Who makes the final Hitter Power Rankings?

Who makes the final Hitter Power Rankings?

September 19th, 2024

Way back in early April, we published our first Hitter Power Rankings of 2024. A lot -- but certainly not everything -- has changed since then.

There have been injuries, slumps, hot streaks and resurgences, each exerting their influence on the results of this poll. A dozen editions later, here we are. This is the final Hitter Power Rankings of the 2024 regular season -- our last chance this year to stack up hitters from all 30 teams.

As always, our MLB.com panel considered career track record, season-long success and recent performance in casting their votes.

All stats are through Tuesday’s games.

1. , Yankees (Last poll: 1)
This is nine straight No. 1 finishes for Judge to end the season, this one despite an uncharacteristic 16-game homerless stretch from Aug. 26-Sept. 12 during which he posted a .611 OPS. (He responded with six hits and two homers over his next four games.) That Judge is still at .323/.456/.692 with 53 homers and 136 RBIs overall, despite that hiccup, showing how ridiculous most of his season has been.

2. , Dodgers (2)
Ohtani was the first MLB player with a 43-homer, 43-steal season, and on Tuesday night, he reached 48-48 as he continues to close in on the magical 50-50 mark. In addition to that, Ohtani is in line to lead the NL in homers, slugging, OPS and total bases after doing the same in the AL last year.

3. , Royals (3)
Is Witt having the best season by a Royals position player in franchise history? Quite possibly. By FanGraphs’ version of WAR, Witt (9.9) already passed George Brett (9.1 in 1980) for Kansas City’s single-season record. By Baseball-Reference’s version, Witt (9.1) was still a tick behind Brett (9.4) entering Wednesday. Either way, it’s been a season for the ages, and it’s all happening with Witt just 24 years old.

4. , Yankees (4)
Along with Ohtani, Soto is one of two hitters to appear in the top 10 of all 13 polls this season. And he is the only one to appear in the top five of each. The accolades and milestones just keep on coming for Soto, who on Tuesday night reached 200 career homers and completed his tour of homering in all 30 current Major League parks. Next up: Going for his second World Series ring, then a massive free agent payday.

5. , Astros (5)
Early this season, Alvarez seemed a little off. Now, though? Through Tuesday, his 170 OPS+ was an exact match for what he produced in 2023 and slightly above his career mark of 166. One key: He’s taken his imperviousness to left-handed pitching to another level in 2024 (.374/.422/.637 in 199 plate appearances).

6. , Blue Jays (6)
Could Guerrero sneak his way into his first batting title? He’s batting .384 since the All-Star break, bumping his season average up to .322. That was just behind Judge (.323) and within striking distance of Witt (.331), through Tuesday.

7. , A’s (8)
Here are two hitters’ lines since July 1:

Hitter A: .332 BA, .672 SLG, 216 wRC+, 22 HR, 54 RBIs
Hitter B: .346 BA, .667 SLG, 202 wRC+, 23 HR, 62 RBIs

Hitter A is Judge. Hitter B is Rooker, who now ranks third in the Majors this season in wRC+ (170), tied for third in RBIs (109), fourth in slugging (.584) and fifth in homers (38).

8. , Orioles (not ranked)
After appearing in seven straight polls, Henderson dropped out of our last one, but now he’s back. While the Orioles have been struggling, Henderson has been doing his best to keep them going, batting .327/.406/.655 in September. He needs to go deep just three more times for a rare 40-homer season at shortstop.

9. , Padres (not ranked)
Arraez’s astounding no-strikeout streak finally ended on Monday after 141 plate appearances, but it was still an incredible achievement. His K-rate this season is now at a microscopic 4.4%. When compared against the MLB-wide rate of 22.5%, it’s the lowest in a season since Tony Gwynn in 1995.

10. , A’s (10)
When Butler came out of nowhere to hit .363/.408/.802 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs in July, it could have just been one outstanding-yet-fluky month. But while Butler obviously hasn’t maintained that pace -- who could? -- his subsequent production has shown that he may be here to stay as a force in the A’s lineup. Since Aug. 1, Butler is hitting .293/.335/.568 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs, while nabbing AL Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.

Others receiving votes: Francisco Lindor (Mets), Eugenio Suárez (D-backs), José Ramírez (Guardians), Jackson Merrill (Padres), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Manny Machado (Padres), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Elly De La Cruz (Reds)