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4 Yankees ranked on ESPN's top 100 players list for 2024 MLB season

Alex Smith
·2 min read

With Opening Day just a few weeks away, ESPN polled their panel of experts to come up with their list of the Top 100 players in baseball heading into the 2024 regular season.

Four Yankees made the list, and while eight other teams had more players on the list, no team was better represented at the very top, as the Yanks had three players in the top seven spots.

Here’s the full list:

Aaron Judge: No. 2
Juan Soto: No. 3
Gerrit Cole: No. 7
Anthony Volpe: No. 95

The Braves (eight), Astros (eight), Dodgers (seven), Phillies (six), Rangers (five), Diamondbacks (five), Mariners (five) and Mets (five) all had more players on the list than the Yankees, with the Dodgers having three players in the top nine spots (No. 4 Mookie Betts, No.5 Freddie Freeman, No. 9 Shohei Ohtani).

But with the Yankees’ outfield consisting of two of the top three players in game with the team also having the top ranked pitcher in the game, according to ESPN, they're in a category all their own.

There’s no doubting that Judge has become one of the faces of MLB, as he possesses the most raw power of anyone in the sport. But injuries always seem to be a concern for the slugging outfielder, and with him getting pulled early in Sunday’s game, there are already questions about his health.

Adding Soto this offseason gives the Yanks another absolute megastar in their lineup, and he and Judge will likely hit two-three in their order, in some fashion. Will Soto be with the Bombers beyond the 2024 season? Time will tell, but for now, Yankees fans can enjoy Soto blasting majestic homers and showing off his patented discipline at the plate.

At No. 7, Cole is the only pitcher in the top 10, as Ohtani is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not pitch in 2024. The next pitcher on the list is Atlanta’s Spencer Strider at No. 15, eight spots behind the reigning AL Cy Young winner.

Volpe just cracked the list at No. 95, and while his hitting left a lot to be desired during his rookie season (.209 average), he played Gold Glove defense and hit 21 home runs while stealing 24 bases. The raw talent is certainly there with Volpe, and 2024 is a chance for him to put it all together.