Shohei Ohtani is a true beast as an MLB player: a star pitcher and top hitter. With a .322 batting average (ranked 3rd) and 15 home runs this year, Ohtani is a solid hitter, but combining his work as a designated hitter with his 10-5 win-loss record and 3.14 ERA as a pitcher, it’s easy to see how he has become such a sensation.
The Associated Press named him Male Athlete of the Year in 2021, and the fact that the MLB created a rule just for Ohtani that a pitcher can remain in the game as a DH even after the manager takes him off the mound demonstrates the impact that Ohtani continues to make.
Juan Soto tops almost every list of the best hitters in baseball, and it’s easy to see why. At just 25 years of age, Soto became the eighth-youngest player in history to hit 100 home runs. He’s one of those hitters who can intimidate pitchers with his antics in the batter’s box, but his numbers tell the real story.
One major leaguer told the reporters at The Athletic, “If we’re talking strictly hitting, Soto is the best on the planet.” This year, Soto sits at a .319 batting average with 74 hits, 17 homers, 50 RBIs and 45 runs scored so far.
Mookie Betts has some career stats that some hitters envy: a career .525 slugging percentage and four 30-homer seasons — not to mention a 6x Silver Slugger and 6x Golden Glove.
This season, Betts is looking solid with a .309 batting average and .906 OBS. He's posed to secure some stellar stats this year—stay tuned.
In his first full season in the majors, the Dodgers' catcher had an impressive year. With 25 home runs, 76 RBI, and a .258/.365/.495 slash line in 130 games, Smith played third base, first base, and designated hitter as well as catcher.
For the 2024 season, we see promising numbers from the 29-year-old, with a .299 batting average and .876 OBS. He's given us 9 HR and 38 RBIs as well, which are solid stats.
Throughout his career, Freddie Freeman earned the reputation of what Bleacher Report calls “unquestionably one of baseball's best all-around hitters.” His prowess at both the plate and in the field earned him National League MVP honors in 2020, and is a 3x Silver Slugger.
Freeman also recorded his third 30-homer season on his way to a World Series win in 2021. Last season's numbers were reminiscent of 2021, also boasting 102 RBI. Needless to say, fans are anxiously awaiting what he'll bring to the table this season.
In 2021, Aaron Judge proved himself to be one of the hardest hitters in the major league. His hard-hitting percentage (57.9%) and average exit velocity (95.8 MPH) topped the majors. He had his second-highest home run total at 39, and his strikeout rate has gone down throughout his career.
His stats this season are off the charts. Judge currently ranks first in HR (21) and OPS (1.090) and ranks second when it comes to RBI (54). He's sure to win a few notable accolades this season.
Vladimir Guererro Jr. is one of those hitters that his team can count on for power hitting (he hit the ball hard 55.8% of the time in 2021) and for making contact, 73.9% in 2021. Plus, he only strikes out 15% of the time. He’s also popular with fans, receiving the most votes for the 2021 All-Star Game. He and his dad are the third father-son duo to hit home runs in All-Star Games, and Guererro Jr. became the youngest All-Star Game MVP.
At only 25 years of age, Guerrero should be around the major leagues for a long time, provided he stays healthy. One current player told The Athletic that Guerrero should be one of the best hitters in baseball for the next decade to come.
Rafael Devers is one of the most electrifying young hitters in the American League. His home run totals have been nothing but gold In 2022, his .295 batting average thrilled fans, but one of his most impressive stats was his 113 RBI in 2021, topping 100 three times in his career.
He’s also on this list because, at only 27 years of age, he stands to become one of the best hitters in the near future as well. This season, he maintains a .956 OPS. He’s one of the new generations of young hitters who will define the game for years to come.
Jose Altuve is the shortest active player in the major leagues at 5-feet, 6-inches tall, but don’t let his small stature fool you. He’s a force to be reckoned with behind the plate. In June 2021, he hit a walk-off grand slam in one game and led the next game off with a home run.
He finished off 2021 with 31 homers and 83 RBI, along with a .278/.350/.489 slash line. At nearly 34 years old, his age is catching up with him, but he’s still putting up exceptional numbers. With a .306 career batting average and being a 6x Silver Slugger, the ability is still there. FanGraphs predicts 20 HR and 67 RBI for the 2024 season.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is an electrifying player that fans love to watch. Even though injuries plagued his season in 2021, he hit a whopping 42 home runs during the 130 games he played. He’s also fun to watch, which is part of what contributes to his popularity.
Tatis has some drawbacks that give some analysts pause. He strikes out more often than many of the players on this list, and some of his injury problems have stemmed from his activity outside of baseball. As one scout said of Tatis, “The talent is there, but the maturity, the long-term health? I’m not sure.”
Jose Ramirez has a smaller build than many MLB players these days, but he makes a difference as a hitter. With 16 home runs and already 58 RBI (1st in the league) this year, Cleveland can count on Ramirez to deliver at the plate.
He’s finished in the top three MVP vote-getters three times. At 31, he’s not among the younger players in the majors, which makes him an often-overlooked performer. “If anything, Ramirez doesn’t get the love and respect he deserves,” said one current player to The Athletic.
The 2021 season was a year of milestones for Ozzie Albies. He accomplished 500 hits and reached the 30-homer and 100-RBI thresholds for the first time. He batted .259/.310/.488 for the season with impressive numbers: 30 home runs and 106 RBI, and he swung at pitches in the strike zone a whopping 83.4% of the time.
As a 2x Silver Slugger, impressive numbers from him aren't all that surprising. This season, FanGraphs predicts 26 HR and 97 RBIs from the slugger and he looks on pace to achieve it.
The Texas Rangers believed enough in Corey Seager to sign a 10-year contract worth $325 million, and his skill as a contact hitter was a big reason for that contract. He had an impressive strikeout rate of only 16.1% and a 73.6% contact rate.
Last season, Seager attained stellar stats, including 33 HR, 96 RBI, a .327 batting average and an impressive 1.013 OPS. So far this season, his numbers don't disappoint.
One of the most solid players of his generation, Bryce Harper won the National League MVP in 2021 — his second. He continued to deliver solid stats all year, tying for first in doubles, leading in slugging percentage and on-base-plus-slugging, and finishing second in walks.
Over his career, Harper has averaged 25 home runs and 10 stolen bases per season, so it’s easy to see why he’s consistently one of the top hitters in the majors. This year should bring continued success for the superstar.
Kyle Tucker is only 27 years old, but he has demonstrated maturity beyond his years. After a slow start, he turned his stats around and finished the 2022 season with 30 home runs and an impressive slash line of .257/.330/.478.
This season, he's tied for second in the homerun category (19) and ranks 5th in OPS (.979). He’s sure to be mentioned in the highest circles for years to come.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto has a reputation as a better hitter than most catchers in the majors. His 2021 season featured a slash line of .263/.343/.439 with 17 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and 73 RBI. He has had consistent strikeout and walk percentages throughout his career as well.
He's a 3x Silver Slugger and 2x Golden Glove and there's little question as to how. He hit 44 HR over the course of the past two seasons as well as 147 RBI—impressive numbers! He's started off this season with a solid .266 batting average and we can't wait to see where it takes him.
With the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, Marcus Semien boasted an impressive slash line of .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs and 102 RBI. Those stats were enough to earn him an All-Star spot for the first time in his career.
Since then, he's earned a Silver Slugger (2023), had over 100 RBI (2021, 2023), and is projected to hit 21 HR and 73 RBI this year.
Ronald Acuña Jr. had a half-season to remember in 2021. His 24 home runs over 82 games that season trends with his average of 24 homers per season.
Since his injury, he's had a little trouble getting back on his feet, but there’s plenty of reason to expect some impressive numbers this season.
Manny Machado is both a powerful slugger and an accurate hitter. He wrapped up his 2021 season with the Padres with an astounding 278/.347/.489 slash line, 28 home runs, and 106 RBI. In July alone, he hit eight home runs and posted a slash line of .371/.448/.742.
He's had a slow start to this season, but if the last few seasons are any testament, we can be sure he'll be cranking up those numbers soon.
In 2021, Bo Bichette led the American League with 191 hits and became a first-time All-Star. He finished the year with a .298/.343/.484 slash line, including 29 home runs and 102 RBI, with 25 stolen bases to boot.
His numbers have dipped the past few seasons, but we're thinking redemption is in order. With a .238 batting average, 4 HR, and 25 RBI so far this season, projections look promising.
Alex Bregman is a veteran hitter who Bleacher Report says “possesses a rare mix of power, contact ability, and plate discipline.” It’s easy to see why, since throughout his career he has had multiple seasons with more walks than strikeouts.
Despite dealing with an injury much of 2021, Bregman finished the year .270/.355/.422 with an impressive 55 RBI and 12 home runs. In 2022 and 2023, his HR and RBI remained consistent, (23, 25 and 93, 98, respectively). This season, we've already seen 9 HR and 29 RBI, so things look promising.
Mike Trout has had more than a decade of impressive stats that suggest that his best years are still ahead. His 2022 season boasted 40 homeruns and 80 RBI.
At age 32, a healthy Trout is still a force to be reckoned with anytime he steps up to the plate. The Athletic ranked him in their highest tier of the best hitters in the majors, which goes to show that he’s capable of more impressive production.
Trea Turner is one of those less-flashy players who still delivers when he’s at the plate. He led the major leagues in hits for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and in 2022, he performed well for both the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping the Dodgers make the playoffs.
Turner is often overlooked because he doesn’t make a splash off the field but lets his solid play do the talking. One coach told The Athletic, “I think Trea Turner is one of the most slept-on players in the game.”
At only 23 years of age, Wander Franco represents the future of the major leagues. With a .281 batting average and 58 RBI last year, Franco delivered at the plate even if he only hit seventeen home runs all season. He set the record for reaching base the most consecutive games for a player under 21 with 36 straight games.
Franco has been away from the Rays since last August, placed on administrative leave when allegations surfaced that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor. An investigation remains underway in Franco's home country, the Dominican Republic.
Yasmani Grandal didn’t have the best batting average on his team in 2021 at only .240, but when he did hit, he made it count. With an impressive 23 home runs and 62 RBI, Grandal proved himself valuable at the plate, and those numbers came despite tearing a tendon in his knee and missing much of the season.
His couple of seasons haven't been anything grand, but we're hoping Grandal can improve on last year’s statistics and be more productive—we know it's in there!
Luis Robert suffered a devastating hip injury in the early days of the 2021 season, which required him to undergo rehab and miss time. When he came back, he made up for that lost time with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and a .338 batting average in only 62 games.
We've seen great strides in terms of improvement over the past two seasons, so we're not counting him out just yet for the 2024 season.
All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts had an impressive year in 2021, playing in 144 games, despite missing a week and a half with COVID-19, and racking up 23 home runs and 79 RBI and finishing the year with a .295 batting average. His production dipped slightly during the postseason, where he batted .261.
We've seen a dip in his stats over the past two seasons, but we know he's got the potential for another great year of batting in him—he'll just need to bring it out!
Byron Buxton saw limited playing time in 2021, but when he did play, he made his presence known, hitting 42 extra-base hits in 254 plate appearances. He earned the title of American League Player of the month in April 2021, when he put up a .426 average with eight home runs and 14 RBI.
Buxton's stats have continued to rise. In 2022, he boasted 28 HR and 51 RBI and nearly achieved the same in 2023. He's off to a slower start this season, but he's still got some star power left in him.
When Carlos Correa comes to the plate, opposing teams try to use the shift to neutralize him, yet he often overcomes it. He had an impressive 2021 season as a hitter, with a .279/.366/.485 slash line, 26 home runs, and 92 RBI — scoring 104 runs in total. He also earned a Golden Glove that year.
This season, Fan Graphs projects him to hit 21 home runs and 73 RBI, but he could be good for even more. Only time will tell!
Brandon Lowe played in nearly every game in 2021, and he finished the season with 39 home runs, 99 RBI, and a slash line of .247/.340/.523. One week in May, his performance was impressive enough to earn him American League Player of the Week honors, with a .437 batting average, three homers, and 6 RBI — and he finished in the top ten in AL MVP voting.
Last year, we saw a decent season from Lowe, but this season we're expecting more. FanGraphs predicts 24 HR and 73 RBI and we know he can do it. The only question is, will he?
