Ranking top 10 MLB center fielders heading into the 2025 season ft. Mike Trout and Jackson Merrill
Center field is the most important defensive position in the outfield in the MLB. If an outfield isn't anchored by a good, reliable center fielder, they're all in trouble. There are a lot of good ones in baseball, though. Here are the best of the best heading into 2025.
Best CF in MLB right now
10) Luis Robert Jr.
Thanks perhaps partly to the overall abysmal nature of the Chicago White Sox, Luis Robert Jr. had a terrible year in 2024. However, he's one year out from 38 home runs and he remains as talented as anyone. Fangraphs expects 3.0 fWAR from him in 2025.
9) Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger is going to be the everyday center fielder for the New York Yankees. His defense out there remains as good as anyone's, and his lefty swing should lead to more offense in Yankee Stadium in 2025.
8) JJ Bleday
JJ Bleday broke out for the Athletics last year, and he's poised for an even bigger year in 2025. The A's are trending up, and it's thanks to unheralded players like Bleday, who's projected an impressive 3.3 fWAR in 2025.
7) Jung Hoo Lee
Jung Hoo Lee played in just 37 games last year and struggled for the San Francisco Giants. Still, the talent is there, and the projections are for a big year. He's projected to earn 3.8 fWAR, which would be fourth-most among center fielders.
6) Oneil Cruz
The Pittsburgh Pirates took a chance by moving Oneil Cruz to the outfield, but it seems to have worked. Fangraphs has high hopes for him in 2025, projecting the sixth-most fWAR at the position and a .460 slugging percentage.
5) Byron Buxton
Generally, when healthy, Byron Buxton is as dynamic a player as there is in baseball. The Minnesota Twins star is a candidate for a 30/30 season every year, and he's due for a big year in 2025.
4) Michael Harris II
Michael Harris II, like most Atlanta Braves players, had a tough 2024. He was injured for a lot of it, but he should be healthy and good again in 2025. Fangraphs projects an impressive 4.9 fWAR, the third-most among center fielders.
3) Mike Trout
Mike Trout may have basically missed almost the entire 2024 season, but for those few weeks he was in, he played well. He is still Trout, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Provided he stays healthy, he'll be one of the best at his spot. Fangraphs projects 3.6 fWAR from him.
2) Jackson Merrill
Jackson Merrill had the third-most fWAR among center fielders, which included Aaron Judge, in 2024. He's expected to see a slightly decrease per Fangraphs' projections, but those are notoriously conservative. He's still one of the best in the game.
1) Julio Rodriguez
Julio Rodriguez had a down year in 2024, but he still finished fifth among primary center fielders in fWAR. This year, he's expected to take a huge step forward. Fangraphs projects 6.1 fWAR, the most at the position in 2025.