2025 Top 100 MLB Players: #90 - #86

90. Jacob deGrom - Texas Rangers

Age 36, Right-handed pitcher

The Texas Rangers' ace, Jacob deGrom, has made his return to the mound after an extended absence, having missed almost the entirety of the 2023 season and most of 2024 due to recovery from Tommy John surgery. When fully fit, the four-time All-Star and two-time NL Cy Young Award recipient is undeniably one of the most formidable pitchers in the game.

DeGrom’s fastball-slider combination consistently confounds hitters, and his reintegration into the rotation provides the Rangers with a reliable ace. His career ERA of 2.51 remains one of the lowest in the live-ball era for any starting pitcher with over 1,000 innings logged.

After inking a five-year, $185 million deal with Texas in December 2022, deGrom managed to pitch only 30 innings in 2023 before necessitating surgery. However, his return in late 2024 offered glimpses of his previous brilliance, albeit the Rangers have been prudent regarding his pitch count. If he can maintain his health throughout the 2025 season, deGrom has the potential to soar up these rankings.

89. Bryan Woo - Seattle Mariners

Age 25, Right-handed pitcher

Bryan Woo has swiftly cemented his role as an essential component of the Seattle Mariners' impressive rotation since his MLB debut in June 2023. The product of Cal Poly made significant strides in 2024, achieving a 9-3 record accompanied by a 2.89 ERA and amassing 101 strikeouts across 121⅓ innings.

What distinguishes Woo from his peers is his exceptional control and proficiency in minimizing walks. He led all MLB starting pitchers in 2024 by walking a mere 2.6 percent of the batters he faced. Typically, his fastball can reach the mid-90s, paired with impressive movement, and he has honed robust secondary pitches to keep opposing hitters off-balance.

Although he contended with elbow inflammation and a hamstring injury that restricted him to 21 starts in 2024, Woo demonstrated remarkable reliability when available. The Mariners have confidence that he can evolve into a premier starting pitcher for years to come, adding depth to their youthful and talented rotation.

88. Max Fried - New York Yankees

Age 31, Left-handed pitcher

In 2025, Max Fried commences a new chapter by signing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees, following eight productive seasons with the Atlanta Braves. The two-time All-Star has consistently been regarded as one of baseball's most reliable left-handed starters, boasting a career ERA of 3.04 alongside a commendable 76-36 win-loss record.

Fried's pitching repertoire includes a mid-90s fastball complemented by a devastating curveball, which he expertly modeled after the legendary Sandy Koufax. His remarkable control and extraordinary ability to induce ground balls—having led the National League with a 58.8% ground ball rate in 2024—render him an immensely valuable asset.

Beyond his pitching capabilities, Fried is a stellar defender, having earned three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2020 to 2022. He also played a pivotal role in securing a World Series title for Atlanta in 2021, delivering six shutout innings in the critical Game 6 against the Houston Astros. The Yankees are banking on his big-game experience as they seek their first championship since 2009.

87. Tanner Houck - Boston Red Sox

Age 28, Right-handed pitcher

Tanner Houck has emerged as a foundational figure in the Boston Red Sox's rotation after overcoming early-career challenges with consistency and injuries. The former first-round selection (24th overall in 2017) experienced a breakout season in 2024, culminating in his first All-Star selection.

What sets Houck apart is his unique throwing motion and the movement of his pitches. His three-quarters arm angle generates remarkable action on his sinker, while his slider has become one of the most effective pitches in the sport. In April 2024, Houck delivered a "Maddux"—a complete game shutout in under 100 pitches—against Cleveland, finishing the contest in a mere 94 pitches over just 1 hour and 49 minutes, marking the quickest nine-inning MLB game since 2010.

Throughout his career, Houck has navigated significant obstacles, including back surgery in 2022 and a facial fracture in 2023. His resilience and growth have transformed him from an uncertainty into a dependable frontline starter for the Red Sox.

86. Hunter Greene - Cincinnati Reds

Age 25, Right-handed pitcher

With a fastball that frequently exceeds 100 mph, Hunter Greene has evolved into the ace the Cincinnati Reds envisioned when they selected him with the second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. After enduring Tommy John surgery early in his professional journey, Greene finally made his much-anticipated MLB debut in 2022 and has consistently improved in subsequent seasons.

Greene's 2024 performance was undoubtedly his best to date, achieving a 9-5 record with a 2.75 ERA and recording 169 strikeouts over 150⅓ innings, which earned him his first All-Star selection. His ability to combine triple-digit velocity with enhanced command and formidable secondary pitches has established him as one of the most exhilarating young talents in the league.

What is particularly noteworthy about Greene's evolution is his ability to refine his strategy beyond merely overpowering hitters with speed. His slider has developed into a legitimate out pitch, and he is also cultivating a changeup that adds another dimension to his repertoire. Recently, Greene reached the 500-strikeout milestone early in the 2025 season against the Texas Rangers.

At just 25 years of age, Greene possesses ample room for continued development, positioning him as one of the most promising young pitchers in the game with true ace potential.