2025 Top 100 MLB Players: #85 - #81

85. Alex Bregman - Boston Red Sox

After nine successful seasons with the Houston Astros, Alex Bregman begins a new chapter in his career with the Boston Red Sox. The 31-year-old third baseman brings a wealth of experience and a strong resume to his new team.

Bregman established himself as one of baseball's premier third basemen during his time in Houston, where he was a two-time All-Star (2018, 2019) and two-time World Series champion (2017, 2022). His consistency at the plate and reliable defense have been hallmarks of his career.

The Albuquerque native is coming off a strong 2024 campaign where he earned his first Gold Glove Award, showcasing his defensive excellence. At the plate, Bregman offers a blend of power and discipline with a career .273 batting average, 192 home runs, and 667 RBIs over nine seasons.

With Boston, Bregman will be counted on as a veteran leader. His postseason experience (he holds several postseason records for a third baseman) will be invaluable to a Red Sox team hoping to return to championship contention. The smart, disciplined hitter should fit well into Boston's lineup and provide stability at third base.

84. Ezequiel Tovar - Colorado Rockies

Ezequiel Tovar has quickly established himself as one of baseball's brightest young shortstops. The 23-year-old Venezuelan is coming off a breakout 2024 season that saw him win his first Gold Glove Award while continuing to develop as an offensive threat.

Tovar led the National League with 655 at-bats and 45 doubles in 2024, demonstrating both his durability and ability to drive the ball. He hit .269 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs, showing improved power from his rookie campaign. His offensive production is particularly impressive considering he plays his home games at Coors Field but has shown he can hit anywhere.

While Tovar still needs to improve his plate discipline (he struck out 200 times in 2024), his defense has already reached elite levels. The Rockies recognized his potential, signing him to a seven-year, $63.5 million extension in March 2024.

As the face of the Rockies' infield, Tovar combines exceptional range, a strong arm, and natural instincts at shortstop. Still developing at just 23, his ceiling remains sky-high as both a defender and hitter.

83. Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals

Ryan Helsley has cemented himself as one of baseball's most dominant closers. The 30-year-old right-hander is coming off a career year in 2024 where he led Major League Baseball in saves (49) and was named the National League Reliever of the Year.

The Oklahoma native and Cherokee Nation citizen possesses an electric fastball that regularly touches 100 mph, complemented by a devastating slider and cutter. This arsenal has made him nearly unhittable in late-inning situations for the Cardinals.

Helsley's 2024 season was historic, as he broke the Cardinals' single-season saves record while posting a 2.04 ERA with 79 strikeouts across 65 appearances. He was also named to his second All-Star team (after his first selection in 2022) and earned All-MLB First Team honors.

After battling injuries in previous seasons, Helsley has found consistency and durability over the past two years. His importance to the Cardinals cannot be overstated—when St. Louis has a lead in the ninth inning, Helsley has become as close to automatic as it gets in baseball.

82. Jack Flaherty - Detroit Tigers

Jack Flaherty has returned to the Detroit Tigers after a whirlwind 2024 season that saw him help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series. The 29-year-old right-hander signed a two-year, $35 million contract to return to Detroit, where he excelled in the first half of last season.

Flaherty was outstanding in his initial stint with the Tigers in 2024, posting a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 18 starts before being traded to the Dodgers at the deadline. His performance in Los Angeles was solid if uneven, highlighted by a brilliant seven-inning scoreless start in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Mets.

The former first-round pick's career has been marked by flashes of brilliance (particularly his historic second half in 2019 when he posted a 0.91 ERA) mixed with injury setbacks. When healthy and in rhythm, Flaherty possesses a plus fastball and one of the best sliders in baseball.

Detroit is banking on Flaherty to be their ace, hoping that his postseason experience with the Dodgers and career 3.62 ERA will help lead a young Tigers rotation. His ability to miss bats (averaging nearly a strikeout per inning throughout his career) makes him a potential difference-maker in the AL Central.

81. Bryce Miller - Seattle Mariners

Bryce Miller has quickly established himself as a key piece of Seattle's outstanding rotation. The 26-year-old Texan is coming off a breakthrough second season in which he posted a 12-8 record with a 2.98 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 180⅓ innings.

Miller's rise has been meteoric. After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M, he debuted in 2023 and made an immediate impact. His sophomore campaign in 2024 was even more impressive, as he ranked eighth in MLB in ERA (2.98) and fourth in WHIP (1.068).

The right-hander features an overpowering fastball that sits in the mid-to-high 90s with exceptional movement, complemented by a sharp slider and developing changeup. His ability to work deep into games was showcased in 2024, when he pitched at least seven innings while allowing one or fewer runs seven different times.

Still early in his career and under team control for several more seasons, Miller represents both the present and future of the Mariners' pitching staff. His continued development gives Seattle one of the most formidable rotations in baseball heading into 2025.