We’ve played about one-sixth of the six-month MLB season and flipped the calendar to May, so let’s look at the best performers at each position in both leagues.
Based on performance alone, here are my picks for the April All-Star teams for the American League and National League. Let me know what you think I got right — and wrong — in the comments.
American League
First base — Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics
It’s taken Soderstrom time to develop, but the 2020 first-round pick looks ready for a breakout season. He has slashed .284/.349/560 with five doubles, nine home runs and 24 RBIs. He edged out the Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 pick in 2020, who has shined this season with an .896 OPS, eight homers and 24 RBIs.
Tyler Soderstrom ranks seventh in the AL in OPS (.909). (Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
Second base — Kristian Campbell, Red Sox
Campbell signed an eight-year, $60 million contract in early April and is already delivering as one of the top rookies in the game. He has slashed .301/.407/.495 (164 OPS+) with 17 runs and 12 RBIs. Campbell, 22, edged out Jazz Chisholm Jr., who leads all AL second basemen with seven homers and 17 RBIs but is hitting just .181 with a .304 on-base percentage.
Shortstop — Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
There’s no debate at shortstop in the AL as Witt is batting .322/.388/.475 (144 OPS+) with 19 runs and nine stolen bases. He ranks in the 95th percentile in outs above average (defensive range) and the 100th percentile in sprint speed. A star on both sides of the ball, Witt is in the 92nd percentile in both batting run value and fielding run value.
Third base — Alex Bregman, Red Sox
Bregman has been one of the best free-agent signings of the offseason as he’s posted a 172 OPS+ with seven homers and 24 RBIs. He ranks in the 96th percentile in batting run value, the 98th percentile in chase rate and the 94th percentile in whiff rate. He’s worthy of this pick because of his numbers alone but his leadership has been an immediate difference-maker for the Red Sox.
The Bregman signing has been a boon for Boston. (Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
Right field — Aaron Judge, Yankees
This is the easiest pick of them all. There can be no debate: Judge is the best hitter in MLB. He leads the majors in average (.427), on-base percentage (.521) and slugging percentage (.761), RBIs (32) and hits (50). The two-time AL MVP is the early season favorite to win the award again this year.
Center field — Cedric Mullins, Orioles
Mullins is in his free-agent walk year and could not have picked a better time for the best start of his career. He’s reaching base at a .412 clip and has six homers, five doubles, five steals and 27 runs — all while playing standout defense (elite range but a below-average arm) in center field. He was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2021 and could repeat those accomplishments this year if he can keep it up.
Left field — Steven Kwan, Guardians
The three-time Gold Glove winner looks like a shoo-in for a fourth consecutive AL defensive award in left field and he’s equally impressive at the plate, batting .322/.370/.466 with five doubles and four homers along with four steals in as many attempts. His high energy and enthusiasm are contagious.
Catcher — Cal Raleigh, Mariners
Since the start of the 2023 season, no catcher has more homers than Raleigh and he’s off to a strong start in that department this year with 10 long balls, tied for the most in the majors. He’s also getting on base at a .341 clip, well above his career high. Raleigh, who signed a six-year, $105 million extension before the season, continues to be one of the game’s best pitch framers, ranking in the 92nd percentile among all catchers.
Designated hitter — Ben Rice, Yankees
Rice ranks in the 97th to 99th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG, barrel percentage, average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. He is in the 91st percentile in chase rate and the 88th percentile in bat speed. He’s reached base at a .373 clip, slugged eight homers and posted a 181 OPS+. Rice looks like he’ll be the Yankees’ first baseman of the future starting in 2026, but in the meantime, he will give Giancarlo Stanton competition at DH once the veteran returns from his multiple elbow injuries. The 26-year-old has been the best DH in the AL so far and is making a strong case that he needs to remain in the lineup.
Starting pitcher — Hunter Brown, Astros
Brown has arrived as the Astros’ ace. The 26-year-old will give Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Max Fried and others strong competition for this year’s AL Cy Young Award. Brown is 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA in six starts. He’s struck out 40 and walked only seven in 37 innings. He ranks in the 99th percentile in pitching run value and fastball run value. Batters are hitting just .075 against his four-seam fastball and .167 against his changeup. I also considered Tyler Mahle (1.14 ERA over six starts), who has been terrific for Texas.
Closer — Andrés Muñoz, Mariners
Muñoz has been the AL’s best closer, converting all 11 of his save opportunities and allowing no runs over his first 15 appearances. He’s struck out 19 and walked six in 15 innings. Batters are hitting just .036 against his nasty slider.
National League
First base — Pete Alonso, Mets
After signing a short-term contract with the Mets last winter that includes two opt-outs, Alonso looks primed to re-enter free agency and capitalize in the fall. The 30-year-old appears to be in great shape and is off to a scorching start, slashing .343/.474/.657 (219 OPS+) with seven homers and 28 RBIs. He’s benefitting from having Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto hitting in front of him; they provide significant traffic when he comes to the plate.
Pete Alonso is second in the majors with a 1.131 OPS. (Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
Second base — Brice Turang, Brewers
Turang won a Gold Glove Award (and a Platinum Glove) last year, and based on his early leatherwork, he’ll likely win it again this year. He’s slashing .317/.368/.408 while ranking second in the NL in hits and runs scored and stealing eight bases in 11 attempts. I also considered Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals, Bryson Stott of the Phillies and Tommy Edman of the Dodgers.
Shortstop — Francisco Lindor, Mets
Soto is the highest-paid Met and Alonso has the most power on the team, but Lindor is the face of the franchise and its most important leader. He’s off to a strong start, hitting .308 with a 143 OPS+. He continues to mash fastballs, batting .343 against them with four of his six home runs coming versus the pitch.
Third base — Eugenio Suárez, Diamondbacks
On Saturday, Suárez became the 19th player in MLB history to hit four homers in a game, although the Diamondbacks still somehow lost to the Braves. He has 10 homers on the season along with 20 RBIs and a 127 OPS+. He ranks in the the 98th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 94th percentile in barrel rate and the 94th percentile in average exit velocity. I seriously considered Austin Riley, who is a better hitter and defender than Suarez. However, Suarez’s early power numbers deserve recognition.
Right field — Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
I expect Tatis to be in the NL MVP conversation all season long. He’s well on his way, slashing .345/.409/.602 with eight homers, 25 runs, 18 RBIs and seven stolen bases while playing Platinum defense in right field. Corbin Carroll and Kyle Tucker are both deserving as well. Carroll is batting .289 with nine homers and 23 RBIs while Tucker has a .279 average with seven homers and 27 RBIs. The NL is loaded with right-field talent.
Center field — Jung Hoo Lee, Giants
Lee is living up to the six-year, $113 million contract he signed before last season; he’s slashed .319/.375/.526 (162 OPS+) with 23 runs, three homers, three steals and a league-leading 11 doubles. He’s played above-average defense in center field, ranking in the 79th percentile in outs above average and the 94th percentile in arm strength. He is in the 95th percentile in xBA, the 96th percentile in whiff rate and the 96th percentile in baserunning run value. I gave serious consideration to Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs and Oneil Cruz of the Pirates, but Lee edged them out.
Jung Hoo Lee is off to a fast start in 2025 after his first year with the Giants was cut short by a shoulder injury. (Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)
Left field — James Wood, Nationals
James Wood looks like he’ll develop into a star, following in the footsteps of elite former Nationals outfielders like Bryce Harper and Soto. He’s off to a great start this year with a .903 OPS, nine homers, 19 runs, 21 RBIs and three stolen bases. Wood, whom the Nationals acquired in their blockbuster trade of Soto to the Padres in 2022, is under team control through the 2030 season. The quiet, lead-by-example left fielder shows remarkable poise and composure. He ranks in the 92nd to 95th percentile in xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit percentage and bat speed. Washington has itself another tremendously talented outfielder.
Catcher — Carson Kelly, Cubs
Yes, you’re reading this right. The best catcher in the NL so far this season is not William Contreras, nor J.T. Realmuto, nor Will Smith, not even Sean Murphy. It’s Kelly, who has slashed .360/.507/.840 with seven homers and 21 RBIs. Best known as a backup catcher with above-average blocking and caught-stealing skills, he’s put up gaudy offensive numbers in a small sample (67 plate appearances). Kelly’s hot start is not sustainable, but let’s give him his due for a phenomenal April.
Designated hitter — Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Schwarber, who has nine homers, 23 RBIs and a .936 OPS, gets the nod at DH, but this position was a tough call. One could make an argument for Marcell Ozuna, Seiya Suzuki, Shohei Ohtani, Christian Yelich and Wilmer Flores. But I’ll go with Schwarber, who is off to a good start in his free-agent walk year.
Starting pitcher — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers
Yamamoto leads all NL pitchers with a 1.06 ERA over six starts and has 43 strikeouts in 34 innings. He ranks in the 95th to 96th percentile in pitching run value, fastball run value and offspeed run value, and in the 95th percentile in ground-ball rate. Batters are hitting .189 against his four-seamer and .111 against his split-finger.
Closer — Robert Suarez, Padres
Suarez has been the best closer in the NL, converting all 12 of his save opportunities. He’s allowed just one run and five hits over 14 innings while striking out 16 and walking three. All of his pitches are working for him; batters are hitting .111 against his four-seamer, .111 against his changeup and .125 against his sinker.
(Top photos of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Aaron Judge: Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)