American League

Surprise, surprise—Aaron Judge’s name is still plastered all over Best Tools voting. The Yankees slugger, who won his second AL MVP last year and could add a third with a strong finish to 2025, has now won the Best Power category five times (with runner-up finishes in two other seasons). He’s also a back-to-back winner for Best Hitter.

Royals do-everything shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is also becoming a Best Tools stalwart, as he now routinely ranks as one of the best all-around players in the game.

Best Hitter

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians

3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

Best Power

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

2. Cal Raleigh, Mariners

3. Junior Caminero, Rays

Best Bunter

1. Steven Kwan, Guardians

2. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

3. Kyle Isbel, Royals

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

1. Steven Kwan, Guardians

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

3. Aaron Judge, Yankees

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

1. Steven Kwan, Guardians

2. Jacob Wilson, Athletics

3. Ernie Clement, Blue Jays

Best Baserunner

1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

2. Chandler Simpson, Rays

3. Byron Buxton, Twins

Fastest Baserunner

1. Chandler Simpson, Rays

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

3. Byron Buxton, Twins

Most Exciting Player

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

3. Byron Buxton, Twins

Best Pitcher

1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers

2. Garrett Crochet, Red Sox

3. Jacob deGrom, Rangers

Best Fastball

1. Mason Miller, Athletics (traded to Padres)

2. Joe Ryan, Twins

3. Tarik Skubal, Tigers

Best Curveball

1. Hunter Brown, Astros

2. Framber Valdez, Astros

2. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers

Best Slider

1. Jacob deGrom, Rangers

2. Griffin Jax, Twins/Rays

3. Matt Brash, Mariners

Best Changeup

1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers

2. Michael Wacha, Royals

3. Devin Williams, Yankees

Best Control

1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers

2. Jacob deGrom, Rangers

3. Bryan Woo, Mariners

Best Pickoff Move

1. Max Fried, Yankees

2. Gavin Williams, Guardians

3. Tanner Bibee, Guardians

Best Reliever

1. Josh Hader, Astros

2. Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox

3. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians*

* Clase was placed on administrative leave on July 28 while MLB investigates allegations of sports gambling

Best Defensive C

1. Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays

2. Dillon Dingler, Tigers

3. Carlos Narvaez, Red Sox

Best Defensive 1B

1. Carlos Santana, Guardians

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

3. Ty France, Twins/Blue Jays

Best Defensive 2B

1. Andres Gimenez, Blue Jays

2. Marcus Semien, Rangers

3. Ernie Clement, Blue Jays

Best Defensive 3B

1. Jose Ramirez, Guardians

2. Alex Bregman, Red Sox

3. Maikel Garcia, Royals

Best Defensive SS

1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

2. Jeremy Peña, Astros

3. Taylor Walls, Rays

Best Infield Arm

1. Carlos Correa, Twins

2. Addison Barger, Blue Jays

3. Maikel Garcia, Royals

Best Defensive OF

1. Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox

2. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

3. Byron Buxton, Twins

Best Outfield Arm

1. Addison Barger, Blue Jays

2. Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

3. Nolan Jones, Guardians

Best Manager

1. AJ Hinch, Tigers

2. Kevin Cash, Rays

3. Bruce Bochy, Rangers

National League

Move over, Shohei Ohtani?

Despite being in line for what would be his third straight MVP (and fourth overall), the Dodgers’ two-way star was bumped out of the top spot for both Best Hitter and Most Exciting Player in the NL this year. The latter is perhaps more surprising, because the Japanese phenom had claimed the title every year since the pandemic until being usurped by rising Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong for 2025.

Speaking of Crow-Armstrong, his name is all over this year’s ballot. With power, speed and exemplary defense, the 23-year-old outfielder looks to have the goods to be a long-time Best Tools winner.

Best Hitter

1. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

3. Manny Machado, Padres

Best Power

1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

2. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

3. Eugenio Suarez, D-backs (traded to Mariners)

Best Bunter

1. Jacob Young, Nationals

2. TJ Friedl, Reds

3. Victor Scott II, Cardinals

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

1. Juan Soto, Mets

2. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

3. Kyle Tucker, Cubs

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

1. Luis Arraez, Padres

2. Nico Hoerner, Cubs

3. Xavier Edwards, Marlins

Best Baserunner

1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

3. Trea Turner, Phillies

Fastest Baserunner

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

2. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

3. Trea Turner, Phillies

Most Exciting Player

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

3. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

Best Pitcher

1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies

2. Paul Skenes, Pirates

3. Logan Webb, Giants

Best Fastball

1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies

2. Paul Skenes, Pirates

3. Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers

Best Curveball

1. MacKenzie Gore, Nationals

2. Sonny Gray, Cardinals

3. Edward Cabrera, Marlins

Best Slider

1. Chris Sale, Braves

2. Dylan Cease, Padres

3. Paul Skenes, Pirates

Best Changeup

1. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies

2. Logan Webb, Giants

3. Michael King, Padres

Best Control

1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies

2. Logan Webb, Giants

3. Sonny Gray, Cardinals

Best Pickoff Move

1. Matthew Boyd, Cubs

2. Robbie Ray, Giants

3. Merrill Kelly, D-backs (traded to Rangers)

Best Reliever

1. Adrian Morejon, Padres

2. Randy Rodriguez, Giants

3. Edwin Diaz, Mets

Best Defensive C

1. Patrick Bailey, Giants

2. Will Smith, Dodgers

3. William Contreras, Brewers

Best Defensive 1B

1. Matt Olson, Braves

2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

3. Willson Contreras, Cardinals

Best Defensive 2B

1. Brice Turang, Brewers

2. Nico Hoerner, Cubs

3. Bryson Stott, Phillies

Best Defensive 3B

1. Matt Chapman, Giants

2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates/Reds

3. Manny Machado, Padres

Best Defensive SS

1. Masyn Winn, Cardinals

2. Dansby Swanson, Cubs

3. Nick Allen, Braves

Best Infield Arm

1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

2. Masyn Winn, Cardinals

3. Matt Chapman, Giants

Best Defensive OF

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

2. Jacob Young, Nationals

3. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

Best Outfield Arm

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

3. Brenton Doyle, Rockies

Best Manager

1. Craig Counsell, Cubs

2. Pat Murphy, Brewers

3. Dave Roberts, Dodgers