The 2026 MLB season is here, and it’s time to take a look at the players to watch for throughout the season. MVPs and home run champions made their way onto our best hitters in MLB list, and you might be surprised who the No. 1 slugger is.
Let’s look at the seven best hitters heading into the 2026 MLB season, along with projections on PrizePicks MLB SZN picks and their fantasy baseball outlook.
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Ranking The Best Hitters in MLB 2026 & Fantasy Baseball Projections
Here are our rankings of the seven best hitters in MLB for the 2026 season, along with their PrizePicks MLB SZN Picks projections.
Looking for more MLB rankings? Check out our best pitcher rankings for the 2026 season here.
7. Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2026 PrizePicks MLB SZN Projections:
- 172.5 Hits
- 29.5 Home Runs
- 100.5 RBIs
- 0.5 Triples
The Blue Jays' trajectory shifted as a franchise the moment they signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million contract. Committing to Vladdy long term showed they were serious about competing. In 2025, they proved it, by reaching Game 7 of the World Series.
Guerrero Jr. had a monster 2025 MLB playoff run: 29 hits, 16 walks, and 8 home runs in 24 games.
During the 2025 regular season, Vladdy's contact numbers were excellent, ranking first in the league with a .300 xBA. His 21.5% whiff rate was tied for the lowest of his career.
However, the power numbers declined; his 23 home runs were the fewest in a season where he played at least 120 games, and his .509 xSLG was the lowest since 2022.
The impressive playoff performance could carry over into the 2026 season.
6. Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 130.5 Hits
- 41.5 Home Runs
- 4.5 Multi-HR Games
- 109.5 RBIs
- 5.5 Stolen Bases
Schwarber continues to reach personal milestones, even after finishing his 11th season. The 32-year-old had one of his best years, leading the National League with 56 home runs and the MLB with 132 RBIs, both career highs.
He remains one of the best power hitters because of the speed he generates with his bat; according to Baseball Savant, in 2025, he ranked third in MLB in fast-swing percentage (77.1%), fourth in bat speed (77.3), and first in hard-hit rate (59.6%).
Playing in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, which ranked fourth in the MLB for home runs last season (117), Schwarber could continue to put up top-tier power numbers.
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5. Mets RF Juan Soto
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 37.5 Home Runs
- 3.5 Multi-HR Games
- 1.5 Triples
The pressure of signing a 15-year, $765 million contract might have impacted Soto early in the season. In his first 56 games, he had just a .229 batting average, 8 home runs, and 34 RBIs — a massive slump to start the year.
However, Soto found his stride and was outstanding for the rest of the season. He finished with a league-high 127 walks and a National League-leading 38 stolen bases, after only stealing 25 in the previous three seasons combined.
The power Soto has displayed throughout the year was there, finishing with more than 40 home runs and 100 RBIs for the third consecutive year, earning a top-three MVP finish for the third straight season.
Soto said in an interview during spring that he is determined to dethrone Ohtani for the National League MVP — although that will be a tall task vs. the two-way superstar.
The slow start may have cost him the NL MVP. With a full season in Queens under his belt, he could play well throughout, making him a potential MVP contender.
4. Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr.
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 177.5 Hits
- 30.5 Home Runs
- 90.5 RBIs
- 2.5 Multi-HR Games
- 6.5 Triples
- 33.5 Stolen Bases
Witt Jr. might be one of the most well-rounded hitters in the league. In 2024, he ruined Judge’s chance to grab the triple crown by leading the league with a .332 batting average.
In 2025, Witt saw similar success, leading the MLB in hits for the second straight season with 184, fifth in the American League in xBA (.285), and seventh in xSLG (.508).
Witt Jr.’s career high in home runs is 32, but that might see a boost after adjustments were made to Kauffman Stadium to bring the fences in ten feet. A player who is an above-average contact hitter and an excellent defender could become an MVP candidate if his power numbers increase.
3. Mariners C Cal Raleigh
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 127.5 Hits
- 39.5 Home Runs
- 3.5 Multi-HR Games
- 100.5 RBIs
- 0.5 Triples
- 7.5 Stolen Bases
In 2025, Cal Raleigh had a breakout season, becoming the fourth American League player in history to hit 60 or more home runs in a season. He accomplished this despite the physical toll of playing 121 games as a catcher.
It’s worth noting that he plays his home games at T-Mobile Park, one of the least hitter-friendly ballparks, ranking 17th in the league last year in home runs (98) and 30th in park factor (91), according to Baseball Savant.
Precise contact with the ball seems to be source of Raleigh’s power. Last season, he ranked fourth in MLB with a 19.5% barrel rate, helping him lead the MLB with a 25.2-degree average launch angle, according to FanGraphs.
Catcher is one of the more important positions on the field, so he could play a critical part in another playoff run for the Mariners. If he reaches a similar level of success at the plate, he could be in the MVP conversation.
2. Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 162.5 Hits
- 48.5 Home Runs
- 115.5 RBIs
- 4.5 Multi-HR Games
- 6.5 Triples
- 25.5 Stolen Bases
Ohtani reached rarefied air last season, joining former Giants OF Barry Bonds as the only players in MLB history to win three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. He is also second all-time behind Bonds with four MVPs.
Ohtani earned the award after a stellar 2025 campaign; according to Baseball Savant, he led the National League in OPS+ (179), WoBA (.418), and xSLG (.649), along with a career-high 55 home runs.
What makes Ohtani stand out is that he’s both a power hitter and a threat on the bases. He has stolen 20 or more bases for three consecutive years, including 59 in 2024, becoming the first player in MLB history to steal 50 bases and hit 50 home runs in a single season.
He is the most feared hitter on a championship team, and with Ohtani in the heart of the lineup, the Dodgers could achieve a three-peat.
If this were a list of the best overall players, Ohtani would hold the top spot because of his value as a pitcher, but when it comes to hitting, he’s second. Ohtani also made our best pitchers list, ranking eighth.
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1. Yankees RF Aaron Judge
2026 PrizePicks MLBSZN Projections:
- 155.5 Hits
- 49.5 Home Runs
- 5.5 Multi-HR Games
- 113.5 RBIs
- 0.5 Triples
- 9.5 Stolen Bases
The Yankees captain had another amazing season in 2025, winning his third career MVP and his second straight.
Judge was the clear-cut best hitter in baseball last year, leading the MLB in several categories, including xSLG (.708), wOBA (.463), xOBP (.434), and xISO (.375), per Baseball Savant.
He has power to every part of the field, he will especially take advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
Judge is also at the top of this list because he has shown this dominance across multiple seasons. According to FanGraphs, since 2022, he’s leading the league in OPS (1.117), WAR (37.3), wOBA (.457), and wRC+ (204).
New York is bringing back almost the same lineup. He’ll have OF Cody Bellinger and DH Giancarlo Stanton hitting around him, making it possible for another potential MVP season.
Make 2026 MLB Picks on PrizePicks
The 2026 MLB season has several interesting storylines. The Dodgers are attempting to become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win three straight World Series.
Speaking of the Dodgers and Yankees, they have two of the top hitters in the league, and we’ll see if Ohtani and Judge can maintain their dominance at the plate to take home their leaeue's respective MVP awards again.
The MLB regular season is approaching, and with it comes the potential to earn money on PrizePicks MLB SZN by picking More or Less on season-long fantasy projections. Plus, MLB picks include PrizePicks Team Picks, to make picks on team win totals, World Series winners, and more, now available in 35 states.
Stacy locked in on the Playbook for continued MLB predictions, picks, and news.
