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MLB power rankings: Top 25 current players

By Joshua Sadlock

April 8, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrates after he hits a two run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 8, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrates after he hits a two run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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All-Stars, MVPs, Future Hall of Famers — putting together a power rankings of MLB’s top 25 players is no easy task.

Major League Baseball may have its fair share of problems regarding pace of play, attendance, and marketing, but there is certainly no shortage of star power in the game today. Not since the golden days of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle have there been so many young stars around the league. Nearly every team around MLB has a bona fide superstar.

In putting together a list of the top 25 players in Major League Baseball, there will no doubt be some notable omissions — Madison Bumgarner, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Correa, Corey Kluber, Carlos Gonzalez all had very strong cases. An effort was made to consider players based on their merits at their individual positions — the best relievers get just as much consideration as the best starters because it is difficult to compare the value of contributions at different positions when both players are among the best in the league at what they do.

With that caveat established, here are the top 25 active players in MLB.

25. Zach Britton

RP, Baltimore Orioles

  • Career Stats (As reliever): 1.35 ERA, 125 SV, .193 BAA, .504 OPS, 9.1 K/9, 0.3 HR/9, 0.943 WHIP
  • Career Accolades: 2x All-Star, 2016 AL saves leader, Mariano Rivera award, 2nd-longest consecutive saves streak in MLB history

Entering the 2014 season, Zach Britton was on the verge of being designated for assignment by the Orioles. After a promising rookie season as a starter, Britton could not sustain success in the big leagues. A move to the bullpen was in order, and Britton and the Orioles discovered he had a rare ability to sink a baseball at 97 mph. There has been no looking back.

Britton certainly has some time to go before his career is on the same level as the great Mariano Rivera, but there are parallels between the two closers. Britton throws the same sinker over and over again, just as Rivera threw his cutter. It is next to impossible for hitters to get Britton’s fastball in the air.

Britton’s 2016 season will go down as one of the greatest seasons ever for a reliever. He finished the year with a 0.54 ERA, saved all 47 of his opportunities, and allowed only one home run while holding opponents to a .430 OPS. He has not looked as sharp in 27, but his BAbip will eventually stabilize.

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