Browsing: players

12 Honorable Mentions

1 of 11

Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves
Will turn 31 shortly after reaching free agency after 2028 season

Atlanta locked Acuña in long ago on an eight-year deal with club options to extend it to a full decade. He won’t be available again until after his age-30 campaign. But if he has a mostly clean bill of health for the next three years, it’s not outlandish to think he could sign another eight-year deal at north of $30 million apiece.

Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
Will be 30 when he reaches free agency after 2034 season

See: Ronald Acuña Jr. Boston bought out Anthony’s 20s on a big extension shortly after his arrival in the big leagues, but it’s plausible he could get a second, even bigger contract if he ends up making this one look like a laughably team-friendly deal over the course of the next decade.

Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers
Will have just turned 28 upon reaching free agency after 2028 season

Greene has slowly but surely blossomed into a real star, going for 36 home runs and 111 RBI during an age-24 campaign in which he was healthy enough to play in darn near every game. The AL-high 201 strikeouts stands out as a concern, but Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh all landed in the 187-197 range without anyone much caring. If he stays healthy and continues to mash, he could become a quarter-billionaire in a few years’ time.

Jackson Holliday, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Will turn 27 shortly after reaching free agency after 2030 season

Holliday has yet to live up to the hype of being the unanimous best prospect in baseball heading into the 2024 campaign, but let’s remember he also couldn’t legally drink a Natty Boh 11 months ago and has five years left to figure things out before reaching free agency at what will still be an uncommonly young age. We’ll see if he gets there, though. If the O’s are savvy, they’ll try to “buy low” on his modest start with something like an eight-year, $150 million extension this winter. Even if that happens, though, he’d still only be 30 when the time comes for that second contract.

Munetaka Murakami, 3B, Yakult Swallows
Turns 26 in February, expected to be posted this winter

We’ll find out soon enough if anyone is willing to go as high as $250 million for a player who strikes out quite a bit and is generally regarded as a defensive liability. But Murakami is 100 days younger than Juan Soto was one year ago, and opportunities to sign young sluggers simply don’t grow on trees. The bidding war here could get wild.

The ‘Shortstops Always Get Paid’ Tier

CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals
Will turn 28 just before reaching free agency in three years

Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels
Turns 29 a few months after hitting free agency following 2029 campaign

Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston Astros
Will turn 30 just before reaching free agency in two years

Masyn Winn, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
Will be 27 when he hits free agency after 2029

Of the 18 players currently on contracts of greater than $275 million, six are shortstops: Bobby Witt Jr., Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Corey Seager and Mookie Betts. (Yes, Betts was a RF when he signed his $365 million deal, but that just means he swaps spots with current RF Fernando Tatis Jr., who was a SS when he signed his $340 million contract.)

Of this quartet of fringe candidates for $250 million, Peña would be the likeliest candidate if he wasn’t the eldest statesmen. Even so, Turner was 29 when he signed his $300 million contract, while Bogaerts was already 30 when he got $280 million, so never say never.

Abrams is probably too much of a defensive liability to make the grade here, but after three consecutive seasons with at least 18 home runs and 31 stolen bases, a similar three-year run to free agency could net him a whole lot of money.

The ‘Sometimes Aces Get Megadeals’ Tier

Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros
Will be 30 when he reaches free agency after 2028 campaign

MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals
Turns 29 a few months after hitting free agency following 2027 season

Eury Pérez, RHP, Miami Marlins
Will be 26 when he hits free agency after 2029

The two pitchers who are going to be named the 2025 Cy Young winners in the coming weeks will appear in the top 10 as just about guaranteed candidates to join Gerrit Cole and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in MLB’s club of extremely well-compensated pitchers. But here are three others who figure to be headed for nine-figure deals when they reach free agency.

The fun side of Pérez making his MLB debut at just 20 years old is that his age-27 seasons and beyond will be up for grabs in free agency. He had a few duds in his return from Tommy John surgery this season, but he also ended the year by striking out 26 of his final 55 batters faced and will have four more years to build his value.

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German world number three Alexander Zverev is also through to the last four in Vienna after Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor withdrew from their quarter-final match.

With that result, Zverev, seeded second in Vienna, joined Alcaraz, Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the first four players to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in November.

Zverev will play Italian fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti or Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Meanwhile, at the Swiss Indoors, three of the four quarter-finals scheduled for Friday ended as walkovers.

Norway’s Casper Ruud decided he could not continue after losing a first-set tie-break against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime retired after Spaniard Jaume Munar won the first set 6-3.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov shook hands with Joao Fonseca after falling 3-6 6-3 4-1 behind against the Brazilian.

In the only match to be completed in Basel, Frenchman Ugo Humbert beat American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7-0) 6-4.

Several high-profile players have seen their seasons ended prematurely over recent weeks.

Following a serious injury to Holger Rune, British number one Jack Draper called for the tennis calendar to be adapted if players are “to achieve some sort of longevity” earlier in October.

Former women’s world number one Iga Swiatek complained in September that the season is “too long and too intense” amid a string of injuries to players at the China Open.

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Mookie Betts (Photo via Getty Images)

Heading into the 2025 World Series, one thing is clear: Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is the Lord of the Rings among active players.

Betts has starred for three World Series winners—the 2018 Red Sox, 2020 Dodgers and 2024 Dodgers—with a chance to make it four this year if his Dodgers defeat the Blue Jays.

But if Toronto pulls off the World Series upset, then Blue Jays righthander Max Scherzer can match Betts with three rings. He previously won the World Series with the 2019 Nationals and 2023 Rangers.

Betts and Scherzer are both locks for Cooperstown, as is Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman in all likelihood. Freeman has played for two World Series winners—the 2021 Braves and 2024 Dodgers—and could add a third ring this year.

Betts, Freeman and Scherzer arenâ€t the only players vying for another World Series championship. In this post, we count the rings for active players.

We used the following criteria:

• An active player is one who appeared in at least one MLB game in 2025
• A player is credited with a ring if he appears in at least one regular season game for a World Series winner, even if he is injured for the postseason.

This list is populated largely with 2024 Dodgers, with some who also played for the 2020 team.

The two exceptions are Max Scherzer, who is outlined above, and Blue Jays DH George Springer, who won the World Series previously with the 2017 Astros. A Blue Jays win would grant Scherzer his third ring and Springer his second.

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2020, 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them three rings.

• Mookie Betts, SS
• Max Muncy, 3B
• Clayton Kershaw, LHP
• Will Smith, C
• Enrique Hernandez, UT
• Blake Treinen, RP
• Chris Taylor, UT (released in May)

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them two rings.

• Shohei Ohtani, DH/RHP
• Freddie Freeman, 1B (also won with 2021 Braves)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP (did not play in 2024 postseason)
• Andy Pages, OF
• Tommy Edman, 2B
• Alex Vesia, RP
• Ben Casparius, RP
• Anthony Banda, RP
• Miguel Rojas, SS
• Justin Wrobleski, LHP
• Michael Kopech, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Edgardo Henriquez, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Bobby Miller, RHP (not on postseason roster)
• Landon Knack, RHP (not on postseason roster)

Note: RHP Tony Gonsolin appeared for the 2020 and 2025 Dodgers, while OF Teoscar Hernandez starred for the 2024 Dodgers and also played for the 2017 Astros, though he did not appear in the postseason for the World Series winners.

Five of the players on the list below played for the World Series-champion 2017 and 2022 Astros: Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel, Lance McCullers Jr. and Justin Verlander.

Remember the criteria: At least one MLB game in 2025 and at least one regular season appearance for a team that ultimately won the World Series, whether the player was integral to success or a footnote to a great season.

Scott Alexander, LHP, Giants
2015 Royals, 2020 Dodgers

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Austin Barnes, C, Dodgers
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Padres
2013 Red Sox, 2018 Red Sox

Ryan Brasier, RHP, Cubs
2018 Red Sox, 2024 Dodgers

Walker Buehler, RHP, Phillies
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Red Sox
2016 Cubs, 2023 Rangers

Carl Edwards Jr., RHP, Rangers
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Padres
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Jason Heyward, OF, Padres
2016 Cubs, 2024 Dodgers

Sandy Leon, C, Braves
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Gavin Lux, UT, Reds
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Charlie Morton, RHP, Tigers
2017 Astros, 2021 Braves

Joc Pederson, OF, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2021 Braves

Corey Seager, SS, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2023 Rangers

Jorge Soler, OF, Angels
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Hunter Strickland, RHP, Angels
2014 Giants, 2019 Nationals

Christian Vazquez, C, Twins
2018 Red Sox, 2022 Astros

Justin Verlander, RHP, Giants
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

According to this wonderful Baseball-Reference resource, a total of 17 players whose careers transpired entirely in the Wild Card Era, since 1994, have appeared in the World Series for a champion at least three times.

Five Rings

• Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte all starred for the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009 Yankees championship teams.

Four Rings

• Jorge Posada appeared in the postseason for four Yankees champions but didnâ€t appear in the 1996 postseason. Orlando Hernandez played for the 1998 through 2000 Yankees champions and then the 2005 White Sox.

Three Rings

— This tier is comprised mostly of 2010, 2012 and 2014 Giants players: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo.

Mookie Betts is at this tier, as are David Ortiz (2004 Red Sox, 2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox), Jon Lester (2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs) and John Lackey (2002 Angels, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs).

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A major scandal has rocked the basketball world after federal indictments revealed that current and former NBA players, including a Hall of Fame coach, were allegedly tied to Mafia-linked gambling rings. The unsealed court documents expose two interconnected criminal networks involving illegal poker operations, sports betting manipulation, and financial fraud totalling tens of millions of dollars. The FBI and NYPDâ€s Joint Organized Crime Task Force coordinated the multi-year probe, which has now led to more than 30 arrests — among them, several high-profile NBA figures accused of leveraging insider access for profit and protection.

NBA players and coaches named in the investigation

Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, was among the most prominent figures arrested. According to investigators, Billups was allegedly involved in an underground poker network connected to organised crime families, where games were said to be fixed in exchange for payouts and influence.Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, was also detained in connection with a separate but related illegal sports betting ring. Authorities claim Rozier participated in insider betting schemes, allegedly sharing or exploiting confidential game information to gain advantage in wagers.Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, was arrested alongside Billups for his alleged role in the same poker operation. Both were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and gambling-related offences.These three names mark the most high-profile NBA links in what investigators describe as a “multi-layered criminal enterprise†blending professional sports, organised crime, and financial deception.

How the Mafia-linked schemes operated

According to federal prosecutors, the operations functioned in two layers: an underground poker ring frequented by professional athletes and an illegal sports betting network that allegedly exploited NBA insider data. Mafia intermediaries reportedly financed, protected, and profited from both systems. The investigation uncovered the use of offshore betting accounts, money laundering channels, and encrypted communication apps to conceal transactions.The FBI described the schemes as “sophisticated but deeply corrosive to the integrity of sports,†suggesting that some games may have been influenced by betting activity, though no direct evidence of match-fixing has yet been released.

What authorities are saying

At a press conference in Brooklyn, FBI Director Kash Patel called the scale of the operation “mind-boggling,†noting that “tens of millions of dollars†were laundered through the network. Federal agents said the indictments were the culmination of years of surveillance and financial tracking, supported by the NYPD and the U.S. Attorneyâ€s Office for the Eastern District of New York.Prosecutors emphasised that while the investigation remains ongoing, more arrests may follow as evidence is reviewed. “This case shows that even elite athletes and coaches are not beyond the reach of organised crime when greed meets access,†Patel said.

Broader implications for the NBA

The scandal has reignited long-standing concerns about gamblingâ€s influence on professional sports, especially after the legalisation of sports betting across much of the United States. NBA officials have yet to issue a formal disciplinary response but confirmed that they are cooperating fully with federal authorities.Sports law experts say the case could prompt tighter league oversight, mandatory financial disclosures, and stricter betting regulations for players and staff. It also raises uncomfortable questions about the vulnerability of athletes to high-stakes gambling culture — one increasingly entwined with mainstream entertainment and sponsorship.

Whatâ€s next

The defendants, including Billups, Rozier, and Jones, are expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. If convicted, they could face substantial fines, suspensions, and potential prison sentences depending on the severity of their charges.

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Three Team India stars got into a cab in Adelaide, leaving the driver stunned (Screengrabs) An Uber driver in Australia was left visibly stunned after discovering that his latest passengers were none other than Indian cricketers Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The Indian team is currently in Australia for the ongoing ODI series. A video circulating on social media shows the driver waiting for his pick-up, unaware of who he was about to meet. Moments later, the three cricketers were seen getting into the vehicle and taking their seats one by one.The driver, clearly taken aback, looked at them in disbelief before quietly starting the ride. The clip also captured the moment when the group reached their destination. The driver appeared to share a brief exchange with the players before they stepped out. The video drew amused reactions from fans.Users commented that the driver was living the dream of every Uber driver.Watch the viral video here Some users empathised with the driverâ€s quiet reaction, noting how meeting famous personalities can leave anyone speechless. The short clip also drew attention to the players†casual demeanour during the ride. The video has since gained traction across social media, with viewers amused at the driverâ€s understated reaction to an unexpected star encounter. A day after the video of the players entering the cab went viral, Team India went on to lose the series 2-0 in Adelaide.

Poll

How would you react if you unexpectedly met a celebrity during a ride?

Australia clinched victory with a hard-fought two-wicket win over India at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Chasing 265, young batters Matt Short (74), Cooper Connolly (61*), and Mitch Owen (36) led the hosts to victory in 46.2 overs after a composed recovery from early setbacks.For India, Rohit Sharma top-scored with 73, while Adam Zampa (4/60) and Xavier Bartlett (3/39) starred with the ball for Australia. The defeat handed Shubman Gill his first series loss as ODI captain, with India struggling to convert starts and failing to defend a competitive total.

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Will Smith (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

When the final out settles into a glove and champagne starts to sting the eyes, a World Series title becomes a forever thing. Trophies are etched, banners are raised, legacies are cemented.

But inside clubhouses, behind the highlights and headlines, thereâ€s a quieter ritual that speaks to baseballâ€s soul. Organizations pause to consider everyone who touched the season, every locker that cycled through, every inning eaten in May, every pinch runner who stole a bag in July, every emergency callup who survived a weekend in The Show and appeared in a game.

Rings donâ€t just belong to the stars who celebrate on the field in October. Theyâ€re meant for the ones who contributed one pitch, one swing or one defensive replacement that nudged a team toward the summit.

Baseball America has followed the college fingerprints on this World Series journey from opening day to the final out:

• There were 204 schools represented on MLB rosters when the season began.
• By the end of the regular season that number ballooned to 293 schools with at least one former player reaching the big leagues.
• When the postseason opened, 118 colleges had a stake in October.

Now, as the Dodgers and Blue Jays stand alone after a marathon of attrition, 55 schools—from powerhouse Division I programs to junior colleges—can claim a piece of the 2025 World Series stage.

Schoolnumber of alumniLouisville4LSU3UC Santa Barbara3Arizona State2Connecticut2Creighton2Liberty2Oklahoma State2Sacramento State2Southern Missippi2Stanford2Virginia2Akron1Alabama1Albright College1Ball State1Baylor1Boston College1Cal Poly1Cal State East Bay1Chipola JC1Concordia1Duke1East Tennessee State1Eastern Illinois1Florida Gulf Coast1Howard JC1Illinois State1Iowa1Iowa Western JC1Kennesaw State1Kent State1Lenoir-Rhyne1Mississippi State1Missouri1New Haven1Oregon State1Pepperdine1San Diego State1San Jacinto1Santa Clara1Slippery Rock (PA)1South Dakota State1St. John’s River JC1St. Mary’s1State JC of Florida1UCF1UCLA1UNC Wilmington1Utah Valley1Washington University (St. Louis)1Westmont College1Wisconsin-Milwaukee1Wisconsin-Stevens Point1Yavapai College1

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Coming off yet another national championship this season, the Southeastern Conference continues to cement itself as the premier conference in all of college baseball.Â

The SEC has now won the last six national championships, and in this yearâ€s draft, eight first round picks—including two of the first three college players off the board—came out of the conference. New members Texas and Oklahoma hit the ground running in 2025, as the Longhorns took home the regular season conference title, while the Sooners†38 wins were tied for the third-most since 2014 en route to making the tournament for the fourth-straight season.

Clearly, the SEC is thriving, and nothing about next year’s crop of incoming freshman talent suggests that’s about to stop any time soon.

Below, you can find a breakdown of each schoolâ€s incoming recruiting class. Programs are listed in alphabetical order. The vast majority of SEC programs put together top 25 classes, but even those who didnâ€t have every reason to be excited about their respective crop of freshmen.

Alabama

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 9th

Alabama last year made a regional for the third-straight season—a feat not accomplished since 2008-2010—and coach Rob Vaughn again has a roster thatâ€s capable of a deep tournament run.

Righthander Myles Upchurch is the most talented of the bunch thanks to an intriguing blend of athleticism and arm strength. His heater has been up to 95 mph, and he also features a sharp mid-80s slider, a curveball that will sometimes blend with his slider and a changeup that has a chance to be a fine fourth offering. Upchurch got touched up a bit this spring, but he has a chance to blossom under Alabamaâ€s coaching staff and player development.

Mammoth third baseman Caleb Barnett has huge raw power, but there are hit tool questions due to his long levers and operation getting long and out-of-sync at times. Barnettâ€s above-average arm plays nicely at third, though heâ€s not the most fleet of foot and could end up in the outfield when all is said and done.

Speaking of thunderous power, Eric Hines has comfortably plus power to the pull side and was able to tap into said power on a regular basis last spring.

The freshman hitter who’s turned the most heads this fall is Will Rhine. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, the switch-hitting infielder certainly looks the part. He has a hitterish look in the box—particularly from the left side—where he has a rhythmic swing. Rhine has consistently generated quality contact this fall, and he has power upside remaining. Between his offensive ability and defensive versatility, Rhine is on track to earning a meaningful role in 2026.

While he wasnâ€t the most prominently-ranked recruit in Alabamaâ€s class, lefthander Luke Smyers has a chance to make an immediate impact on the bump. A 6-foot-3 southpaw, Smyers†pitchability is advanced, and he has a strong track record of commanding the baseball. He has an easy, repeatable operation and is consistently in the strike zone with his low-90s fastball and slurvy breaking ball. Smyers ties his arsenal together with an upper-70s-to-low-80s changeup thatâ€s a solid weapon against righthanded hitters.

Arkansas

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 5th

Arkansas has been to the College World Series twice in the last four years. While last season ended in gut-wrenching fashion, the Razorbacks reloaded both via the portal and by bringing in another high-quality recruiting class.

Infielder and righthanded pitcher Carson Brumbaugh is one of the class†headliners, and heâ€s already off to a fast start this fall. He has no-doubt plus bat speed and plus raw power, while on the dirt he has a plus arm. Brumbaugh has fared well at shortstop to this point, though his actions might translate better over at third base. On the bump, Brumbaugh has been up to 96 mph to go along with a solid low-80s slider and a firmer upper-80s changeup. Brumbaugh projects as a position player long term, though Iâ€d expect him to log a handful of innings throughout his time at Arkansas.

Fellow infielder Landon Schaeferhas a lean, athletic frame and certainly looks the part. His hit tool will need a couple coats of polish, and his load is on the noisier side, but he has plenty of bat speed and exciting power potential—especially to the pull side. Schaefer has enough arm strength to handle shortstop, but, like Brumbaugh, he could move off the position at some point.

Six-foot-five righthander Jordan Martin is the top pitching recruit for coach Dave Van Horn and his staff, and he deploys a lively fastball thatâ€s been up to 96 mph as well as a slurvy slider. Its shape plays, but it lacks teeth. He rounds out his three-pitch mix with a low-80s changeup, though itâ€s a distant third offering. Martin is on the raw side, but his arm strength, athleticism and upside are all appealing.

Auburn

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 10th

Following a down year in 2024 in which it failed to make the tournament for the first time since 2019, Auburn returned to form last season and returned to a super regional for the first time since 2022. Rather than being a flash in the pan, the Tigers are well-positioned for a period of sustained success.

The center pieces of Auburnâ€s 2025 class are righthanders Justice De Jong and Ethin Bingaman. De Jong has an athletic delivery and is an advanced strike-thrower who features a low-90s fastball that was up to 95 mph, a high-spin curveball and a not-as-sharp high-70s-to-low-80s slider. De Jongâ€s pitchability gives him a chance to start, though both of his secondaries will need to take a step forward.

A two-way player in high school, Bingaman profiles best as an arm long term. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. It plays well in the top half of the zone—where it generates the majority of its whiffs—thanks to its riding life. Bingamanâ€s upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball is a high-spin pitch that takes on a 12-to-6 shape, and he completes his arsenal with an upper-80s changeup. In the box, Bingaman has a strong swing from the right side.

Shortstop Ty Thompson presents an athletic look on both sides of the baseball. Heâ€s an aggressive hitter with above-average contact skills who fares particularly well against heaters. On the dirt, Thompsonâ€s a plus runner with enough arm strength to potentially stick at shortstop long term. With Ryne Farber and Chris Rembert making up the middle of Auburnâ€s infield in 2026, it will be interesting to see where Thompson factors in. Regardless, he could be in line for a prominent role as soon as 2027.

Florida

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 12th

Like its Sunshine State counterpart Miami, Floridaâ€s outlook in early April also looked bleak and it looked as if it would miss the tournament for the first time since 2007. However, the Gators†sweep of Missouri served as a “get right†series and it proceeded to win each of their last six SEC series. With coach Kevin O’Sullivan announcing a leave of absence from the team, Florida will want more than ever for 2026 to be less stressful than this past spring, and they have the personnel to accomplish that and then some.

Minjae Seo is the Gators†highest-ranked recruit. The slightly-undersized righthander features a low-90s fastball, though its shape and movement profile allow the pitch to play up. Seoâ€s high-70s slider has a slurvy look, and it flashes above-average with more sweep than depth at times. He throws his low-80s changeup sparingly, and heâ€ll need to improve his command and control to stick in the rotation long term.

The centerpiece of the Gators’ position player group is shortstop Nicolas Partridge. A lean, wiry infielder, Partridge has a direct swing and hitterish look in the box with an advanced approach. An undoubtedly hit-over-power profile right now, heâ€s also flashed some sneaky thump to the pull side. However, Partridge will need to put on a considerable amount of strength to be an average power threat. He will get a chance to stick at shortstop, but his actions and arm strength could profile better at second base.

Georgia

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 21st

While Georgia has not made the College World Series since 2008, this yearâ€s portal class certainly gives the Bulldogs Omaha upside in 2026. The Bulldogs boast the No. 1 Newcomer Classin the country due in large part to their transfer portal haul, though there are also a few high-profile freshmen that figure to leave their mark on the program.

Starting on the mound, the 6-foot-5 Joe Nottingham is a projection righthander whose fastball has been up to 95 mph with life through the zone. He pairs his heater primarily with an upper-70s-to-low-80s slider that will occasionally flash above-average, though itâ€s more slurvy in shape when itâ€s on the lower end of the aforementioned velocity range. Nottinghamâ€s changeup also sits in the upper 70s/low 80s and could be a viable third offering. While Nottinghamâ€s pitchability will need to take a step forward and there are some pieces to clean up in his delivery, he has an intriguing foundation in place.

Righthander Dylan Wood also has his fair share of delivery deception to go along with a loud pitch mix. While there are plenty of moving parts in his operation, Wood still manages to do a nice job commanding his low-90s fastball. Itâ€s not overwhelming from a velocity standpoint, but Woodâ€s release traits and ability to command the pitch help it play up a bit. Woodâ€s mid-to-upper-70s curveball is inconsistent in shape, and he ties together his arsenal with a low-70s changeup that flashes plenty of tumble.

On the other side of the baseball, Ty Peeples is a lean, athletic outfielder with room to add physicality. He has a smooth lefthanded stroke with above-average bat speed and above-average or better raw power. Peeples has shown he can ambush mistakes in the zone and hammer them to his pull side, but his lack of bat-to-ball skills give reason for pause. Defensively, he projects best in a corner outfield spot.

Fellow outfielder William Johnson has a hit-over-power profile and a clean swing from the left side. He has a rather lengthy track record and stands out for his bat-to-ball skills and sound approach. Johnson roved center field in high school, but heâ€ll likely move off the position in college. Furthermore, his arm strength and overall defensive package could profile best in right field.

Kentucky

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

The Wildcats in 2025 couldnâ€t quite replicate the success of back-to-back super regional appearances, but they did make the tournament for the third-straight year for the first time in program history. Coach Nick Mingione has turned the Wildcats into a perennial contender and, after breaking down the door to Omaha for the first time in program history in 2024, the “Bat Cats†are hungry for more.

While Kentucky has a knack for faring well in the transfer portal, it also recruits at a high level. Lefthanded hitting outfielder Braxton Van Cleave has an exciting toolset. He fits into the “tools over performance†bucket right now, but he has big-time bat speed to go along with present strength and projection remaining. He also consistently turns in above-average run times. A torn UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery robbed Van Cleave of his senior high school season, but he still has a chance to earn meaningful at-bats this spring.

While weâ€re on the subject of tools, catcher Owen Jenkins shows the ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. He has thunderous bat speed and above-average raw power, though his hit tool needs a coat or two of polish. Behind the plate, he has a plus arm, and his throws consistently carry through the base. As a cherry on top, Jenkins has also turned in above-average run times.

LSU

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 3rd

LSU is one of very few programs—perhaps the only program—that is flat-out dominant across every facet of the game. Coach Jay Johnson and his staff routinely put together premier portal and recruiting classes and do an outstanding job of developing the talent they bring in. The result? Two national championships in the last three seasons. Johnson has cultivated an environment in which there is an unbelievable amount of success at both the team and individual level, and that figures to continue so long as heâ€s at the helm.

This yearâ€s group of incoming freshmen is par for the course, and the Tigers again boast a top-three recruiting class. LSUâ€s draft wins started when prized catcher Omar Serna withdrew his name in the weeks leading up to draft day. At 6-foot-2 and 225-pounds, Serna is plenty physical, and both his arm strength and raw power grade out as plus. In fact, his arm is closer to double-plus than it is plus. Serna has tons of bat speed and is more than capable of driving the baseball with authority to all fields. His hit tool could use a coat of polish, and heâ€ll need to continue to work on his actions behind the plate, but Serna will have top two-round upside coming out of LSU.

Outfielder William Patrick fits the description of a “tool shed†to a tee. A multi-sport athlete in high school, Patrick also played football and ran track. Thereâ€s no shortage of present strength in his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, and he has big-time hand speed in the box. While his hit tool lacks polish, he has a chance to develop into plus power. Patrick’s loudest, most explosive tool is his speed. Heâ€s a double-plus runner whose speed and athleticism allows him to cover ample ground on the grass, and he has the makings of an above-average center fielder. If Patrickâ€s toolset wasnâ€t dynamic enough, he also boasts a plus arm. He has the ability to impact the game in myriad ways, and he figures to do exactly that during his time at LSU.

Righthander Marcos Paz is a bit of a wild card. Paz had Tommy John surgery in 2024 which kept him on the shelf until this past June, but he showed well at the draft combine. Pazâ€s fastball was up to 95 mph, and he has an easy, repeatable delivery. His mid-80s slider has plus potential and is his best pitch, routinely spinning in the 2,800-2,900 rpm range. Paz rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that looks the part of a solid third offering.

Fellow righthander Reagan Ricken is also a name to circle. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Ricken has a prototypical pitcherâ€s frame and is an advanced athlete. Heâ€s cleaned up his operation over the last calendar year, and he features a fastball that has been into the mid 90s with armside life to go along with a mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball. Both of Rickenâ€s offspeed offerings have the chance to be effective, and he rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup that could be a fine fourth pitch. Ricken is a moldable ball of clay, and it will be exciting to watch his development under the guidance of pitching coach Nate Yeskie.

Mississippi State

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 6th

It was announced soon after Mississippi Stateâ€s season concluded that coach Brian Oâ€Connor would be the new head man for the Bulldogs. It was an outstanding hire, and Oâ€Connor and his staff got right to work.

The headlining name here is a biggie, as 6-foot-4 lefthander Jack Bauer is not only Mississippi Stateâ€s top recruit, but also one of the top incoming freshmen in the country. Bauer made waves last spring after becoming the hardest-throwing prep lefthander of all-time after touching 102, but heâ€s not a one-trick pony.Â

On top of his thunderous heater, Bauer routinely spins his sharp breaking ball in the 3,000 rpm range. He is a bit of a spray gun and his lack of control has prevented him from pitching deep into games, but initial reports out of Starkville this fall have been glowing. If Bauer can compete in and around the zone on a consistent basis while flashing his premium stuff, he very well could be a first-round pick when heâ€s next eligible. Bauerâ€s pure arm talent and upside are beyond tantalizing, and he profiles as one of the most exciting freshmen in college baseball this spring.

The brother of 2025 eighth-overall pick JoJo Parker, Jacob Parkeris a physical lefthanded hitter with a pro body. Heâ€s listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and shows plus raw power. Parker gets to his impact without much effort, though there are some questions about the caliber of pure hitter heâ€s going to be. An above-average runner with an above-average arm, Parkerâ€s entire body of work profiles best in right field.

Righthander Parker Rhodes was a helium name this spring. He deploys a pair of fastball shapes—both of which have been into the mid 90s—as well as a high-spin, low-80s breaking ball and a mid-80s changeup with which he does a nice job of killing spin.

Missouri

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

Itâ€s been tough sledding throughout the first two seasons of the coach Kerrick Jackson’s tenure, as Missouri combined to win just 12 conference games between 2024 and 2025. Last year was a particularly difficult season for the Tigers, who won only three SEC games (thanks to a sweep of a reeling Texas A&M club).

However, the last two seasons are now in the rearview mirror, and Missouri heads into 2026 with a renewed sense of optimism. Hiring former Virginia pitching coach Drew Dickinson—whoâ€s also a high-level recruiter—for the same role was a key offseason move, and Missouri has a couple of intriguing freshmen on which to keep a close eye.

Initially committed to Virginia, Sam Rosand is a physical righthander who has turned heads this fall. He has an appealing blend of strikes and stuff, and he looks the part of an arm who will make an immediate contribution to the pitching staff. Fellow righthander JD Dohrmannâ€s fastball has been up to 92 mph, and his combination of arm speed and remaining projection make for a solid foundation. Last but certainly not least, Richie Swain has high-octane stuff but will need to add polish in the pitchability department.Â

Oklahoma

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 18th

Coach Skip Johnson and the Sooners are fresh off another successful season that culminated in their fourth-straight tournament appearance. While it’s advanced to a super regional just once since 2013, it feels like Oklahoma is on the cusp of a return trip to the College World Series.

From a pure athlete standpoint, Alec Blair was one of the best in the 2025 class. On top of his ability on the diamond, he was also a four-star basketball recruit and is slated to play both sports at Oklahoma. While his swing can get out of sync and isnâ€t the most fluid looking, Blairâ€s power upside is monstrous. If he fills out physically, thereâ€s a chance he grows into true plus power before too long. For someone of his size, Blair moves quite well and has turned in plus run times. His length, athleticism and speed allow him to cover plenty of ground in center field, though if he were to move off the position, it will likely be to left field given his fringy arm.

The centerpiece on the mound is Vaughn Neckar. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Neckar filled out physically with no shortage of strength in his lower half. His pure stuff is loud, but his delivery requires some effort, and his command can be scattered. Neckarâ€s cut-ride heater has been into the mid 90s, while his two distinct breaking balls—a low-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball—have both shown the ability to generate empty swings.

Ole Miss

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 19th

Ole Miss failed to make a regional in both 2023 and 2024, so it goes without saying how big its 2025 return to form was for the program. Coach Mike Bianco and his players did an outstanding job of blocking out the noise and winning 43 games en route to hosting a regional. While they were eliminated by Murray State, the 2025 season was far more indicative of Ole Miss†identity than 2023 or 2024 were.

In whatâ€s become the norm under Bianco, Ole Miss again has a quality recruiting class. 6-foot-4 righthander Blake Ilitch presents a physical look on the mound with a four-pitch mix. His heater sits in the low 90s, and his best offering is a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that flashes sharp, downward bite. Ilitchâ€s low-80s slider is shorter in shape and not as sharp as his curveball. He completes his arsenal with a low-80s split-change that looks the part of an effective offering against lefthanded hitters.

Fellow righty Noah Allen stands at an even more imposing 6-foot-7, though he has more room to fill out than Ilitch does. Allen relies heavily on his two-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes solid depth. Allenâ€s stuff and velocity should tick up across the board as he matures physically, though his extension already helps his heater to play up. In what is the case for any pitcher of his size, the key for Allen will be keeping everything synced up and connected throughout his operation.

South Carolina

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

2025 was a year to forget in Columbia. In his first year at the helm, coach Paul Mainieri guided the Gamecocks to a measly six SEC wins en route to missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. It was always going to be a year of adjustments, however, and between a strong portal class and a recruiting class that fits in the “quality over quantity†bucket, South Carolina appears to be headed in the right direction as the calendar flips to 2026.

Six-foot-four lefthander Patrick Dudley was a first-team all-state selection following a lights-out senior season, and he features a fastball that has been up to 93 mph to go along with a feel for a high-70s breaking ball. Righthander Seth Manning was barely 18-years-old on draft day, and his fastball has been up to 94 with plenty of carry through the zone. Manning pairs his heater with a curveball and a changeup, and he has plenty of room left to fill out.

Infielder Will Craddock has a lean, high-waisted frame with physical projection remaining. Last spring, he blasted double-digit home runs. Craddock has some quickness in his hands, and he could grow into more power as he continues to mature physically. Â

Tennessee

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 2nd

While we don’t yet know how Tony Vitello leaving to manage the Giants will affect Tennesseeâ€s future recruiting classes—you can read more about the potential fallout here and potential coaching replacements here—thereâ€s no denying the quality of the Volunteers†2025 class. Assistant coach Josh Elander is one of the best recruiters in the country, and it shows year in and year out.

The crown jewel of the 2025 class is undoubtedly Cameron Appenzeller. A projection lefthander, Appenzeller stands at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds. He had legitimate top-two round draft interest, though he opted to honor his commitment to the Vols. Appenzeller is a solid athlete with a repeatable delivery and plenty of projection remaining. His fastball has been up to 94 mph with life through the zone to go along with two distinct secondary offerings. His high-70s-to-low-80s slider features two-plane bite and has plus upside, while his mid-80s changeup flashes plenty of fade and is a real weapon against righthanded hitters. Throughout his time in Knoxville, expect both Appenzellerâ€s velocity and pure stuff to continue to tick up.

Catcher Trent Grindlinger was one of the best prep catchers in the 2025 class and getting him to campus was a major win for Tennessee. Behind the dish, Grindlinger has a plus arm and moves well for his size. His contact skills are pleasantly surprising, and he has a sound feel for the strike zone to go with above-average raw power. Grindlinger has yet to tap into his power in-game on a regular basis, though that could change in the hitter-friendly confines of Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Switch-hitting shortstop Ethan Moore has a lengthy track record with the stick, and he has a direct, line-drive oriented swing from both sides of the plate. He has solid contact skills and is certainly physical, though his operation is not geared towards getting the ball up in the air. Mooreâ€s hitting ability is his carrying tool, and he could move off of shortstop for second or third base. He certainly has a chance to be a high-level performer at Tennessee and a future prominent draft pick.

If youâ€re looking for a “secret weapon†that could make an immediate impact, keep a close eye on Jackson Estes. A 6-foot-3 lefthander, Estes has been excellent this fall and appears to be on his way to pitching himself into a meaningful role. His fastball has been up to 98 mph to go along with a mid-to-upper-70s breaking ball thatâ€s flashed.

Texas A&M

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 11th

The 2025 was quite the interesting season in College Station—but for all the wrong reasons. Texas A&M entered the year as the No. 1 team in the country and national champion favorite, but the wheels fell off in rather short order, and the Aggies failed to make the tournament for just the second time since 2006. Thereâ€s no doubt that 2026 is a big year for Texas A&M, and coach Michael Earley spent the offseason reloading as such.

The center piece of Texas A&Mâ€s recruiting class is undoubtedly shortstop/righthanded pitcher Nico Partida. Partida was one of the better two-way players in the 2025 class and he has a chance to be an impact player on both sides of the baseball. Starting with his ability on the bump, Partidaâ€s fastball has been clocked as high as 98 mph, and he does a good enough job using it to up the zone. Partidaâ€s mid-70s curveball is an average secondary that varies in shape. He completes his three-pitch mix with a low-80s changeup that flashes fade to the armside, though he has the tendency to slow his arm down when delivering it.

As a hitter, Partida has a solid hit-power blend at the plate, though neither tool is all that loud. He has above-average contact skills, and while on the dirt, his actions and arm strength are adequate at shortstop. However, his lack of twitchiness could make him a better fit over at third base. Partidaâ€s ability at the plate is a bonus, as he looks the part of a pitcher professionally.

Speaking of third basemen, the physical Boston Kellner has above-average power—especially to his pull side—though he has more of a hit-over-power look in games. Though he is susceptible to swing-and-miss against spin, he has the offensive tools to hit for both average and power at the next level. Kellner has a plus arm over at the hot corner—where heâ€s likely to stick—but it also profiles well in a corner outfield spot.

Texas

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 1st

The Jim Schlossnagle era is off to a roaring start. In its first year as a member of the SEC, Texas last season captured the conference regular season title and won its fourth-most conference games in program history.

While the Longhorns†season came to an abrupt end in June, Schlossnagle and his staff reloaded over the offseason and head into 2026 with national championship upside. On top of its returning core and big-time transfer portal additions, Texas welcomes a star-studded recruiting class to campus that figures to leave a sizable mark on the program sooner rather than later.

The strength of Texas†recruiting class is undoubtedly its stable of arms. The headliner of the group is Brody Walls. A 6-foot righthander, Walls has a controlled operation and is an advanced strike-thrower. His fastball was up to 95 mph last spring, and he supplements the heater with a high-spin, slurvy breaking ball and a low-80s changeup. Walls†breaking ball is his most viable swing-and-miss offering, though heâ€s comfortable using his “cambio†against lefthanded hitters.

Southpaw Jack McKernanhas a quick arm and is armed with a fastball thatâ€s also been up to 95 to go along with a mid-80s power slider that flashes sharp bite. While he relies heavily on his fastball and slider, McKernan will also deploy a changeup against righthanded hitters.

In addition to Walls and McKernan, keep a close eye on 6-foot-5 righthander Michael Winter. Winter was initially committed to Dartmouth, but he eventually flipped to Texas. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Winter certainly looks the part and has a clean delivery with a loose arm stroke. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. It’s a pitch he supplements with a high-spin slider that regularly flashes sharp two-plane tilt and lateral life. He rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup. Winter boasts an exciting blend of “now†stuff and upside, and, while it may not be in 2026, he figures to pitch his way into the Longhorns†weekend rotation.

Speaking of 6-foot-5 righthanders, Brett Crossland is plenty physical and possesses high-end stuff. His heater has been up to 97 mph to go along with two distinct breaking balls in a mid-80s slider and a high-70s curveball. The former is tighter in shape, while his bender—which is the better of the two—flashes plus with plenty of depth and downward bite. Crossland completes his arsenal with a low-80s changeup that at times flashes serious fade to the arm side.

On the position player side, wiry outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. is the headliner. He has impressive bat and hand speed and does a nice job of staying inside the baseball. Pack Jr. has a line-drive oriented stroke and advanced contact skills—two traits that figure to serve him well both at Texas and beyond. A plus runner and high-level athlete with solid baseball sense, Pack Jr. has a chance to stick in center field long term.

 Vanderbilt

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 7th

Under coach Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt has a lengthy track record of retaining the vast majority of its highly-touted recruits. The 2025 class is no different, and it’s led by southpaw Aiden Stillman.

A 6-foot-3 lefthander, Stillman has an appealing blend of strikes and stuff. He has a clean operation that includes a bit of deception and features a three-pitch mix. Stillmanâ€s fastball has been up to 95 mph with life, though, between his present arm speed and remaining projection, its velocity figures to tick up. Stillman relies heavily on his heater, but he also has a solid feel to spin his high-70s-to-low-80s slurvy breaking ball. Its shape varies, and sometimes it will take on more of a slider look with more lateral break than depth and vice versa.

Tyler Baird is a projectable, 6-foot-4 righthander whose fastball has been into the upper 90s to go with a slurvy breaking ball in the upper 70s and a solid, low-80s changeup. Baird has a history of being in and around the strike zone, and his stuff will only improve as he continues to physically mature.

At 255 pounds, fellow 6-foot-4 righty Wyatt Nadeau is almost the polar opposite physically with powerful stuff, to boot. His fastball crept into the upper 90s, and he mixes his heater with a pair of low-to-mid-80s breaking balls and a firmer changeup. Nadeau isnâ€t the strike-thrower that Baird is and could profile best as a reliever long term, but both project as impactful arms for the ‘Dores.

Vanderbiltâ€s not-so-secret weapon is assistant coach Ty Blankmeyer. The son of legendary St. Johnâ€s head coach Ed Blankmeyer, Ty has cemented himself as an ace recruiter and outstanding infield coach. Blankmeyer was also the Brewers’ Northeast area scout and Sal Frelickâ€s signing scout. From this chair, itâ€s a matter of when—not if—Blankmeyer becomes a Power Four head coach.

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  Kiley McDanielOct 22, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  • ESPN MLB Insider
  • Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency.
  • Has worked for three MLB teams.

  Co-author of Author of ‘Future Value’

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites to win the 2025 World Series and become the first repeat champion in a quarter century.

That doesn’t mean they’ve cornered all the talent in this year’s Fall Classic.

In fact, the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays feature two of the top three players heading into the series and nearly half of our top 20.

Let’s dig into the stars — ranking the best of the series participants on how good I think they’ll be in this series and predicting who will take home some superlatives by the time the dust settles.

Top 20 players in the World Series

1. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Dodgers

Ohtani put up a combined 9.4 WAR in the regular season and is a huge favorite to win the National League MVP again. Then, he one-upped himself with one of the greatest athletic performances of all time: six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and three home runs in the clinching game of the NL Championship Series.

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays

Guerrero had a big regular season — 3.9 WAR despite the sixth-worst ball-in-play luck in the league — but has been white-hot in the playoffs, leading postseason players in most major offensive categories.

3. George Springer, DH, Blue Jays

Springer led the Jays in WAR in the regular season, has been very good this postseason and his iconic ALCS Game 7 homer will live on.

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4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers

All four of the Dodgers’ starting pitchers are on a heater, but Yamamoto was the best of the group in the regular season by a lot and one of the top five pitchers in baseball.

5. Blake Snell, SP, Dodgers

Snell missed the first two-thirds of the season with shoulder inflammation but came back looking as good as ever. He might be on the best run of his career right now, with a 0.86 ERA in three playoff starts and the second-best underlying numbers (xFIP and xERA) in the playoffs among starters, behind Detroit’s Tarik Skubal.

6. Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers

Betts, a clear future Hall of Famer, is 33 years old and has lost the standout power from his peak years but is still an impact player.

7. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers

One of the most consistently elite hitters of this era, Freeman just keeps performing — and he has a history of coming up large in the playoffs.

8. Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays

Kirk was quietly the second-best all-around catcher in the league this year behind Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, but isn’t a huge star since his value is largely driven by on-base skills and pitch framing.

9. Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers

Muncy is surprisingly solid as a baserunner and a defensive third baseman, and he has always been a dangerous hitter.

10. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Dodgers

Glasnow’s walks crept up during the regular season and the playoffs, but he has been missing bats as always and is inducing weak contact during his current hot streak.

11. Will Smith, C, Dodgers

Smith hasn’t been very good offensively in the playoffs but had the third-best WAR amongst catchers in the majors this season, behind only Raleigh and Kirk.

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12. Ernie Clement, 2B/3B, Blue Jays

Clement posted a quietly solid 3.2 WAR this season, driven mostly by contact and defense, but has gone to another level in the postseason, hitting .429 with almost no ball-in-play luck, due to his 4% strikeout rate. He’s on a heater, but the Dodgers’ staff is the type to possibly end that streak.

13. Daulton Varsho, CF, Blue Jays

Varsho is above average at basically everything on the baseball field but isn’t truly elite at much. He missed time with shoulder and hamstring issues this year but was on track for a career-best 4-ish WAR season.

14. Kevin Gausman, SP, Blue Jays

Gausman posted the 10th-best pitcher WAR in baseball this season but has one of the lowest fastball velocities of pitchers in that range and has been hit around in the playoffs, though his career playoff performances are close to his regular-season quality.

15. Tommy Edman, 2B, Dodgers

Edman is a good defender at almost any position but had the 12th-unluckiest ball-in-play outcomes this regular season. That luck has turned around in the playoffs.

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16. Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays

Like Gausman, Yesavage’s splitter is his best secondary pitch, and he doesn’t have standout fastball velocity or breaking ball quality. That said, Yesavage’s splitter has been confounding hitters in his six career big league appearances, half of which have been in the playoffs.

17. Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays

It sounds like Bichette will be able to return to the Jays’ lineup for the World Series, but he has been out the past six weeks with a knee injury and it’s hard to know what he’ll look like in the short term.

18. Addison Barger, RF, Blue Jays

Barger is usable defensively at a number of positions and broke out this year to be an above-average hitter, mostly due to his power.

19. Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers

Pages hasn’t been terrible at the plate this postseason, but he was a standout hitter (.272 average, 24 homers) and defender (plus-7 runs in 117 starts in center field) in the regular season, en route to 4.0 WAR.

20. Teoscar Hernandez, RF, Dodgers

Hernandez hit for power in the regular season (25 homers) but didn’t draw many walks or stand out defensively. This postseason, he has been hitting for even more power on a rate basis, so he sneaks on this list.

Superlatives

Luke Hales/Getty Images

Fastest pitch of the World Series will be thrown by: Roki Sasaki

Sasaki narrowly wins this matchup with the hardest-thrown pitch among these teams in the playoffs at 100.8 mph, and he’s fresher than Louis Varland (100.7 mph) and can go more max effort than Ohtani (100.3 mph).

Others in the mix: Ohtani

Best breaking pitch will be: Emmet Sheehan’s slider

Sheehan’s slider was, per pitch thrown, the best pitch on the Dodgers’ staff this season. It doesn’t have a gaudy spin rate or crazy movement, but he throws it hard and hitters can’t seem to track it.

Others in the mix: Yariel Rodriguez’s slider, Braydon Fisher’s slider, Brendon Little’s curveball, Jack Dreyer’s slider, Glasnow’s curveball, Shane Bieber’s curveball

Best changeup/splitter will be: Yesavage’s splitter

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Yesavage offers a unique combination of movement profile (his slider moves to his arm side), a very high arm slot, and short extension which brings his release even higher. Hitters haven’t seen something like this before. Then add in a killer splitter (which he barely threw at East Carolina, where he was last season) and hitters don’t know what to do.

Others in the mix: Yamamoto’s splitter, Gausman’s splitter, Snell’s changeup

Most whiffs will be thrown by: Snell

Snell has been red-hot in the postseason (I explain why here) and should get two starts, but there are a number of strong candidates for this.

Others in the mix: Yamamoto, Yesavage, Glasnow

Hardest hit ball in play will be hit by: Guerrero

The odds for this are as close to 50/50 as you can get. Guerrero (120.4) and Ohtani (120.0 mph) were second and third in max exit velo during the regular season behind Cincinnati’s Oneil Cruz (122.9). Ohtani has a slight edge in playoff max EV at 117.7 to Vlad’s 116.0. I’ll lean to Vlad because he has been running hotter at the plate and thus will get a few more chances to smoke one at a gaudy number, but Ohtani will be facing a weaker pitching staff, so this is still a coin flip.

Also in the mix: Ohtani

Highest sprint speed will be recorded by: Clement

The other main candidates are part-time players who might get only some chances to open it up on the bases, but I expect Clement to be on base often in the series.

Others in the mix: Hyeseong Kim, Edman, Myles Straw

The batter who will record the most hits: Guerrero

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Clement (second in postseason hits with 18) might be held back a bit by the quality of the Dodgers’ pitchers while Guerrero (first in postseason hits with 19) also makes a ton of contact but gets the margin for error of having huge power, too.

Others in the mix: Clement, Nathan Lukes, Betts, Freeman, Springer

Best defender will be: Kirk

If you consider framing to be a part of defensive value (you definitely should) and also factor in positional difficulty (I think you should), then Kirk is the answer. He’ll be impacting roughly half of the pitches in the series and he was the second-best framer in the league behind San Francisco’s Patrick Bailey this regular season.

Others in the mix: Clement, Edman, Betts

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89. Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers (3.0)

90. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers (1.7)

91. Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

92. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

93. Hollywood Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (FLEX 6)

94. Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

95. Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders

96. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

97. Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

98. Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

99. Isiah Pacheco, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

100. DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

You will notice a theme in this tier—a lot of players who are either in running back timeshares or are the less valuable option in their current platoon (White). Dowdle and Hubbard have VORPs that suggest they should have more trade value, but we have a very small sample size of what they’ll look like in a true platoon going forward. That really hurts the value of both.

Brown, meanwhile, has been one of the most valuable flex options thus far, but that was mostly without Rice available (and a few games without Xavier Worthy as well). He was only targeted four times on Sunday with Rice back, though he did manage to score, so perhaps he’ll maintain some value. But you should probably expect a significant dip in production, and in turn, a dip in trade value.

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Game 1 of the World Series on Friday is a chance for the Blue Jays to show off the refurbished Rogers Centre. Time had taken its toll on the futuristic building that opened as SkyDome, the first baseball stadium with a retractable roof, in 1989.

A $400 million (Canadian) renovation project completed in 2024 has once again turned Torontoâ€s baseball home into a state of the art facility.

So itâ€s easy to forget the franchiseâ€s humble beginnings at Exhibition Stadium, the outdoor venue that even former Blue Jays team president Paul Beeston once called “the worst stadium in sports.â€

The Blue Jays would become baseballâ€s model franchise in the early 1990s. But when they began play as an American League expansion team in 1977, they were far from it. And so was their home ballpark.

“Except for the people in the stands, there wasnâ€t one good thing about that stadium,†Rick Cerone said, laughing.

Cerone was the starting catcher in the first game in Blue Jays history, April 7, 1977, at Exhibition Stadium. The gametime temperature was 32 degrees and snow covered almost the entire playing field.

“The only thing you saw on the opening pitch was the dirt cutouts where the bases were,†Cerone recalled. “Everything else was covered in snow.â€

Torontoâ€s love for baseball was born that day in front of 44,649 fans packed into the converted football stadium on the shores of Lake Ontario. The fans turned out to watch the expansion Blue Jays struggle through 100-loss seasons in each of their first three years.

But the team would get better, winning 89 games in 1983, then winning 99 games and their first AL East division title in 1985.

But the playing conditions at the ballpark remained … questionable.

“It was windy and cold all the time,†said Buck Martinez, catcher on the â€85 team and currently a Blue Jays TV announcer. “In the summertime it was nice, but it just wasnâ€t a Major League ballpark.â€

Converted from a football field, home of the CFLâ€s Toronto Argonauts, Exhibition Stadiumâ€s baseball configuration had a temporary fence in right field, and a grandstand that ran from left field straight out beyond center field, rather than curving around the way a typical baseball stadium does. So some of the fans would be sitting as much as 800 feet from home plate facing the wrong direction.

“Iâ€m willing to bet there were 10-to-15,000 people who couldn’t even see the game because they were below the fence line in the outfield,†said former Blue Jays pitcher Tom Henke. “But they still came. It was amazing.â€

And because the artificial playing surface was built with a crown for proper drainage, the outfield sloped so severely that that hard-hit balls through the infield were almost destined to reach the fence.

The unusual playing surface made for some unusual sightlines for the players, too.

“I could barely see Lloyd Moseby in center field,†Martinez said. “I could only see half of his legs because of the way the field was sloped.â€

The real signature characteristic of Torontoâ€s first baseball stadium was the locale, the great outdoors. In other words, it was cold.

“Down the left-field line, there was a gap between what they called the north grandstand and the left-field bleachers,†Martinez recalled. “So the wind would come off Lake Ontario and go through that gap like a turbine pushing that wind across the field. Early in the season, late in the season, it was frigid.â€

The home team could get used to it, maybe. But the visiting players would suffer.

“Playing in Canada without the domes was challenging to say the least,†said former Expos and Orioles outfielder Ken Singleton. “You had every stitch of clothing in your locker on. To me it was just play the game, get it over with and maybe itâ€ll be warmer tomorrow.â€

“I can remember wearing my coat down in the bullpen until June because of the wind coming off the lake,†said Henke, Torontoâ€s All-Star closer who was told by his manager to not even bother going out to the bullpen until the seventh inning because it was so cold. “The dugouts had heaters, but the bullpen was just a bench sitting down the left-field line by a couple mounds.â€

Eventually the Blue Jays figured out they needed to embrace their home-field advantage. It took future Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox to set them straight early in 1985.

“I remember we were complaining so much about the conditions that Bobby Cox held a meeting and said, ‘You gotta stop complaining,â€â€ said former Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield. “‘Let the other guys complain. This is our home, so stop complaining and use it to our benefit.â€â€

Cold was just one element to deal with.

Fog delays were almost as common as rain delays, and when that fog rolled in, the fans werenâ€t the only ones who couldnâ€t see what was going on.

“We had a fog game, somebody hit a fly ball and it fell in because I couldnâ€t find it,†Singleton recalled. “We were leading at the time, and it was an official game, and when it fell in the second-base umpire, Don Denkinger, accused me of not catching the ball on purpose so they would stop the game and call it.â€

Seagulls would regularly converge on the stands to consume discarded hot dogs and popcorn. Dave Winfield famously nailed one of them while warming up between innings of a Yankees-Blue Jays game in 1983.

Cerone, by then playing for the Yankees, was the one playing catch with Winfield.

“For six innings we tried to hit one, and then Winnie finally did,†Cerone laughed. But it was a serious matter in Toronto, where Winfield was briefly taken into custody.

“They wouldnâ€t let us out of Canada until like 3 oâ€clock in the morning. Everybody on our team hated us,†Cerone recalled.

On the field, the Blue Jays of the mid-1980s became one of baseballâ€s best, and in 1989 they moved into their new digs called SkyDome.

“It was like they had gone to heaven,†Martinez said.

The fans agreed. The 1991 Blue Jays became the first team in Major League history to draw four million fans. Then they won back-to-back World Series in 1992-93.

And if it rains, theyâ€ll be able to close the roof and keep it dry.

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