In the previous year’s iteration of The Athletic‘s annual MLB Player Poll, nearly 60% of the players we interviewed anticipated that Shohei Ohtani would be playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. The mammoth contract and associated deferrals that accompanied this decision were beyond their wildest imaginations, but they certainly have opinions about it now.
During the spring of this year, spanning two and a half months, we conducted interviews with over 100 players – evenly split between the American and National Leagues. These players were drawn from 18 different teams, and they were given anonymity to deliver unfiltered insights on some of the most significant and contentious storylines in baseball. Aside from sharing their thoughts on the extensive offseason spending spree by the Los Angeles team, we also discovered who they believe is the most overrated player and what comments from former players annoy them the most.
This is not a strictly scientific poll – not every player responded to every question, and we’ve disclosed the response numbers for transparency. Nevertheless, it offers an intriguing glimpse into the minds of those who are presently playing and influencing the game.
Let’s delve into what they had to say.
Note: Some player quotes have been edited slightly for brevity and clarity.
1. Who is the best player in baseball?
Once again, it appears that Ohtani is the indisputable choice. Even for those who witness his performances up close on a regular basis, his appeal has not diminished over time.
Forty-six percent of those surveyed named the two-time MVP as the top player in the sport. Several others acknowledged Ohtani as the correct answer but opted for a different response to avoid predictability.
One player expressed, “That’s a lame response. Seems so bland. But… it’s the truth.”
Ronald Acuña Jr., who suffered an ACL injury in May and is out for the season, secured the second spot in the players’ preferences with over a quarter of the vote. Following closely were Ohtani’s teammate Mookie Betts and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, each receiving 8.8% of the votes. Mike Trout rounded out the selection with 3.9%.
Other players receiving votes included Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman of the Orioles, José Ramirez of the Guardians, and Corey Seager of the Rangers.
In their own words
More on Ohtani:
“There’s simply no comparison. Everyone has their comparisons, but he is in a league of his own.”
“Shohei Ruth or Babe Ohtani – no debate.”
On Acuña:
“It’s a tough call to bypass Ohtani, but Acuña is a close contender. I witnessed his BP the other day, and I was awestruck. Over the past five years of playing against him, I’ve seen his caliber. But it’s a tight competition. (With Ohtani) you get two players in one.”
“I genuinely believe he’s the finest player in baseball currently.”
On Betts:
“He’s a joy to watch. He possesses a diverse skill set.”
On Trout:
“Considering all his accomplishments over the last decade, it’s downright remarkable. I’m always rooting for him. He embodies the quintessential American youngster, going out there every game to play baseball, and it’s a delight to watch every time.”
2. Who is the most overrated player in baseball?
As expected, players appeared less enthusiastic about responding to this question, and those who did failed to reach a consensus. At the top of the list was Marlins center fielder Chisholm, who garnered 20% of the votes. While most respondents did not provide detailed explanations, one player pondered how the former All-Star made it to the cover of last year’s “MLB The Show” video game.
This year’s runner-up was Angels infielder Rendon, obtaining 10.2% of the total vote. Long-time followers of The Athletic might be surprised to see his name here, as he was previously voted the most underrated player in baseball by his colleagues in our player poll back in 2019. According to one player at the time, “He handles every play. I believe he’s a superstar.” Evidently, things can change drastically within five years.
Followed by Carlos Correa (6.7%), Tim Anderson, and Jack Flaherty (both 5%), while Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman, Elly De La Cruz, Manny Machado, and Blake Snell each secured 3.3% of the votes. Several other players received mentions, including Yordan Alvarez, Javier Báez, Kris Bryant, Jeimer Candelario, Emmanuel Clase, Gerrit Cole, Rafael Devers, Adolis GarcÃa, Alek Manoah, Carlos Rodón, Julio RodrÃguez, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Spencer Strider, Marcus Stroman, Alex Verdugo, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Christian Yelich.
Several players we approached admitted hesitancy in labeling any professional player overrated. “I just feel that this game is extremely challenging,” voiced an AL pitcher.
A notable inference here is Bryce Harper, who received merely one vote despite comprising almost half of the votes in this category in 2018 and 62% of the responses in 2019. One player, upon learning of this fact, remarked, “It appears Bryce is no longer the focus.”
In their own words
On RodrÃguez:
“While I regard him as a great player, his reputation is overly inflated. Placing him on a tier with Trout and Acuña and similar players – maybe in the future, but currently, it’s hard to justify.”
On Soto:
“Perhaps this selection is influenced by resentment. To be honest, it appears that all he does is walk and hit singles, failing to exhibit power as he’s portrayed. Additionally, he doesn’t excel in fielding.”
3. Putting aside statistics and focusing solely on vibes, who would you most like on your team?
(Must be someone the player is not friends with/doesn’t know well)
Earlier this year, we invited our readers to suggest questions they wanted us to include in this survey. This one originated from Michael S., eliciting a willing response from the players. They supplied an array of names and rationales, ranging from “I’m a big admirer” to “That individual seems charming.”
Betts, renowned for his beaming smile on the field and leadership qualities in the locker room, emerged as the top selection overall. “He’s an exceptionally talented player and has mastered the art of maximizing his potential,” as described by an NL outfielder.
Close behind was Betts’ teammate Ohtani (6.3%), who had the potential to be crowned the best player and the player with the best vibes before several participants opted for someone else to avoid dual considerations. One player, who ultimately chose a different NL contender, found it necessary to motivate himself: “I shouldn’t pick Shohei. I won’t do it.”
Acuña, Harper, Judge, and Kyle Schwarber tied for the third spot (4.2%). Following them were Trout, Marcus Semien, Lance Lynn, and Willy Adames, each garnering 3.1% of the votes, succeeded by Jose Altuve, Orlando Arcia, Gerrit Cole, Kiké Hernández, Francisco Lindor, and Garrett Stubbs (2.1%).
In their own words
On Cole: “Although I’ve never met him, I’ve been an ardent admirer of his for a long time.”
On Freddie Freeman: “He exudes clutch performances and displays unwavering consistency day in and day out.”
On Tyler Glasnow: “Exceptional vibes, exuding great energy. His charisma shines through.”
On Liam Hendriks: “His spirited presence on the mound proves to be infectious.”
On Ryan Pressly: “He’s my preferred pitcher to watch. His dynamism and prowess are often overlooked yet truly commendable.”
On Gleyber Torres: “I reckon (he) has a rather charismatic aura about him.”
4. Evaluate this statement: Anthony Rendon was right — the season is too long.
Although not the perfect advocate for this cause, Rendon’s comments earlier this year about the MLB season’s duration struck a chord with many, sparking fervent discussions both online and offline.
“There’s far too many games – 162 games and 185 days or whatever it is,” as Rendon expressed on the Jack Vita podcast in January. “Geez, no. This should be shortened.”
Putting the intricacies and likelihood of this idea aside, it definitely raises an intriguing question. Is the contemporary MLB season truly too lengthy?
GO DEEPER:
Would MLB ever really shorten its season? Here’s what it might take — and could mean
Almost one-third of the polled players sided with Rendon. Some indicated that a 140-150 game schedule would be ideal, while a few even endorsed targeting 120 games. Several acknowledged the season’s prolongation but recognized the complexities of revising it due to historical and record-keeping justifications, ultimately voting “no.”
However, the majority of players surveyed felt that the current timeline is acceptable. An AL pitcher remarked, “I believe it’s lengthy, but I acknowledge it’s fair for everyone. It’s part of the grind. It’s an aspect of what makes it so challenging.”
For one ardent baseball enthusiast, the inquiry had no relevance. “Is the season too long? It’s still not long enough.”
In their own words
Those who voted Yes:
“It feels like an overwhelming grind. However, I perceive it as a necessary part of the game.”
“Yes, but that’s the easy way out. We’re paid generously.”
“We must find a way to reduce it to 120-125 games, accompanied by more off days for recovery. The sport predisposes us to injuries… However, altering the schedule would jeopardize records, and people relish records.”
“It’s a multifaceted issue. I don’t think it warrants a simple yes or no. Nonetheless, in my opinion, he is correct.”
“Perhaps we could cut roughly 15 games and start the camp later. The spring training duration is excessive.”
“He’s on point. I suggest excluding around 10 games. Nothing radical. But towards the culmination, September seems somewhat meandering.”