Top 100 Hitters: Judgement Day

Aaron Judge sits atop our rankings once again, and by now, that should surprise no one. With so much talent shifting below him, it’s easy to overlook the steady dominance at the top. So, before diving into all the risers and fallers, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how absurd Judge has been. According to Statcast, Judge leads the league in average exit velocity (96.7 mph), barrels (45), and hard-hit rate (62%), and none of those races are particularly close. He has produced more 110+ mph batted balls than most teams, and his expected metrics might be even more impressive. His current xwOBA (.482) would be the highest Statcast has ever recorded in a full season. This level of production simply cannot be ignored, not even in a world where a 50/50 season just concluded for Shohei Ohtani in 2024. Judge’s historic blend of power, plate discipline, and consistency keeps him locked in at number one. As we dig into this week’s Top 100 Hitters for the rest of the 2025 fantasy season, we see plenty of movement, including the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. and the continued slide of several big-name bats who just can’t find their rhythm. Dive in and enjoy the ride.

Rising

• Austin Riley – Riley had a down year by his standards in 2024, including missing 50 games due to injury, and came into 2025 surrounded by questions about how he would respond. So far, he has answered them. Over the first two months of the season, Riley has been a steady presence in the Braves lineup, posting a 110 wRC+ and reminding us why he has been a staple in the top 100. The bounce-back has not come with huge upside, as his expected batting average is down to .261, but it has been enough to earn him a seven-spot jump in the rankings. The performance alone has been solid, but the context matters just as much, especially as names like Jackson Chourio, Jackson Merrill, and Corey Seager lose ground. Riley may not be surging toward elite status, but he is reestablishing himself as a valuable bat for the rest of the season.
• Brendan Donovan – Donovan continues to be one of the more quietly valuable fantasy assets around. His versatility has been on full display in 2025, with appearances at second base, shortstop, and in the outfield. That kind of multi-position flexibility makes him an essential piece for fantasy managers navigating injuries and lineup churn. While he does not bring standout power or speed, his .321 batting average is actually underperforming his expected mark of .326. He also owns a top three percent whiff rate and a career-best strikeout rate of just 11 percent. Donovan is not climbing the rankings because of highlight-reel moments but rather because he keeps producing while others slip. His consistent contact skills and across-the-board reliability continue to push him higher as the season unfolds.
• Luis Robert Jr. – Robert fell completely out of the top 100 earlier this year after a brutal start to the season that looked like more of the same from his disappointing 2024. He is hitting just .180 with a strikeout rate over 30 percent, and at first glance, there was not much reason to keep the faith. But underneath the surface, there are signs that he is starting to turn the corner. He has already racked up 18 steals in 23 attempts, showing he is still aggressive on the bases and providing value even as the bat lags. His expected batting average is closer to .240, suggesting he has been more unlucky than broken. He remains stuck in one of the least productive lineups in baseball, but there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel. It is enough to get him back into the top 100 conversation, though just barely.

Falling

• Trevor Story – Story drops considerably in this week’s rankings, landing near a group of underachievers for the 2025 season that includes Brenton Doyle and Christian Walker. While those players have had their struggles, Story’s season has been more of a roller coaster. Through April 21, he was hitting .337 with five home runs, six stolen bases, and 26 combined runs and RBI across just 23 games. Since that hot start, however, he has cratered, batting just .133. Some of that can be chalked up to a .194 batting average on balls in play, but the underlying metrics are concerning as well, including a 33 percent strikeout rate and an average exit velocity of 88.9 miles per hour. Story still has plenty of talent and can help fantasy teams if he gets back on track, but if the slide continues much longer, he risks becoming waiver wire material.
• Anthony Santander – There might not be any bigger disappointment this season than Santander. After launching 44 home runs and driving in over 100+ runs last year, he arrived in Toronto with expectations of being a middle-of-the-order anchor. Instead, he delivered very little at the plate. He is hitting just .188 with six home runs, and the decline is tied in part to his inability to handle fastballs. He is batting just .187 against them this year seeing the pitch nearly 63 percent of the time, a noticeable increase from last season. That trend has overwhelmed him, and unless something changes soon, there is not much optimism for a bounce-back. Fantasy managers may have to consider moving on.

Watching

• Jake Burger – Burger recently dropped out of the top 100 after a brutal stretch of play and a demotion to the minor leagues. But since returning to the majors and joining the Rangers lineup on May 12, there are signs he may have made the adjustments needed to recapture his power-hitting form. Since his return, Burger is hitting .300 with three home runs and an impressive average exit velocity of 94.6 miles per hour. This is a player who hit 63 combined home runs over the past two seasons and still has the upside to deliver real value the rest of the way. He is not quite back in the top 100 yet, but if this is a legitimate reset, the managers who stuck with him could be rewarded soon.
• Will Benson – Benson began the season in the minors due to a crowded Cincinnati outfield, but he wasted no time making his case for promotion. In Triple-A, he slashed .289 with seven home runs, five stolen bases, and an eye-popping 55 combined runs and RBI. That production earned him a call-up on May 10, and he has kept it going in the majors. Through those 11 games, he is hitting .375 with five home runs, showing improved plate discipline and making consistent hard contact. Right now, he is locked into a strong-side platoon role, but if he continues to hit at this level, there will be value even without everyday playing time. He is quickly becoming a player worth watching closely.