The top 50 players in the 2024 postseason

The top 50 players in the 2024 postseason

3:18 AM UTC

October is always the most thrilling month for Major League Baseball. The drama, the intensity of every pitch, the late nights that leave you groggy the whole next day. This is baseball's month to strut its stuff. The game is at its absolute best.

It's also a chance for stars to truly shine. Baseball's greatest players have had their most indelible moments in October, from Reggie Jackson's World Series homers to Madison Bumgarner's dominance to Derek Jeter's clutch heroics.

There will be plenty of stars on display this October, to say the least. Some of these players have been great for years; some are new arrivals. But all of them are absolutely pivotal to their team's success. These guys are as good as it gets.

Here is a look at the top 50 players who will appear in the 2024 postseason. This list is not based solely on career value, but rather a mix of 2024 form, track record and health.

1. , CF, Yankees
Who had a better season: Judge or Shohei Ohtani? We had a big survey of MLB.com contributors, and we were unable to come up with a definitive answer. Ultimately in that survey, I went with Judge, mostly because he might be having the best season by a right-handed hitter in MLB history, which is maybe the only thing that could beat the 50-50 numbers Ohtani put up. But there’s no wrong answer here. Maybe Ohtani will pass him next year when he’s, you know, pitching.

2. , DH, Dodgers
At last, Ohtani gets to make his MLB postseason debut; all it took was moving a few miles from Anaheim to Chavez Ravine. He has celebrated his first year in Dodger Blue with a mind-blowing offensive season. There isn’t a single thing he’ll do these playoffs that won’t make you stop everything else you’re doing to watch.

3. , SS, Royals
Witt would have won the AL MVP Award in any other season, and considering how young he is, there is clearly one coming in his future, and probably several. He’s about to get a huge introduction on the grandest possible stage.

4. , RF, Dodgers
He was No. 1 last year, and all told, it might just be injuries that kept him from that spot this year. The guy who can do anything is all set up to do everything this October.

5. , SP, Tigers
The Tigers’ stunning sprint into the postseason gives the world a chance to watch the pitching Triple Crown winner (and sure AL Cy Young winner) doing his thing in the playoffs. This is peak pitching right now, what he’s doing.

6. , LF, Yankees
He’s about to make all the money this offseason, and every at-bat this October may add a bit more to that contract. The one-two punch he and Judge provide is scary in the regular season and downright terrifying in the playoffs.

7. , 1B, Phillies
He, famously, has never won a World Series, and the likely future Hall of Famer may never have a better chance than he does right now. We have seen him come up massive in many postseasons so far. Is this finally the year he goes all the way?

8. , SS, Mets
Lindor became a true New York star this year, putting up an MVP-level season for a team that few had many expectations for heading into the season. The only question here is how healthy he will be, but hey, he looked pretty healthy on Monday.

9. , SS, Orioles
Even when the lineup was struggling around him, Gunnar never stopped hitting. Out of all the young phenom Orioles hitters, he has established himself as the centerpiece.

10. , 3B, Guardians
He may never end up winning that MVP Award that he has richly deserved, but Ramírez just keeps on putting up great season after great season, going 39-41 in 2024. He remains underappreciated, but that’ll stop if he leads Cleveland to that long-awaited World Series title.

11. , DH, Astros
Just a pure hitter in every way, as consistent a bat as you’ll find in the Majors. And we’ve seen him do it in the postseason, too. You just have to hope he’ll be ready to go despite a knee issue.

12. , 1B, Dodgers
Only on this Dodgers team could an MVP and likely future Hall of Famer almost get lost despite being just as good, if not better, than he always is. Hopefully, his recent ankle injury doesn’t hinder him.

13. , SP, Phillies
The Phillies rotation went through some ups and downs this year, but you never had to worry about Wheeler.

14. , 3B, Padres
He struggled with injuries for most of the year but sure has been looking like himself of late. Machado still hasn’t won a World Series, despite getting relatively close with multiple teams, but this could be the year.

15. , SP, Yankees
Many worried the Yankees were doomed when he started the season on the injured list, but the fact that they were terrific without him shouldn’t diminish his importance this postseason in any way.

16. , SS, Brewers
Forever the secret weapon for the Brewers, Adames had the best season of his career. He was the best, most consistent player for one of the best teams in baseball.

17. , SS, Phillies
In terms of pure talent, there are few athletes more blessed than Turner, with his blazing speed and surprising pop. And remember: Unlike everyone else on the Phillies, he already has a World Series ring.

18. , 2B, Astros
The legend is back in the postseason, as always, still the heart and soul of a team that he is trying to lead to its stunning eighth straight ALCS.

19. , RF, Astros
It’s a cliché to call Tucker “underrated” at this point. While injuries limited him this year, when he played, he had the best offensive season of his career. And he’s playing now.

20. , DH, Braves
Ozuna has hit like his old Marlins self this year -- better, actually, at one point being a real contender for a Triple Crown. His bat has carried the team during an injury-plagued year.

21. , SP, Orioles
His stuff isn’t quite what it was during his Cy Young season in Milwaukee, but it has been close enough for the Orioles to feel incredibly comfortable with him as their playoff ace.

22. , RP, Guardians
It’s difficult to have a better season as a closer than Clase just had. If you see him late in a postseason game, you’ve already lost.

23. , SP, Royals
His stuff is electric. Can you believe this guy was traded for two months of Aroldis Chapman last year?

24. , SP, Royals
One of the most amazing things about Lugo’s fantastic season is that he -- once a relief specialist -- came up just two innings short of leading the Majors. And they were terrific innings, too.

25. , RF, Padres
Injuries held him back again, but for the first time since his suspension, he looked at times like the superstar we all once knew. Remember, too: He is still only 25 years old.

26. , LF, Brewers
Too high for the 20-year-old? You clearly didn’t see him in the second half. This guy is a superstar in waiting, and we’re all about to witness why in the postseason.

27. , CF, Padres
Of all the rookie Jacksons this year, Merrill was not expected to be one of the standouts. But he has been a godsend for the Padres … and the last guy you want to face late in a close game.

28. , 3B, Astros
Bregman had an excellent return to form this year, and we all know he’s been here many, many times before.

29. , C, Brewers
The Brewers essentially stole Contreras two years ago by sneaking him into the Sean Murphy trade between the Braves and A’s. Contreras has been a mainstay (and All-Star) both at the plate and behind the dish since.

30. , LF, Tigers
Some of the Tigers’ young hitting prospects haven’t exactly come along on the timeline the team might have preferred, but Greene sure has. He’s the guy in this lineup you can’t let beat you.

31. , SP, Padres
He threw a no-hitter earlier this year, and he has that sort of no-hit stuff when he’s on.

32. Key Closers: , Mets; , Brewers; , Padres; , Phillies; , Braves
It’s impossible to tell which closer will stand out this postseason, but these are the best five … after Clase, who is a cut above. Take your pick!

33. , SP, Braves
Sale was scratched from Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader due to back spasms and now won't pitch in the Wild Card Series, but if the Braves advance, he’ll have another chance to start a huge game for them. One of the best stories of the year, Sale went from being the perpetually injured former star who always fell just short of winning a Cy Young to being the ace, the salvation really, for a Braves staff that found a way to crawl into the playoffs. Looks like he’s going to finally get that Cy, too.

34. , RF, Orioles
The relative veteran on this roster, he hits for power -- which, contrary to the conventional wisdom, is what tends to win postseason games.

35. , SP, Braves
Back from injury, he gives the Braves a potentially scary one-two southpaw punch in the postseason, along with Sale.

36. , SP, Astros
He’s looking like an ace on this team again of late … if anything, we have him too low here.

37. , DH, Phillies
Forever a burden to deal with at the plate, and we’ve all seen what he can do in the postseason … for nearly a decade now.

38. , 1B/DH, Padres
A unique player, Arraez has been a sparkplug for the Padres since arriving in a trade from Miami.

39. , LF, Dodgers
The other player the Dodgers brought in via free agency this offseason has been a consistent power threat and a much-needed supplement to the lineup’s Big Three.

40. , 3B, Phillies
He has earned his stripes in Philly and feels like one of the vets already.

41. , LF, Mets
The longtime Met does all the little things right … and this year, people have finally started to notice. He did a big thing right on Monday, socking a huge home run in the Mets’ clinching victory.

42. , C, Phillies
His offense is down from its peak, but this is still one of the best, most valuable, catchers in baseball.

43. , LF, Orioles
Here’s another Orioles player who emerged this year, and still has some more steps yet to come.

44. , SP, Phillies
Who would have thought he’d end up being ahead of Aaron Nola on this list?

45. , 1B, Mets
Is this his final year with this team? Nobody wants to think about that now. Alonso and the Mets are just having too much fun.

46. , 1B, Braves
A streaky hitter, but few are more powerful when he’s on … and he has been on more often than not of late.

47. , C/1B, Royals
The one guy left from that 2015 championship team … and he’s just as important to the Royals now as he was then.

48. , C, Orioles
Is an injury the reason he has struggled so much at the plate in the second half? He remains the leader of this team.

49. , 3B, Yankees
He may have finally become his best self, the one the Marlins were waiting on, when he arrived in The Bronx.

50. , LF, Padres
The most unlikely first-time All-Star (a starter, even!) ever, the one-time phenom has been a savior for the Friars this year.