Since 1988, Baseball America has polled MLB personnel on the players with the best scouting tools in baseball. Here are their answers for the top players from each league across 25 different scouting categories.
American League
Few outcomes are more certain than Aaron Judge receiving Best Tools votes in the American League best power category.
The Yankees’ 32-year-old center fielder won the category as a rookie in 2017 and then again in 2018, 2022 and now 2024. Judge also finished runner-up in 2019 and 2023.
The names surrounding Judge on the all-time Best Tools leaderboard for best power are telling: Giancarlo Stanton, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols. That quintet has combined to hit 3,164 home runs—and counting.
What’s even more notable this year is Judge’s first win for best hitter. It is the first time he has ever earned a top-three finish, let alone first place.
It’s easy to see why Judge received so much attention for his bat. Heading into August, he led AL hitters in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging as the favorite to win a second MVP award.
Best Hitter
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Juan Soto, Yankees
3. Steven Kwan, Guardians
Best Power
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros
Best Bunter
1. Cedric Mullins, Orioles
2. Jose Altuve, Astros
3. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Juan Soto, Yankees
2. Kyle Tucker, Astros
3. Steven Kwan, Guardians
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Steven Kwan, Guardians
2. Jose Altuve, Astros
3. Salvador Perez, Royals
Best Baserunner
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians
3. Jarren Duran, Red Sox
Fastest Baserunner
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
2. Byron Buxton, Twins
3. Dairon Blanco, Royals
Most Exciting Player
1. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
3. Aaron Judge, Yankees
Best Pitcher
1. Corbin Burnes, Orioles
2. Tarik Skubal, Tigers
3. George Kirby, Mariners
Best Fastball
1. Mason Miller, Athletics
2. Cole Ragans, Royals
3. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
Best Curveball
1. Seth Lugo, Royals
2. Corbin Burnes, Orioles
3. Justin Verlander, Astros
Best Slider
1. Tanner Houck, Red Sox
2. Griffin Jax, Twins
3. Hunter Gaddis, Guardians
Best Changeup
1. Michael Wacha, Royals
2. Tyler Anderson, Angels
3. Tanner Houck, Red Sox
Best Control
1. George Kirby, Mariners
2. Zach Eflin, Orioles
3. Joe Ryan, Twins
Best Pickoff Move
1. Jon Gray, Rangers
2. Tanner Bibee, Guardians
3. Nestor Cortes, Yankees
Best Reliever
1. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
2. Mason Miller, Athletics
3. Andres Muñoz, Mariners
Best Defensive Catcher
1. Cal Raleigh, Mariners
2. Jonah Heim, Rangers
3. Jose Trevino, Yankees
Best Defensive First Baseman
1. Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers
2. Carlos Santana, Twins
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Best Defensive Second Baseman
1. Marcus Semien, Rangers
2. Andres Gimenez, Guardians
3. Nicky Lopez, White Sox
Best Defensive Third Baseman
1. Josh Rojas, Mariners
2. Alex Bregman, Astros
3. Jose Ramirez, Guardians
Best Defensive Shortstop
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
2. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
3. JP Crawford, Mariners
Best Infield Arm
1. Carlos Correa, Twins
2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
3. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
Best Defensive Outfielder
1. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays
2. Byron Buxton, Twins
3. Leody Taveras, Rangers
Best Outfield Arm
1. Adolis Garcia, Rangers
2. Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays
3. Colton Cowser, Orioles
Best Manager
1. Bruce Bochy, Rangers
2. Kevin Cash, Rays
3. Brandon Hyde, Orioles
National League
Player value can be debated ad nauseam , but major league managers are clear on one point.
Shohei Ohtani is the most exciting player in baseball.
The 30-year-old Dodgers DH has won that Best Tools category in every season since the pandemic, the first three in the American League when he was with the Angels.
This year, National League managers chose Ohtani as best hitter, best power and most exciting player.
That all checks out. As August dawned, Ohtani led the NL in batting, on-base percentage, slugging, home runs and a few other key categories.
Oh, and Ohtani is plenty valuable, too. He is the odds-on favorite to win his third MVP award this year.
Best Hitter
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
2. Bryce Harper, Phillies
3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Best Power
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
2. Bryce Harper, Phillies
3. Oneil Cruz, Pirates
Best Bunter
1. Jacob Young, Nationals
2. TJ Friedl, Reds
3. Jake McCarthy, D-backs
Best Strike-Zone Judgment
1. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
2. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
3. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
Best Hit-And-Run Artist
1. Luis Arraez, Padres
2. William Contreras, Brewers
3. Nico Hoerner, Cubs
Best Baserunner
1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds
2. Corbin Carroll, D-backs
3. Trea Turner, Phillies
Fastest Baserunner
1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds
2. Trea Turner, Phillies
3. Victor Scott II, Cardinals
Most Exciting Player
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
2. Elly De La Cruz, Reds
3. Paul Skenes, Pirates
Best Pitcher
1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies
2. Chris Sale, Braves
3. Paul Skenes, Pirates
Best Fastball
1. Paul Skenes, Pirates
2. Hunter Greene, Reds
3. Reynaldo Lopez, Braves
Best Curveball
1. Aaron Nola, Phillies
2. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers
3. Max Fried, Braves
Best Slider
1. Chris Sale, Braves
2. Ryan Helsley, Cardinals
3. Dylan Cease, Padres
Best Changeup
1. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies
2. Logan Webb, Giants
3. Freddy Peralta, Brewers
Best Control
1. Aaron Nola, Phillies
2. Logan Webb, Giants
3. Shota Imanaga, Cubs
Best Pickoff Move
1. Charlie Morton, Braves
2. Patrick Corbin, Nationals
3. Max Fried, Braves
Best Reliever
1. Ryan Helsley, Cardinals
2. Tanner Scott, Marlins
3. Robert Suarez, Padres
Best Defensive Catcher
1. Patrick Bailey, Giants
2. JT Realmuto, Phillies
3. Gabriel Moreno, D-backs
Best Defensive First Baseman
1. Christian Walker, D-backs
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
3. Matt Olson, Braves
Best Defensive Second Baseman
1. Brice Turang, Brewers
2. Ketel Marte, D-backs
3. Nico Hoerner, Cubs
Best Defensive Third Baseman
1. Matt Chapman, Giants
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates
3. Ryan McMahon, Rockies
Best Defensive Shortstop
1. Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies
2. Dansby Swanson, Cubs
3. Elly De La Cruz, Reds
Best Infield Arm
1. Masyn Winn, Cardinals
2. Oneil Cruz, Pirates
3. Elly De La Cruz, Reds
Best Defensive Outfielder
1. Brenton Doyle, Rockies
2. Jacob Young, Nationals
3. Michael Siani, Cardinals
Best Outfield Arm
1. Nolan Jones, Rockies
2. Fernando Tatis Jr, Padres
3. Brenton Doyle, Rockies
Best Manager
1. Rob Thomson, Phillies
2. Pat Murphy, Brewers
3. Dave Roberts, Dodgers
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