He remains the King of Clout—in every sense of the term. Yankees superstar Aaron Judge continues to hold the top spot in MLB.com’s Hitter Power Rankings, a position he’s maintained for nearly three months. His charisma and presence make people take notice when he speaks.
Although the top two positions in our latest poll are unchanged from two weeks ago, the rest of the rankings have experienced some movement.
Here’s a look at the updated rankings, with our MLB.com panel evaluating career achievements, season performance, and recent success in their votes.
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees (Previous poll: 1)
Despite a slow start to the season, Judge is having a year that surpasses his historic 2022, when he set an American League record with 62 home runs. Currently, he leads the Majors in home runs (with 47 as of Wednesday night), RBIs (117), on-base percentage (.465), slugging percentage (.722), OPS (1.187), and total bases (322). Remarkably, he’s hit 41 of those 47 home runs since May 3, showing no signs of slowing down. It’s clear there’s no stopping him.
2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (Previous poll: 2)
Similar to how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2021 had an MVP-caliber season that was overshadowed by Shohei Ohtani’s historic two-way performance, Witt is currently performing under Judge’s significant shadow. Nonetheless, Witt is firmly in the AL MVP conversation thanks to a stellar season. His impressive all-around performance has yielded a .352 batting average, 178 hits, and 110 runs scored—leading MLB in all three categories—along with his second consecutive 25-homer/25-steal season. A standout July, where he posted a .489/.520/.833 slash line and hit seven home runs, has propelled Witt into serious MVP contention.
3. Juan Soto, Yankees (Previous poll: 4)
Soto is currently on a home run tear, hitting eight in a nine-game stretch, including one on Wednesday during a five-RBI performance. Remarkably, those eight homers account for all but one of his hits in that span—talk about making your hits count. Overall, Soto continues to be among the elite hitters, boasting a 1.045 OPS with a career-high 36 home runs and, as usual, leading the MLB with 106 walks.
4. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (Previous poll: 3)
Though Ohtani led the NL on Wednesday with 39 home runs, 94 runs scored, a .613 slugging percentage, and a .991 OPS, he’s had some struggles at the plate in August, despite a few awe-inspiring homers. As of Wednesday, he was hitting .195/.250/.533 for the month, with seven of his home runs coming during this period. This, combined with the outstanding performances of those ranked above him, has led to a drop in his ranking. Nevertheless, Ohtani is approaching a potential 40-40 season and could become the fastest player to achieve this milestone in MLB history.
5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (Previous poll: 6)
From a slugger who fell a spot to one who moved up, Guerrero has been on fire since turning his season around in early May. His power surge began in earnest in June; by the end of May, Guerrero had just five home runs, but in under three months, he’s hit 21 more.
6. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (Previous poll: Not ranked)
Much like Guerrero, Alvarez began to heat up in June, boasting a .349/.430/.709 slash line with seven home runs. His hot streak continued into July and August, where he’s posted an OPS over 1.200 and hit five homers. Notably, from August 6-11, he batted .500 and was named AL co-Player of the Week. Alvarez’s impressive recent performance has earned him a spot in our Hitter Power Rankings after not being ranked in the last poll.
7. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (Previous poll: 5)
Henderson began the season with an impressive performance, positioning himself as an early AL MVP contender. While he’s been solid recently, he hasn’t matched the scorching pace of the first half of the season. His slugging has dipped, with just one home run in 23 games from the start of the second half through August 13. However, he’s bounced back with four homers in his last eight games, which could improve his position in our next rankings if he maintains this form.
8. Rafael Devers, Red Sox (Previous poll: 7)
Devers is having the best offensive season of his impressive career so far, with a .951 OPS that would set a career high if the season ended today. Although he struggled in the first half of August, he has bounced back recently, hitting .318 with two doubles and two homers in five games before going 0-for-4 on Wednesday.
9. Marcell Ozuna, Braves (Previous poll: Not ranked)
While Ohtani is the standout DH and one of the top players in baseball, Ozuna has been a close second in terms of production this season. He’s posted a .975 OPS and hit 37 home runs, just two behind Ohtani for the NL lead. Ozuna also leads the NL with 94 RBIs and has been scorching hot this month, with an OPS near 1.100 and six home runs.
José Ramírez has definitely been a cornerstone for the Guardians, demonstrating both consistency and versatility throughout his career. His impressive stats this season—.860 OPS, 32 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 29 steals—showcase his ability to contribute power, drive in runs, and steal bases. The fact that he’s in the running for his second 30-30 season speaks volumes about his all-around game. Despite being less in the spotlight compared to some other stars, his performance and accolades like six All-Star selections and four Silver Sluggers solidify his place among the elite players in the league.
