Players Challenge ESPN's 2025 MLB Rankings Methodology

When ESPN unveiled its annual Top 100 MLB Players list, the baseball community erupted with reactions ranging from polite skepticism to outright disbelief. We went straight to the source - 15 current major leaguers - to get their unfiltered takes on what they consider a ranking system skewed toward hype over performance.

The Judge Controversy

"You've got Judge as the fourth-best player? Am I tripping here?" demanded Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham, referencing Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's placement. Multiple players echoed this sentiment, pointing to Judge's historic 2024 season where he posted:

• .321 batting average
• 58 home runs
• 223 OPS+ (highest ever for a right-handed hitter)

Veteran Andrew McCutchen summarized: "What Judge did for consecutive seasons, it's hard to justify Bobby Witt Jr. at #2 over him."

Rookies vs. Veterans: The Great Debate

Several veterans took exception to rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki (#60) ranking above established stars like 10-year catcher J.T. Realmuto:

"In what world does that make sense?" asked one All-Star (speaking anonymously). "You're rewarding two good months over a decade of elite production?"

Another flashpoint: Paul Skenes at #5 surpassing Francisco Lindor (#16). "A shortstop who plays daily and just finished second in MVP voting behind a pitcher who doesn't hit?" one player challenged.

Position Player Bias?

The list featured only three starting pitchers in the Top 20, sparking debate about positional value:

• Adam Ottavino (Yankees reliever) noted: "Chris Sale at #32 behind DH Brent Rooker? A true ace impacts every game."
• Zack Wheeler (#9) and Tarik Skubal (#10) were called "undervalued" by multiple players

The Ohtani Exception

While most agreed with Shohei Ohtani's #1 ranking as the game's only true two-way player, McCutchen raised structural questions:

"Ranking pitchers and hitters together is like mixing NFL offense/defense. Skenes at #5 doesn't hit - that skews everything."

Notable Snubs and Headscratchers

• Ronald Acuña Jr. (#20): "Coming off 41HR/73SB MVP season? Too low," said Braves teammate Austin Riley
• Mike Trout (#33): "Same as last year - way too low," protested Matt Olson
• Corey Seager (#21): "I don't know why Seager's so low," said former teammate Manny Machado

Market Value vs. Rankings

Ottavino highlighted a disconnect: "First basemen dominate the top rankings, yet get paid one-third of what ace pitchers earn in free agency." He referenced Pete Alonso's contract versus Max Fried's $218M deal as evidence.

The Verdict from the Clubhouse

As Braves infielder Riley concluded: "After #30, it's a free-for-all." The players' consensus? While ESPN's list sparks debate (and maybe a few clubhouse arguments), it ultimately underscores baseball's beautiful complexity - where stats, potential, and positional value never compute neatly.

For the complete position-by-position breakdown: ESPN's MLB Rank 2025 Analysis