna Jr of the Atlanta Braves, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, and Freddi Freeman of the Dodgers.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview as the 2024 MLB Season approaches:

Honorable Mention

Bryce Harper

Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview list is Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. While Harper lands outside of the Top 10, expectations are high for the Phillies first baseman entering the season while potentially having what it takes to take home another NL MVP Award.

Harper will enter the 2024 MLB season looking to build on his 306 career home runs and 889 runs batted in mark while having posted at least 20 home runs in nine of his first 12 seasons in the big leagues.

Of those other three seasons one was cut short due to Covid-19, and the other two Harper was limited to just 100 and 99 games. A healthy Harper in 2024 should see the Phillies All-Star outfielder potentially reach the 350-career home run mark.

Spencer Strider

Team: Atlanta Braves

At just 25 years old Spencer Strider is emerging as one of the front-line starters in all of baseball while anchoring down one of the best rotations in all of baseball.

Strider will look to build on his league leading 20 wins from last season while also improving his 3.86 earned run average allowed mark. In addition to leading the league in wins, the Braves starter also led Major League Baseball with 281 strikeouts.

Over his first two full seasons and two games in the majors, Strider has compiled a career 32-10 record to go with a 3.37 earned run average and 483 career strikeouts. 

Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings

10. Corbin Carroll

Team: Arizona Diamondbacks 

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview list is the youngest player on the list in Corbin Carroll. The Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder is fresh off his 2023 NL Rookie of the Year Award as well as helping the Diamondbacks reach the World Series in a season of little expectations for the team.

Carroll is a dynamic all around player who can do a little bit of everything from playing a strong defense in the outfielder to hitting for power as well as having speed on the basepaths.

Carroll is coming off a strong rookie season that saw him post 30 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs and 76 runs batted in as well as 54 stolen bases. Look for Carroll to build on that performance during his second full season in the majors. 

9. Adley Rutschman

Team: Baltimore Orioles

The numbers continue to improve for the Baltimore Orioles All-Star catcher but more importantly the Orioles pitching numbers have improved each season as well.

After being selected by the Orioles with first pick during the 2019 MLB season, Rutschman is the face of the team’s rebuild while being just one of many top prospects to land within their organization.

While his contributions to the pitching staff is overlooked it is hard to look past the success of the Orioles rotation and bullpen as the 2024 MLB season approaches.

In addition, Rutschman is coming off his first 20 home run season while also adding 80 runs batted in. Look for the Orioles catcher to continue to develop his all around hitting while also helping the Orioles contend for a World Series.

8. Gerrit Cole

Team: New York Yankees

Despite potentially missing time to start the 2024 MLB season with an elbow injury, it is hard to look past Gerrit Cole as the best pitcher in baseball and one that can dominate as well as any other in the game.

The Yankees ace is coming off a season taking home the 2023 AL Cy Young Award after posting a 15-4 record to go along with a 2.63 earned run average and 222 strikeouts.

The 33-year-old starter enters the new season after finishing first in baseball with a .98 WHIP, 2nd in baseball in earned run average, 5th in baseball in strikeouts, and tied for 6th in wins. Since 2018, Cole has posted 40 different seasons with at least 15 wins.

7. Yordan Alvarez

Team: Houston Astros

One player who is often overlooked among the best players in baseball is the Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez, like Soto has been around the Majors for a while now however enters the 2024 MLB season at just 26 years old.

The Astros power hitting infielder has posted three straight seasons with at least 31 home runs while also adding at least 97 runs batted in during each season.

While the power numbers are impressive, Alvarez has also shown patience at the plate posting at least 69 walks in each of the past two seasons to go along with a career .295 batting average mark and a career .390 on base percentage.

6. Mookie Betts

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

It is easy to see why the expectations are so high for the Los Angeles Dodgers entering the 2024 MLB season after having three of the top players in the game of baseball.

Mookie Betts is well deserving of a top 10 selection if not a top five however, the talent level around the game entering the upcoming season is loaded with fire power. Betts, who might be coming off his best overall season as a hitter, will look to continue that surge during this season while making the transition to shortstop for the Dodgers.

Betts enters the season with 252 career home runs to go along with 756 runs batted in. The Dodgers outfielder also led all of Major League Baseball last season with an 8.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark.

5. Freddie Freeman

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers 

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview list is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have three of the best baseball players in all of baseball entering the season with Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts.

Freeman is one of the best all-around hitters in the game while coming off a strong .331 batting average mark while also posting a .976 OPS and .410 on base percentage. Each of those three marks ranked in the top five across Major League Baseball last season.

The Dodgers first baseman has posted at least a .300 batting average mark in each of the last four seasons. To go with those numbers Freeman has additional protection within the Dodgers lineup after a season in which he added 59 doubles, 29 home runs and 102 runs batted in.

4. Juan Soto

Team: New York Yankees

The newest addition to the New York Yankees will look to compete for the AL MVP in his first season within the American League. At only 25 years old it is hard to imagine Juan Soto as one of the veterans of Major League Baseball while also still having five full seasons before turning 30.

In reality though Soto is just twenty-five and is coming off one of his best seasons of his career while posting 32 doubles, 35 home runs, 109 runs batted in to go along with a .410 on base percentage.

In addition to those numbers Soto is coming off a season in which he walked 132 times and posted a 5.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark. Add in the desire to land potentially the richest deal in MLB history during the off-season after this season, Soto will have the fuel to produce at a higher level this season.

3. Aaron Judge

Team: New York Yankees

One player everyone can expect to bounce back with a huge season is the New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.

While Judge is coming off a down season limiting him to just 106 total games, it is hard to imagine the Yankees outfielder not putting up another 30 plus home run season especially with Juan Soto hitting in the same lineup.

Despite appearing in just 106 games, Judge averaged a homerun every 9.92 at bats while posting 98 hits, 16 doubles and 75 runs batted in to go along with a 1.019 OPS mark. A full healthy season with Judge in the middle of the lineup and the Yankees have the roster to compete for the AL East title.

2. Ronald Acuna Jr.

Team: Atlanta Braves 

Coming off one of the greatest seasons of any by a baseball player Ronald Acuna Jr will look to continue to build on his career resume while helping the Atlanta Braves make a deep playoff run this season.

Acuna Jr became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 40 home runs (41) and steal 70 bases (73). While those numbers are impressive on their own, Acuna also finished the season ranked second in all of baseball with an 8.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and batting average with a .337 mark.

With one of the best lineups in all of baseball the Braves MVP outfielder has the talent to repeat that success if not build on this season.

1. Shohei Ohtani

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

In at number one on the Top 10 MLB Players 2024 Rankings Preview list is the two time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, who landed the richest contract in Major League Baseball history will look to continue his dominance in the National League during the 2024 MLB season while adding another big-time weapon in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.

Even without pitching during the upcoming season it is hard not to slot in Ohtani as the best player in the game entering the upcoming season. The 29-year-old power hitter is coming off his second 40 plus home run season (44) while posting his third straight season with at least 95 runs batted in.

Adding him to a middle of the lineup that features Freddi Freeman and Mookie Betts makes Ohtani one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

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”.

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