The 2025 Major League and Minor League Baseball Seasons are winding down or have wound down. Minor League Baseball has already crowned 2025 champions at several levels. Major League Baseball has one game left of its 162 game regular season before the playoffs start later this week. To my absolute joy, I have watched more games in 2025, both live and on my TV/laptop/phone than in recent years. So, I feel pretty confident outlining the top players I saw this year from various MILB and MLB games I attended or watched. And here goes my list:

RHP – Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes is on pace to become a Major League Baseball legend. The only thing he is missing right now in his arsenal is a kickass nickname. He is must watch TV every game he pitches. No batter has a better than 1% chance of hitting against him. The best player I saw at any position, live or on TV, was Paul Skenes.

LHP – Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox. Once a very wild and unpredictable fireballer, Chapman has become a consistent strike thrower and outs machine. Closer to age 40 now, the Boston Red Sox closer is in fantastic shape and still throws high 90s and into the 100s at times. He was Boston’s MVP this year, in my opinion.

C – Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles. I wrote this last year when I first saw Basallo in a Norfolk Tides uniform, “wow, that is a big kid.” 19 years old when he was promoted last year, 20 this year – yeah still a kid but what a talent. Basallo has all the tools to be a perennial All-Star Catcher at the MLB level. His power is frightening. His arm is impressive. Big frame, good receiver, sky is the limit.

1B – Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers. Quite possibly the most unassuming superstar in Major League Baseball, maybe all of professional sports. Freeman hits homers, hits for average, drives in runs, hits lefties, hits righties, plays a “Mattingly” type first base, and loves charity. How can you not root for Freddie Freeman? One of the best of this generation, without a doubt.

2B – Andrés Giménez, Toronto Blue Jays. Giménez was a fantastic 2b’er with the Cleveland Guardians before being traded to the Jays this past season. His glove work is phenomenal and his range is ridiculous. Not having a stellar year at the plate, but Giménez is super solid defensively. Toronto is playing him at SS and 2B now with the injury to All-Star Bo Bichette.

SS – Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros. After a few years in the league, Peña has established himself as one of the best shortstops – AL or NL. I finally got to see him in person at Houston’s Daikin Park this Spring. The Rhode Island High School legend, Peña is set to become a very wealthy Houston Astro (or perhaps another club) in the coming years. Very cool RI baseball moment to see Jeremy live and in person.

3B – Marcelo Mayer, Boston Red Sox. Quiet down all of you booing right now. Mayer can play any position in the infield (well maybe not first) at a Gold Glove level. He is a confident fielder with a plus arm and impressive range. Mayer took over 3B duties for the Boston Red Sox after star 3B’er Alex Bregman went down with a leg injury midway through the 2025 season. The batting average, the homers will come. The glove is here for Mayer and I was super impressed by his poise at multiple infield positions, especially 3B.

OF – Aaron Judge, New York Yankees. Everyone knows about the hitting stats, the home run records, the on base percentage numbers. Judge, in my opinion, is one of the best outfielders in all of baseball. His range is way above average. His leaping ability to bring home runs back into the field of play as outs is ridiculous. His arm is underrated by many – I have seen him throw guys out at second with ease. Judge maybe the best player of this generation simply because he plays the field and plays nearly every game with a spotlight on him. I love his character as well, like Freeman, he lets his play do his talking.

OF – Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels. Okay Trout 2025 is not Trout 2015. So what, Trout is still an all-time great and I got to see him live in Houston vs. the Astros. Trout got hit with the “Griffey” injury bug a few years back and has never really recovered. His best days are behind him, but he is still better than 75% of the current MLB roster of players. If healthy and with a bit of luck, Trout could have another 2 or 3 years of HOF caliber play for the Angels in the years to come. Like Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge, I was just so psyched to see Mike Trout in person during a live game.

OF – Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox. I actually saw Anthony in the Minors (Worcester Red Sox) and the Majors (Boston Red Sox) this season. Roman Anthony has the speed, power, and poise of a grizzled veteran and he is just getting started at age 21. .292 average, 8 Homers, 75 hits in his first season with the Big Club – not too shabby. His presence in Fenway Park is celebrity level. Roman Anthony, if healthy, can become a Red Sox legend that will rival the likes of Ortiz, Martinez, Varitek and others.

2-Way Player – Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers. Raise your hands, how many of you out there think Ohtani is a better pitcher than a hitter. I do, in fact, I would say Ohtani is one of the 5 best pitchers in the National League right now. As a hitter, forget it. Ohtani’s numbers are most players combined 2 or 3 year stats. The fact that he leads off and has 4 to 5 at bats per game has to be a freaking nightmare for opposing managers. On the mound, his pitches move up and down and side to side with the best of them. Ohtani is an absolute joy to watch – at the plate or on the mound.

Favorite player to root for that is not on the Boston Red Sox – Mike Yastrzemski, Kansas City Royals. Mike Yaz, after being traded from the SF Giants, is platooning in the OF for the Royals to finish off the 2025 season. Perhaps the Boston Red Sox will put an offer in for him if he files for free agency. Come on, how many of you Sox fans would absolutely love to see another Yaz in Boston??? I would absolutely go bonkers if Yaz (Mike) winds up in Boston.

It was a fun year of watching and attending professional baseball games. Live game wise, I saw about 20 games, mostly at my local Harbor Park, home of the Norfolk Tides. Daikin Park was cool – Astros vs. Angels. Polar Park, with my son Harrison, is always a great place to see a game. With the MLB TV package, I got to see quite a few Boston Red Sox games. And catch up on other teams that I had an interest in, like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers. Nothing beats going to a live game, in my opinion, and I hope to continue to add to my experience roster of professional stadiums in 2025 and going forward.

In the meantime, Go Red Sox!