Top 10 MLB Hitter Power Rankings: Aaron Judge Continues to Mash
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10. Adley Rutschman
2024 stats: 300 plate appearances, .289/.333/.473, 14 HR, .349 wOBA, 130 wRC+
The Baltimore Orioles went 106 consecutive series without being swept by an opponent from May 2022 to May 2024.
Adley Rutschman made his MLB debut in May 2022.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Rutschman is not only one of the best catchers in the league, but also one of its top all-around hitters. It was inevitable that he’d make his appearance on our hitter power rankings this season.
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1. Aaron Judge
2024 stats: 326 plate appearances, .299/.425/.686, 26 HR, .461 wOBA, 207 wRC+
It’s surprising that Aaron Judge didn’t make our May list, right? Well, he’s certainly earned his spot in June.
We all know what Judge is capable of when he’s healthy and hitting – his American League record of 62 home runs in a single season speaks for itself. But now the real question is – can he possibly surpass that historic 2022 performance this year?
Looking at wOBA, Judge is slightly ahead of his 2022 figure (.462 in 2024 versus .458 in 2022). His wRC+ is nearly identical as well (207 wRC+ in 2024 compared to 209 in 2022). Moreover, with 26 home runs by mid-June, Judge is on pace for nearly 60 home runs this season.
2. Gunnar Henderson
2024 stats: 319 plate appearances: .274/.370/.588, 22 HR, .407 wOBA, 170 wRC+
Is it an overstatement to label Baltimore Orioles’ shortstop Gunnar Henderson as the best player at his position right now?
At just 22 years old, some might hesitate to crown him the top shortstop. However, unless you’re considering the equally young Bobby Witt Jr., there's no denying that Henderson has earned this distinction.
The stats back it up, with Henderson leading all shortstops in many key offensive categories. What's even more impressive is that he hasn’t even reached the prime of his career yet.
3. Shohei Ohtani
2024 stats: 322 plate appearances, .314/.388/.601, 19 HR, .421 wOBA, 178 wRC+
Speaking of the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani has slipped two spots in our June hitter power rankings.
However, don't read too much into it—he's only dropped from the top spot to the still-elite top three.
Ohtani has been in a bit of a slump recently—MLB.com reports he had a .588 OPS between May 18 and June 9—but this is unlikely to continue. Remarkably, this dip hasn't even impacted his overall performance, underscoring his exceptional hitting skills.
4. Juan Soto
2024 stats: 321 plate appearances, .315/.433/.592, 18 HR, .438 wOBA, 190 wRC+
Where would the New York Yankees be without Juan Soto? They nearly had to find out after a forearm injury scare during a recent series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Bronx. (Spoiler: it wouldn’t have been pretty.)
We all know the kind of hitter Soto is: disciplined yet incredibly dynamic. The Yankees are a much-improved team with the 25-year-old in their lineup every night.
5. Marcell Ozuna
2024 stats: 296 plate appearances: .321/.392/.611, 20 HR, .427 wOBA, 178 wRC+
Marcell Ozuna is the top hitter in the Atlanta Braves’ lineup.
Who could have predicted that? After a scorching start to 2024, Ozuna ranked fourth in our May hitter power rankings. Given that he's almost single-handedly lifting an injury-plagued Braves lineup, he rightly retains his top-five spot in June.
Don't be surprised to see Ozuna at the All-Star Game in Texas next month, or even receiving some down-ballot MVP votes by the end of the season.
For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
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6. Bobby Witt Jr.
2024 stats: 324 plate appearances, .327/.377/.551, 11 HR, .394 wOBA, 155 wRC+
After four new entries, we welcome back a familiar face in our hitter power rankings: Kansas City Royals' shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt climbs four spots in the June rankings, reflecting his ongoing rise to becoming one of MLB’s top shortstops. The Royals’ new franchise player is on track for a career-best season in his third year, excelling in all aspects of his game. His exceptional talent is a key reason why Kansas City remains in contention for the American League playoff race midway through June.
7. Bryce Harper
2024 stats: 295 plate appearances, .282/.390/.520, 15 HR, .387 wOBA, 152 wRC+
Bryce Harper missed our last list, but he’s back in form for the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, securing the seventh spot in our hitter power rankings.
The 31-year-old is playing his first full season at first base and fully embracing the offensive expectations of the position. In truth, Harper's stats would shine regardless of where he plays on the diamond. That's the level of his elite talent.
Moreover, few players excel in clutch situations like Harper. We could highlight numerous instances over the years, but a prime example comes from the recent London series between the Mets and Phillies.
8. Rafael Devers
2024 stats: 265 plate appearances, .282/.374/.555, 14 HR, .392 wOBA, 151 wRC+
Rafael Devers is having a stellar season in 2024, though it's not getting much attention due to the Boston Red Sox's middling performance.
If he maintains his current pace, Devers will achieve his highest single-season wRC+ to date. Given his career wRC+ of 125 (well above average), this is impressive. The third baseman has been particularly dominant in June, boasting a scorching .419 wOBA and 169 wRC+, an improvement on his solid April and May numbers (.384 wOBA, 145 wRC+).
9. Jurickson Profar
2024 stats: 300 plate appearances, .321/.421/.488, 10 HR, .399 wOBA, 166 wRC+
Once MLB’s top prospect with the Texas Rangers, Jurickson Profar never quite lived up to expectations during his time in Arlington. His move to Oakland in 2019 didn’t yield better results either. Fortunately, the 31-year-old seems to have found his stride with the San Diego Padres (despite a forgettable stint with the Colorado Rockies in 2023), boasting a 166 wRC+ and .399 wOBA this season. Profar is now well-positioned to make his first All-Star team in 2024, thanks to his impressive hitting. However, he might be overlooked due to the Padres' star-studded roster and their penchant for high-profile moves.
10. Adley Rutschman
2024 stats: 300 plate appearances, .289/.333/.473, 14 HR, .349 wOBA, 130 wRC+
The Baltimore Orioles went 106 consecutive series without being swept by an opponent from May 2022 to May 2024.
Adley Rutschman made his MLB debut in May 2022.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Rutschman is not only one of the best catchers in the league, but also one of its top all-around hitters. It was inevitable that he’d make his appearance on our hitter power rankings this season.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1. Aaron Judge
2024 stats: 326 plate appearances, .299/.425/.686, 26 HR, .461 wOBA, 207 wRC+
It’s surprising that Aaron Judge didn’t make our May list, right? Well, he’s certainly earned his spot in June.
We all know what Judge is capable of when he’s healthy and hitting – his American League record of 62 home runs in a single season speaks for itself. But now the real question is – can he possibly surpass that historic 2022 performance this year?
Looking at wOBA, Judge is slightly ahead of his 2022 figure (.462 in 2024 versus .458 in 2022). His wRC+ is nearly identical as well (207 wRC+ in 2024 compared to 209 in 2022). Moreover, with 26 home runs by mid-June, Judge is on pace for nearly 60 home runs this season.
