TOP 10 Center Fielders 2026

9. Luis Robert Jr., New York Mets

The case of Luis Robert's career has been a tricky one. When the White Sox were good, he was their budding superstar center fielder. He had an elite power tool, with great speed and a great glove to go with it. However, injuries started piling up, the team around him got worse, and he never improved his swing and miss issues. So here we are in 2026, why is he being considered a top 10 center fielder? Well there are 3 phases of the game, and despite his production at the plate as of recently, he has been a very solid defender. In 2025, Robert posted a 7 OAA in center field, which is incredibly impressive for the position. He also stole 33 bases. Those tools are there, and don't seem like they are going away, considering they are career highs. The Mets saw this, and still see potential in his bat, especially if you can throw it in already stacked lineup, as oppose to having to be 'the guy' for one of the worst teams in baseball. Could this all crash and burn, and he doesn't pan out in New York? That is a possibility, but I would argue that it's more of a possibility that he is solid in all 3 phases of the game in 2026.

8. Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers

Andy Pages is often the forgotten guy on the Dodgers, simply because he is one of their few home grown talents, and especially as of recently. What isn't known is that he is a very, very good defender in center field. 11 OAA with a very strong arm. That alone provides value, but he also produces with his bat. In 2025, he sported a .774 OPS with 27 home runs. That is a level of production that would be good regardless of the lineup around him. That being said, when you look under the hood, there isn't anything that makes him standout in a good way with the bat. Most of his peripherals are just alright, with his walk % and chase % being very poor. I think a lot of people don't know what to think of Pages. Some would look at him and say that he is a product of the lineup around him, and that he lacks traits that make him standout. I would say that he is an elite defender who's got enough pop in his bat to produce regardless of the lineup around him.

7. Trent Grisham, New York Yankees

So, Trent Grisham is really good? Yankees fans will have to forgive me, but I'm not 100% how much stock I'm supposed to buy in Grisham. He had an elite year with the bat in 2025, putting up a .812 OPS and 34 homeruns. However, that was the first time he had an OPS over .700 since 2021, and hadn't hit over 17 homeruns in a season in his career. I think the biggest thing for me is that his under the hood stats were so good in 2025. He walks and doesn't chase, which to his credit he's been good at his whole career, but he also had a well above average barrel rate and exit velocity. Needless to say, I think it's such a rise in production it's going to be difficult to replicate. The strangest thing is that Grisham had his first season with negative value defensively, which used to be his bread and butter as a player. I think it's easy to draw a conclusion that his defense took a step back in exchange for a better offensive output. Im cautiously optimistic that he will have a similar season in 2026, I'm just not putting all my stock into it, so that's why he's only at 7.

6. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

This one could weird some people out, but Varsho is at my number 6. He had a very similar season to Grisham, and they have similar career archetypes. Starting out as a great glove, but poor bat, and then having an offensive explosion in 2025. The only difference, and the reason Varsho is one spot ahead of Grisham, is that Varsho's glove didn't decline in 2025, in fact it stayed one of the best in the league. So sure, there is questions if what Varsho put up at the plate in 2025 is sustainable, especially since it is a smaller sample size, but I would put about the same amount of stock in that as I would Grisham. Varsho's barrel rates went up simmilar to Grisham's did. These two were very strange to evaluate and then put on this top 10 list, but I feel like this is both the safest places to put them in respect to their 2025 versus their entire careers.

5. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox

Now this one could definitely put people off, but I like Rafaela for 2026. 22 OAA in center field, good for second best in the entire MLB. That could be the entire argument alone... and almost is. He is the best defensive center fielder in the AL. He is also a very solid baserunner with 20 stolen bases. Then we get to the bat... and it's just okay. Or it has been. His peripherals are either average, or well below average when it comes to his bat. However, it didn't hurt him too bad, posting a solid .709 OPS in 2025, which when paired with arguably the best defender in the sport, you'll take that. The reason I am optimistic about Rafaela in 2026 is two main reasons: He should find a home in center field for good in 2026. Up until this point, he has been moved around the outfield spots and even played a good amount of second base, but his outlook appears to be center field full time. This is good for a young bat to develop, not having to worry about playing both infield and outfield. The other reason I like him is his under the hood stats are slowly getting better every season. If they can continue to slowly improve, and he puts up around a .750 OPS with another elite season with the glove, number 5 wil seem almost too low for him.

4. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

And this is where I lose Cubs fans. Look, I get it, PCA is an exciting young player, and a budding superstar in this league. I think he will probably be arguably the best center fielder in the league someday. But that day is not today. Let's start off with what's good about PCA. Oh, remember that Rafaela was second in OAA in 2025? Well PCA was first. he was statistically the best defensive player in baseball. That alone derives value, but he also had a 30-30 season with a .768 OPS. That is all pretty impressive. He also has good barrel rates, which makes sense as you can see the pop in his game. Now, here is the kicker, and my reasoning for not having him higher: He declined pretty steadily as the season went on. His August - October was one to forget statistically, and overall for the second half, he had a 74 OPS+, well below average. He also has a massive chase problem, as his chase % is 41.2%, compared to the league average of 28.4%. Now I expect that to improve, but it won't happen overnight, or in this case, in one season. I still really like PCA, I just happen to think 3 center fielders will have a better 2026.

3. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres

I think we all forgot just how good Jackson Merrill is. In 2024, Merrill had a 167 wRC+, which is good for arguably a top 10 player in the entire sport. He displayed to be a five tool player, LITERALLY. Yes we're doing this bit again that we did for Jose Ramirez, because I believe that people need to be reminded how good he is. Hit for average? xBA in the 98th percentile, with above average strikeout and whiff rates. Hit for power? xSLG in the 96th percentile to pair with elite barrel rates, exit velo's and hard hit rates. Arm? 90th percentile in arm strength. Glove? 12 OAA in 2024. Baserunning? a sprint speed in the 80th percentile. All the tools were there, and there was no way 2024 was an one-off season for him at 21 years old. He's only going to get better, and I believe that 2025 was plagued by injuries for him, and he even still put up a 116 wRC+. Jackson Merrill is good, and if he stays healthy, there is absolutley a case for him to be the best center fielder in the sport.

2. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

I for one, have loved this late career resurgence of Byron Buxton. From a potential bust, to starting in CF for Team USA in the WBC, the career turnaround for Buxton feels well-deserved. How about at 32 years old, he is still the fastest player in the MLB? That's insane! The glove is still there too posting a 3 OAA in 2025. He also has the best barrel rates and hard hit rates out of any center fielder in the league. Most importantly, he is staying healthy, and not trying to do too much. Doing so, he is doing much more than he ever has in his career. When you look at all 3 phases of the game, he is still well above average in all three, and in fact, his OPS has gotten better season after season. If that trend continues, we are looking at a .900 OPS center fielder with positive value with his glove, and the wheels to steal plenty of bags too. Super happy for Buxton.

1. Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners

Julio is very simmilar to Buxton, being a top prospect, and having a few rough seasons before figuring it out, but it's safe to say, that he has figured it out. Take the profile of Buxton, and make the solid glove an elite gold glove, and just turn down the barrel rates a tiny bit, and you have Julio. Elite bat speed, elite speed in general, there is not many holes in Julio's game. His plate discipline could use some work, but overall he is the best center fielder when it comes to giving his team the most value overall. With this Mariners team continuing to improve, I expect a big 2026 from Julio, to build on the already impressive career he has put fourth.

2/27/26