Voting for the best of anything related to the MLB is almost always a subjective process. After all, those selections are opinions and cannot be proven true or false.
Until now, that is.
In his article, published on March 15th, MLB.com writer Brian Murphy and other beat writers scoured spring training clubhouses to unearth opinions on who currently rules the baseball world. The vote was unsurprisingly unanimous.
Over 100 major league players took part in the informal survey, and every one of them agreed on who the best player in the game is. Los Angeles Dodgers’ megastar Shohei Ohtani, a three-time unanimous MVP, was the obvious choice by all.
As one National League third baseman said: “It’s kind of obvious.”
Ohtani’s credentials are incredulous. Last season, he became the first MLB player to hit at least 50 home runs and steal at least 50 bases (he hit 54 HRs and pilfered 59 bases). And oh yeah, he is also a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher who stayed off the mound in 2024 to heal from Tommy John surgery.
“I know we rave about him — and we should continue to do so — but it’s truly remarkable,” an American League relief pitcher said of Ohtani.
So, the race for the silver is on, and that vote brought out some very poignant opinions.
24-year-old Bobby Witt Jr., the face of the Kansas City Royals franchise, has made a deep impression on MLB players during his brief three-year career. His impact is why other big leaguers gave him the second-most mentions in the “best player” poll.
Witt Jr., the 2024 AL batting champ and two-time member of the 30/30 club, has opened the eyes of his opponents with his offense and defense. Not only are his slugging numbers impressive, but his defensive prowess earned love from his peers.
In another recent poll, Witt Jr. was deemed the third-best MLB defensive player, just behind Toronto’s Andres Gimenez and Mets’ infielder Francisco Lindor.
“Shortstop is the golden position as far as defense goes, and he’s the best one right now,” said an AL starting pitcher.
Added an AL first baseman: “I think he has the best range in baseball.”
To add to his versatility, Witt Jr. is considered the fastest player currently playing in major league baseball, making him a triple threat.
“On all sides of the ball, Bobby is really hard to gameplan for and to handle,” an NL catcher said. “You make good pitches and he puts the ball in play. He has unbelievable speed. Great defensive player. Stupid power that’s really starting to come out. I think the next couple of years, you’re going to see him take off.”
Players are so impressed with Witt Jr. that even though Ohtani was the consensus pick for best player, the Royals’ star has given his peers reason for reflection.
“It’s Shohei, but I can see a case for Bobby Witt Jr,” a National League outfielder said. “He hit a homer against us one time and you’re mad, but you’re also like, ‘Man, he has so much aura.'”
Witt Jr. has made his team considerably better. Just one season after Kansas City disastrously lost 106 games, the Royals qualified for the American League playoffs in 2024. Their 86-76 record last season marked a 30-game improvement over 2023.
Royals’ manager Matt Quatraro understands Witt Jr. is a generational player for his team.
“I don’t take it for granted, that’s for sure” said Quatraro about what it is like to lead a talent like Witt Jr. “You know that is something you don’t have every year in your clubhouse, and to not only have him as what you see on the field physically but what he is as a person, the leader in the community. When you pair him with what Salvy (Salvador Perez) does in all those areas, it’s a really special duo.”
Rounding out the top 5 “Best Players” as voted on by current players are Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, and Corey Seager.
At 24, Witt Jr’s best baseball days are ahead of him. The strides he has taken in just three major league seasons are staggering, and his ceiling conceivably has no limit.
Going from a 22-year-old starting shortstop to one of MLB’s best players in just three seasons has been nothing short of remarkable. If Witt Jr. continues his upward trend, there is no stopping what he can accomplish.
Although Fangraphs predicts a slight dip in his performance in 2025, he is without question one of the brightest and most talented stars the game has to offer. Unfortunately for him, as long as the dual threat in Los Angeles continues to manufacture inhuman statistics, Witt Jr. will have to settle for being second-best.
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