MLB MVP rankings: Judge overtakes Soto, Mookie's injury opens door (2024)

Welcome to the second edition of theScore's 2024 Most Valuable Player rankings, where we look at the top five players in each league. Let's run through some of the best performances through the first two-and-a-half months of the season. Odds courtesy theScore Bet.

American League

5. José Ramírez, Guardians

Ramírez, a mainstay in the AL MVP conversation for years, makes his debut on our rankings for 2024. He continues to be one of the game's most consistent run producers. Ramírez put together an excellent May, hitting 11 home runs with 33 RBIs and a 1.061 OPS. The 31-year-old leads a surprisingly potent Guardians lineup that has improved significantly. Cleveland ranks eighth in the league in runs scored this season after finishing 27th in 2023.

4. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

One of the most impressive aspects of Witt's meteoric rise has been his growth as a defensive player. Witt ranked in the second percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average during his rookie campaign in 2022. Since then, he's been among the game's best defenders, ranking in the 98th percentile last year and the 100th percentile so far in 2024. Witt uses elite speed and athleticism to his advantage at shortstop. Showcasing those defensive chops while leading the AL in batting average is impressive. The Royals only have one MVP award in franchise history: George Brett in 1980. It feels like only a matter of time before Witt becomes the second.

3. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

Henderson has made huge strides against left-handed pitching this season. He's hitting .280 with four home runs and a .949 OPS against southpaws. It's a marked improvement from his rookie campaign in 2023 when Henderson mustered a .209/.293/.324 slash line with three home runs in 148 at-bats against lefties. That used to be the recipe for getting Henderson out, but now, he's become an even more daunting prospect for opposing teams. Henderson's settled in as Baltimore's leadoff hitter with nine home runs out of that slot.

2. Juan Soto, Yankees

The Yankees got a look at life without Soto in a recent series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it wasn't pretty. They dropped two of the three games, scoring just four runs in the two losses. Soto's presence ahead of Judge in the lineup is a terrorizing proposition. Soto puts so much pressure on pitchers with his ability to see a lot of pitches and work the count, opening things up for Judge to do damage behind him. It took a ridiculous offensive stretch from Judge to knock Soto off the top of the mountain.

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees

Remember when Judge was getting booed in April after a sluggish start at the plate? That seems like a distant memory. Judge had one of the best months of his career in May, hitting .371 with a 1.415 OPS, 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 27 RBIs to win Player of the Month. The 26 extra-base hits broke Lou Gehrig's franchise record of 24 set in July 1930. Judge raised his average on the season more than 80 points and rocketed to the top of the WAR leaderboard. One of the most overlooked aspects of Judge's season is his quality defense in center field. There were question marks about how a player who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs over 280 pounds would transition to primarily playing in center. Judge has handled the move pretty well thus far.

Apologies to: Kyle Tucker (HOU), Carlos Correa (MIN), Adley Rutschman (BAL)

National League

5. Jurickson Profar, Padres

After years of injuries and inconsistency, Profar has finally figured it out. The former top prospect is putting together a career season at age 31. Profar has showcased a great eye at the plate and strong contact skills, leading to the best walk rate of his career. He has already accumulated the highest WAR of his 11-year career. It's been a remarkable turnaround after he posted a 70 wRC+ and -1.7 fWAR with the Padres in 2023. Profar's one-year, $1-million contract looks like the biggest bargain in baseball right now.

4. William Contreras, Brewers

Contreras has gone cold at the plate in June after two strong months to start the season, but he still sits in the top 12 in the NL in batting average, fWAR, and wRC+. The 26-year-old continues to provide positive value behind the plate, which is particularly important to a Brewers pitching staff that has been ravaged by injuries. Contreras has had to juggle catching 12 different starting pitchers this season, but Milwaukee still owns a top-10 ERA in the league. Contreras deserves a lot of praise for that.

3. Marcell Ozuna, Braves

The Braves have been one of baseball's most disappointing offensive teams this season, but not because of Ozuna. The veteran slugger continues an incredible offensive turnaround that started a few months into the 2023 campaign. Atlanta ranks about middle of the pack in runs scored and OPS after leading those categories by a wide margin last season. Ozuna has carried the team at the plate, leading the NL in home runs, RBIs, and wRC+.

2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

Harper is looking to join an elite group of players who have won at least three MVP awards. The Phillies star has seen strong production at the plate in each month, posting an .840 OPS in April, a .990 mark in May, and a 1.044 OPS so far in June. The Phillies have continued winning games despite injuries to stalwarts Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto thanks in part to Harper's continued excellence at the plate in his 13th season.

1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

Mookie Betts' fractured hand opened the door for Ohtani to move into the top spot in these rankings. Ohtani is on pace for the first 30-homer, 30-steal season of his illustrious career as he's been utilizing his speed more in his first campaign with the Dodgers. It will be interesting to see how Ohtani and Freddie Freeman are pitched to moving forward with Betts on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

Apologies to: Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks), Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Willy Adames (Brewers), Alec Bohm (Phillies)