Tucker and Betts have been among the best players in baseball in recent years, but a bad season appears to have damaged their reputations among baseball fans heading into 2026. Tucker was sixth among corner outfielders and Betts eighth among shortstops.
Who was above Kyle Tucker in the ESPN rankings?
Five of MLB’s biggest stars ranked above Tucker, with AL MVP Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Corbin Carrol, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr. filled the first five places.
Tucker, who the Dodgers signed to a four-year, $240 million contract this offseason, still had a solid 2025 season despite his injury and has managed to maintain a place among the league’s best players.
He hit 22 home runs and recorded 73 RBIs over 136 games and amassed 4.6 bWAR, marking the fifth consecutive season in which his bWAR total reached 4.0.
Tucker’s issues with a hairline fracture in his hand affected his production, but a solid year with the Dodgers in 2026 could very well put him back in the conversation for the Top 3.
Who was above Mookie Betts in the ESPN rankings?
Shortstop is perhaps the most star-studded position in the MLB right now, with virtually every team having a top-quality player on the left side of second base. The quality of the position is so high that the American League’s starting shortstop in the 2025 All-Star Game – the Athletics’ Jacob Wilson – missed the Top 10 entirely.
Seven players are ahead of Betts at No. 8: Bobby Witt Jr., Geraldo Perdomo, Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Jeremy Peña.
Betts had the worst campaign of his career by a wide margin in 2025 and got off to an extremely slow start. He returned to form in August and September 2025, but narrowly pulled his batting line back to league average by the end of the season.
He had a .732 OPS with 20 home runs and 82 RBIs through 150 games last season. Despite his offensive problems, he managed to qualify as a finalist for the NL short stop Gold Glove in his first full season in this position.
The betting is sure to rebound in 2026 and is expected to move up the charts as he continues to prove himself at a new position.
Where do you think Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts rank in their positions?
#Dodgers #stars #shockingly #ESPN #rankings