Two titans tied atop latest Hitter Power Rankings

Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani?

It’s a choice with which AL MVP voters have been plenty familiar in recent years. Ohtani won in 2021 (with Judge fourth), Judge won in 2022 (with Ohtani second), and Ohtani won again in 2023 (with Judge 15th, thanks to an extended injury absence). But now, with Ohtani in the NL, these two titans of the sport can no longer go head to head in that particular arena.

You know where they still can lock horns, though? The Hitter Power Rankings. Over our first eight polls this season, Ohtani finished first once and second four times. After a slow-ish start, Judge topped each of our last four polls -- three of them directly above Ohtani.

Our MLB.com voting panel always considers a combination of career track record, season-long performance and recent success in casting their ballots, and this week, there was no separating these two superstars. Instead, we have our first tie atop the Hitter Power Rankings in 2024.

(All stats below are through Tuesday’s games.)

1 (tie). Aaron Judge, Yankees (Last poll: 1)
1 (tie). Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (2)

Ohtani got one more first-place vote than Judge, but the two wound up exactly even in terms of total points. On one hand, Judge still boasts somewhat gaudier 2024 stats, leading the Majors in OBP (.439), slugging (.674), wRC+ (207), homers (35) and RBIs (89), mostly by significant margins.

But while Judge has not exactly been struggling, Ohtani has perhaps stated a stronger case of late. His 116.7 mph, 473-foot blast over the Dodger Stadium bleachers against the Red Sox on the most recent edition of Sunday Night Baseball was the sort of awe-inspiring feat that leaves a lasting impression. It also made him the second player this year to reach the 30-homer mark, and he is now only six steals away from his first 30-30 campaign.

3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (4)
When Witt is hot at the plate, he is just about unstoppable. We saw that early in the season, when he notched his only other top-three placement in this poll. And we’re seeing it again now. In his past 17 games, Witt is hitting an astonishing .508, with seven three-hit games (including four in a row coming out of the All-Star break). The 24-year-old leads the Majors in hits (138) and runs scored (82), and as of Wednesday he had nosed ahead of Judge for the MLB lead in FanGraphs WAR (6.8).

4. Juan Soto, Yankees (5)
Soto has ranked in the top five of each edition of the Hitter Power Rankings as he continues to craft an exemplary closing statement in his final year before reaching free agency. While everything starts with Soto’s discerning eye at the plate, the fact that he is absolutely crushing the ball in 2024 should not be undersold. He ranks third among qualifying Major Leaguers in hard-hit rate and is tied for second with Ohtani in barrels, behind only Judge.

5. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (3)
Through 99 games this season, Henderson already had 28 homers to go along with a 170 OPS+. The only two previous shortstops age 23 or younger to have an OPS+ in that vicinity in a 30-homer season were Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2021 (42 HR, 166 OPS+) and Alex Rodriguez in 1996 (36 HR, 161 OPS+).

6. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (8)
Everything seems back to normal now in Houston, with the Astros at the top of the AL West and Alvarez destroying baseballs. While his first two months were subpar by his high standards (.792 OPS through May), Alvarez has been a monster again since June 1, slashing .355/.451/.717 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 39 games.

7. Bryce Harper, Phillies (9)
After a nine-game stint on the IL for a minor left hamstring strain, Harper returned on July 9 and since then has slugged .541 with three homers in 10 games, while walking more times than he has struck out. In other words, he seems just fine.

8. Brent Rooker, A’s (not ranked)
Rooker is making his omission from the AL All-Star squad look glaring, batting a torrid .424/.507/.898 in July, with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 17 games. The 29-year-old didn’t get his first extended big league shot until last year in Oakland but has made the most of it, with a 144 OPS+ and 53 homers in 225 games as a member of the A’s. If available, he would be a difference-making Deadline addition for a contender.

9. Rafael Devers, Red Sox (6)
Red Sox fans got a big-time scare on Tuesday night, when Devers appeared to seriously injure his right shoulder trying to make a diving stop at third base. Fortunately, the All-Star turned out to be OK. It would have been a real shame if Devers’ superb season were interrupted: His .370 OBP, .578 SLG and 157 OPS+ are all career highs.

10. Jarren Duran, Red Sox (not ranked)
Duran makes his Hitter Power Rankings debut here, but he has been a dynamic threat at the top of the Red Sox lineup all season long. The 27-year-old won the All-Star Game MVP Award thanks to a key home run, but it’s actually his other extra-base hits that stand out the most. Duran leads the AL with 30 doubles and MLB with 11 triples. If Duran could get to 40 doubles and 15 triples, he would join George Brett (1979) as the only hitter to reach both numbers in a season since Stan Musial did it three times in the 1940s.

Others receiving votes: Steven Kwan (Guardians), Marcell Ozuna (Braves), José Ramírez (Guardians), Anthony Santander (Orioles), Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Trea Turner (Phillies), Francisco Lindor (Mets), Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Lawrence Butler (A’s), Ketel Marte (D-backs), Alec Burleson (Cardinals), Brenton Doyle (Rockies), Colt Keith (Tigers)

Voters: Chris Begley, Jason Catania, Theo DeRosa, Daniel Feldman, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Ismail Soyugenc, David Venn, Tom Vourtsis, Andy Werle