MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

How do MLB’s best players under the age of 25 stack up against each other?

Young players are dominating Major League Baseball like never before, battling each other for not only Rookie of the Year but also Most Valuable Player. The best teams and World Series winners the past two years have been filled up and down the roster with top prospects turned All-Stars. The best young players are in the major leagues after just a full season in the minor leagues, often skipping Triple-A entirely.

Year-round travel ball has many faults, but it does produce young players who are used to seeing the best competition and playing in high-pressure situations every week. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Kris Bryant, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Noah Syndergaard and a few others have graduated from the ranks of the under-25s, but there is still plenty of talent left.

Longtime rebuilders like the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have flipped the switch this year due largely in part to all of their young prospects maturing at the same time. In New York, the Yankees have the makings of a core that would put the best teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s to shame. The Yankees smartly waited on their farm system instead of plowing all their money into free agents.

As you read through this list of the league’s best players under the age of 25, it’s obvious that the best teams are benefiting from an influx of young talent. There’s plenty of reason for teams like the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins if they can just draft and develop the right players.

25. Addison Russell

Probably still slightly overrated because he plays for the Chicago Cubs, shortstop Addison Russell is still thought to be a potential cornerstone player for a contender. The 24-year-old made his debut at the age of 21 for the Cubs and was an All-Star and World Series champion at 22. His production at the plate, however, has been stuck in neutral.

Russell is just a .255/.343/.359 hitter this year and is now in his fourth big-league season. He did drive in 95 runs in 2016, but played in just 110 games last year while dealing with injuries and personal issues. Russell is off to a better start at the plate this year in terms of patience and approach, but his power numbers still lag. He remains an elite defender, but the Cubs may elect to replace him at the deadline with Manny Machado, especially if the offense continues to slump.