As the 2024 Major League Baseball season winds down, we've ranked the top 50 hitters of this campaign, categorizing them into seven different tiers.

In descending order, here are the seven tiers:

50-47: Just Snuck In

46-41: Worthy of Applause

40-33: Very Productive Veterans

32-20: All-Star-Level Hitters

19-9: Have Had Superstar Stretches

8-2: MVP-Level Hitters

1: This tier is named after the only player in it. We'll keep the tier name secret for now.

Here's a look at the 50 best hitters of the 2024 season.

Tier 7: Just Eked In

50. Austin Riley

Riley is one of the many Braves who have gotten injured in 2024, and his regular season is over as he recovers from a fractured right hand. After winning two Silver Sluggers in the past three seasons, Riley hit 19 home runs and posted a .783 OPS in 110 games this season. There's definitely value in that type of production, but it's below what you'd expect from Riley.

49. Jesse Winker

Winker will likely never top his All-Star campaign in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds. But after a pair of disappointing seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers, Winker has put together something of a rebound campaign in 2024. In a season split between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets, Winker has 23 doubles, 58 RBI and a .788 OPS.

48. Oneil Cruz

A left ankle fracture limited Cruz to just nine games a season ago, a disappointing development after he flashed incredible tools over 87 games in 2022. Over his first full MLB season, Cruz has 33 doubles, 19 home runs and 71 RBI. He's also struck out 167 times. As is, Cruz can have a nice career, but his numbers this year should only be scratching the surface of the hitter he can become.

47. Matt Olson

One of Atlanta's only hitters who has stayed healthy this season, Olson has 25 home runs, 81 RBI and a .440 slugging percentage. Like Riley, it's below what you'd expect from Olson, who led the NL in all three categories a year ago with 54 home runs, 139 RBI and a .604 slugging percentage.

Tier 6: Worthy of Applause

46. Lawrence Butler

The A's might have uncovered a franchise cornerstone this year in Butler. A season after he hit .211 with a .582 OPS in 42 games, Butler has shined in just over 110 games, with 22 doubles, 21 home runs and an .847 OPS. Perhaps the A's will be able to return to relevance sooner than we thought.

45. Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The version of Chisholm that hit .249 with a 99 OPS+ (100 is league average) in 101 games for the Miami Marlins wouldn't have made this list. However, since being acquired by the Yankees, Chisholm has hit .300 with nine home runs and a 151 OPS+. He's only played in about a month's worth of games and still has quite a bit of swings and misses. But a change of scenery appears to have done Chisholm well, and he'll be an interesting player to monitor in 2025.

44. Matt Chapman

Chapman's calling card remains his Gold Glove-caliber defense, but he's had a strong season at the plate as well. In his first campaign with the Giants, Chapman has 23 home runs, 72 RBI and 61 walks. The Giants are so pleased with Chapman's first season in San Francisco that they already reached a new six-year, $151 million extension.

43. Pete Alonso

Alonso is a victim of his own success to a degree. For most players, 31 home runs, 79 RBI and 62 walks would be a career year. For someone that's topped 40 home runs three times in his career and regularly drives in over 100 runs, it's been relatively disappointing. It also came at an inopportune time, since Alonso will be a free agent after this season, and power-hitting first basemen have already been devalued around the sport.

42. JJ Bleday

Better late than never. The former No. 4 overall pick—acquired from the Marlins in the A.J. Puk trade—has had a breakout campaign for the Athletics. Bleday's 39 doubles are sixth among all hitters. He's also hit 20 home runs and walked 58 times. Again, maybe the A's can turn things around during their detour(?) in Sacramento.

41. Jose Altuve

We'll see whether his connection to the 2017 Astros dings him in the minds of some voters, but Altuve's resume coming into the season was already no-doubt-about-it Hall of Fame worthy. At this point, it's just a matter of how high he can climb on the list of the greatest second basemen of all time. With 28 doubles and a .304 batting average, Altuve was a deserving All-Star for the ninth time this season.

Tier 5: Very Productive Veterans

40. Bryan Reynolds

An All-Star for the second time in his career, Reynolds hit 18 home runs and drove in 61 runs in the first half of the season. However, he only checks in at No. 40 because he's hit just four home runs with an OPS under .700 since the Midsummer Classic. He's one of the reasons the Pirates have fizzled out in the final two months of the season.

39. Ian Happ

In the first season of a three-year, $61 million deal, Happ has delivered pretty similar production to what he did the three prior campaigns. Between 2021 and 2023, Happ posted a .778 OPS while averaging 21 home runs and 74 RBI. In 2024, he's got 23 home runs, 81 RBI and a .796 OPS. Happ isn't a superstar, but he's productive and steady.

38. Vinnie Pasquantino

Though he's currently on the injured list with a right thumb fracture, Pasquantino deserves to be on this list. He's driven in 97 runs this season and has an MLB-best 13 sacrifice flies. He's a major reason the Royals have gone from a 56-win team a year ago to one that could be in the postseason in 2024.

37. Manny Machado

As he worked his way back from offseason surgery on his right elbow, Machado had a relatively disappointing first half, posting a .742 OPS. However, he's rounded into form in the second half with a .901 OPS since the All-Star break. In the end, Machado's full-season numbers are going to look really good, as he's got 25 home runs and 90 RBI in the latest chapter of a career likely headed for the Hall of Fame.

Tier 5: Very Productive Veterans (Continued)

36. Seiya Suzuki

A right oblique strain cost Suzuki nearly a month earlier in the season, but his third MLB season has probably been his best. The 29-year-old has 24 doubles, 20 home runs, 52 walks and an .832 OPS for the Cubs this year. He maybe hasn't developed into a franchise cornerstone, but has been very productive when healthy in his three years with the Cubs.

35. Christian Walker

Walker just returned from an oblique strain that had sidelined him since late July, resuming what had been a fine campaign before that. In addition to elite defense at first base, Walker has 25 home runs, 77 RBI and 50 walks. He will be an interesting free agent this offseason—if the Diamondbacks allow him to get that far.

34. Trea Turner

It really has been a bizarre first two years with the Phillies for Turner. When he's locked in at the plate, he's one of the best hitters in the sport. When he's cold, he's really cold. Throw in a six-week absence with a hamstring strain, and you can understand why Turner is difficult to rank. Still, he's hit .298 with 22 doubles, 18 home runs and an OPS over .800. At the plate, he remains valuable.

33. Salvador Perez

The only remaining member of the Royals' World Series-winning team in 2015, Perez remains one of the best-hitting catchers in the sport for a Kansas City team that looks like it could finally return to the postseason. The four-time Silver Slugger Award winner has clubbed 26 home runs and driven in 101 runs. Also of note: on-base percentage has often been a metric used against Perez. His .339 OBP this year isn't going to put him among the league leaders, but it would be a new career-high for a 162-game season.

Tier 4: All-Star-Level Hitters

32. Jackson Chourio

Chourio hit just .243 in the first half of the season, which really limited his ceiling on this list. However, since the Midsummer Classic the rookie has taken off, hitting .315 with 10 home runs and a .949 OPS. The eight-year, $82 million deal the Brewers signed him to before his rookie season is going to go down as one of the most team-friendly deals in MLB history.

31. Steven Kwan

Kwan was unbelievable in the first half of the season, hitting .352 with nine home runs and a .920 OPS en route to earning his first All-Star Game nod. He's underwhelmed in the second half of the season, hitting .198 with a .578 OPS. The rate he was hitting at in the first half was probably unsustainable, but it would be nice to see him heat up again before the postseason.

30. Teoscar Hernández

Whatever spirit Hernández upset to get him traded to Seattle in his contract year, they forgave him when he landed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5 million pillow contract in the offseason. Hernández was an All-Star for the second time in his career, and he has been a tremendous run-producer in a loaded lineup, hitting 28 home runs, driving in 87 runs and adding 29 doubles.

29. William Contreras

Since the Brewers acquired Contreras in the three-team deal that also allowed the Braves to land Sean Murphy from the Athletics, he's been the best-hitting catcher in baseball. A Silver Slugger winner last season, Contreras has arguably been even better in his second season in Milwaukee, with 35 doubles, 21 home runs, 84 RBI and 66 walks.

28. Riley Greene

The Tigers have played over .500 in the second half of the season, giving you some hope about their future. One of the most exciting pieces on their team is Greene, the No. 5 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. The 23-year-old has had a breakout campaign in 2024, with 21 home runs, 25 doubles, six triples and an .844 OPS. He was an All-Star this season for the Tigers, and he figures to be a perennial candidate moving forward.

27. Alec Bohm

Bohm is currently sidelined with a left hand strain, but it's already been a career year for the former No. 3 overall pick. A first-time All-Star in 2024, Bohm leads the NL with 44 doubles and has driven in 89 runs. Bohm has continued to be a menace with runners in scoring position, as he's hitting .304 in those scenarios this season.

Tier 4: All-Star-Level Hitters (Continued)

26. Josh Naylor

Naylor was difficult to place on this list. He was an All-Star for the first time—deservedly so—as he hit 22 home runs with an .816 OPS for the Guardians in the first half. Since then, though, he has seven home runs and a .726 OPS. The full-season numbers are still pretty strong, but Naylor has fallen compared to where he would have been if this list had been made in the middle of the season.

25. Luis Arráez

This ranking is bound to upset everyone. Some will argue this is too low for Arráez, who is on track to win his third consecutive batting title. Others will argue this is too high for someone with four home runs, 42 RBI and only 14 walks. So we split the difference and made sure no one was happy.

24. Willy Adames

Adames is having a tremendous contract year for the Brewers. He's close to passing the career-high of 71 walks he worked last year, and still continues to be an elite run producer at shortstop. Heck, with 30 home runs and 102 RBI, his production would be elite at any position.

23. Jurickson Profar

Without a doubt, Profar is the most improbable name on this list. But Profar was a first-time All-Star this season, and the 31-year-old has put together his finest campaign with 22 home runs, 82 RBI, and an .839 OPS. His ace in the hole? Profar has been hit by 16 pitches this year, the most among any NL player.

22. Freddie Freeman

Freeman has continued to add onto his Cooperstown-bound legacy in his third season with the Dodgers. Though there's been a slight dip in production relative to the past few years, Freeman still has racked up 31 doubles, 21 home runs and an .860 OPS. Freeman is a candidate to win the fourth Silver Slugger Award of his career.

21. Elly De La Cruz

If stolen bases were included, De La Cruz would be much higher, as he leads baseball with 64 stolen bases. But they weren't, which hurt him. As did the fact that he has the most strikeouts of anyone in the sport. Still, De La Cruz has 33 doubles, eight triples, 23 home runs and 65 RBI, so he's still been a very impactful player for the Reds.

Tier 3: Have Had Superstar Stretches

20. Kyle Schwarber

Schwarber hit 97 home runs across his first two seasons with the Phillies, but he did so while batting just .207 He came back slimmer for his third year and has benefitted from being almost exclusively a DH. Schwarber has 35 home runs, including two three-homer games in the span of a month. He's hitting .251 this year, which is a major development considering his continued power and the fact that he leads the NL with 98 walks.

19. Corey Seager

Seager hasn't matched his AL MVP runner-up campaign from a season ago, but he's hit 30 home runs for the third consecutive year along with 21 doubles, 74 RBI and an .864 OPS. Seager is currently on the injured list with right hip discomfort, and it's unclear if he'll come back before the season is over. Injuries are the only thing that's been able to slow Seager at the plate in his career.

Editor's note: Seager has since been ruled out for the season because of a sports hernia.

18. Mookie Betts

A left hand fracture cost Betts nearly two months, halting his NL MVP candidacy and making this about as high as he could be on a list like this. When the future Hall of Famer has been available, though, he's been tremendous. In just over 100 games, Betts has 17 home runs, 66 RBI, 59 walks, and a .909 OPS. Had Betts not gotten injured, he likely would have been in the top five on this list.

17. Jackson Merrill

Merrill's full-season stats may not be worthy of being this high, but the rookie has been unreal since the All-Star break, hitting .313 with 10 home runs and a .954 OPS. He's also proven to be insanely clutch, with seven home runs and an OPS over 1.000 in "late and close" situations. For as many prospects as president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has traded away, it should have been clear how special Merrill was when the Padres held onto him.

16. Bryce Harper

Harper has had a bit of an uneven season given that he had a slow start and admitted recently that he is "banged up," playing through some right elbow and wrist discomfort. Still, he won NL Player of the Month in both May and June, has 39 doubles, 26 home runs and an .899 OPS. This won't be Harper's third NL MVP season, but he's still largely been one of the more dangerous offensive players in the Senior Circuit.

15. José Ramírez

You should be ready to have the Hall of Fame conversation about Ramírez, who is likely to finish sixth or better in AL MVP voting for the sixth time in his career. This has been one of his best run-producing seasons, as Ramírez has hit 34 home runs and driven in 106 runs, giving him the second-highest RBI total in the sport.

14. Francisco Lindor

Let us be clear, if this list was ranking the best overall players this season, Lindor would be much higher. But since this is just focused on what players have done at the plate, Lindor's 17 outs above average at shortstop and 26 stolen bases weren't considered. Still, Lindor has 38 doubles, 31 home runs and 85 RBI. He may not get on base quite as frequently as some of the names above him on this list, but he's brought tremendous value.

13. Rafael Devers

Devers feels like MLB's version of Mike Evans—he never seems to be mentioned as a top-five player, but over the course of a 10-year stretch, he'll finish as one of the very best. He's closing in on the fourth 30-plus homer season of his career, has 34 doubles and an OPS just shy of .900. Devers is putting together a remarkable career when you consider he's still only 27 years old.

12. Ketel Marte

Marte recently missed some time with a left ankle sprain, but he's been one of the most productive hitters in the NL this season. In addition to strong defensive work at second base, Marte has 21 doubles, 31 home runs and a .924 OPS for a Diamondbacks team that looks like it will be a tough out in October once again.

11. Anthony Santander

"Tony Taters" is having a career-best season in his contract year, and he should make out well in free agency this offseason whether he's getting paid by the Orioles or someone else. The switch-hitting slugger doesn't hit for a high average, but his 41 home runs are third in the sport. He's also driven in 95 runs and posted a 1.230 OPS in situations deemed as "late and close."

10. Jarren Duran

It's been quite the breakout season for Duran this season, as he leads baseball in both doubles (44) and triples (13). Additionally, Duran is fourth in total hits and has 21 home runs as well. The 27-year-old looks like a cornerstone for the Red Sox.

9. Brent Rooker

In their waning days in Oakland, the A's have been an upstart team that looks like they might have a relatively bright future if owner John Fisher gets out of the way. Rooker is at the forefront of that, as he's seventh or better in the sport in home runs (35), RBI (101) and slugging percentage (.577).

Tier 2: MVP-Level Hitters

8. Gunnar Henderson

Even if Henderson has come back down to Earth a bit in the second half, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year has set a new single-season franchise record for home runs by a shortstop at 36, surpassing Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. He's likely headed for a top-five finish in AL MVP voting.

7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

After finishing runner-up in AL MVP voting in 2021 with a 1.002 OPS, it was relatively disappointing to see him post an .804 OPS between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Well, Vladdy Jr. has had a massive second half that's answered any questions about just how good he is. Guerrero currently has a .940 OPS in 2024 with 28 home runs, 94 RBI and 40 doubles. He can become a free agent after the 2025 season, so it will be interesting to see if the Toronto Blue Jays can reach a long-term contract with him this offseason.

6. Yordan Álvarez

Álvarez hit what was essentially a World Series-clinching home run in 2022, and yet it feels like he's overshadowed by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman on his own team. Well, in case there was still any debate, Álvarez is the best hitter in Houston and is on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He's homered more than 30 times for the fourth consecutive season, and the .313 batting average he has is his best mark since finishing with that same average when he won AL Rookie of the Year in 2019.

5. Marcell Ozuna

In a year when Olson has regressed and the Braves have played without Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies for lengthy stretches, Ozuna has been the one constant. Ozuna is hitting .307, which if you exclude the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, would be the highest single-season mark for him since he hit .312 for the Miami Marlins in 2017. A year after clubbing 40 homers and 100 RBI for the Braves, Ozuna has 37 home runs and 98 RBI, so he's well on his way to blowing by those marks.

4. Bobby Witt Jr.

In just about any other year, Witt would be cruising to an AL MVP. Even when you don't consider his Gold Glove-caliber defense, Witt leads all of baseball in batting average (.333), hits (195) and runs scored (120). He also has 30 homers and 99 RBI for good measure. Witt has cemented his place among the game's very best players in 2024.

3. Juan Soto

He's been overshadowed by the No. 1 name on this list, but that won't stop him from getting a record-shattering deal in free agency this offseason. In his first year with the Yankees, Soto has set a new career high with 39 home runs, and he continues to be an on-base machine, as he's on pace to draw more than 120 walks in a season for the fourth time in his career. Whatever you think he's going to get paid in free agency, add an extra $100 million.

2. Shohei Ohtani

This was supposed to be the year Ohtani didn't win MVP because he wasn't pitching. Instead, he's launched 47 homers and posted a .992 OPS. He looks like he's en route to becoming the first full-time DH to win an MVP and the second player to win an MVP in both leagues, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.

Tier 1: The Aaron Judge Tier

Even with a slow start to September, Aaron Judge is the favorite to win the AL MVP for the second time in three seasons. He's also eclipsed 50 homers for the third time in his career, and while he may not match the AL-record 62 bombs he launched in 2022, he won't finish far behind.

Judge is in the midst of one of the greatest three-year power stretches in MLB history, one that can only be compared to legends like Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. It's unfortunate he was limited to 106 games a year ago, because when you consider he still hit 36 home runs, he may have approached 60 yet again over a full season's worth of games.

Don't make the mistake of assuming it's just Judge's home runs that have him in his own tier. He leads all qualified hitters in RBI (126), walks (119), on-base percentage (.454), slugging percentage (.686), OPS (1.140) and OPS+ (217).

Judge's placement in his own tier isn't meant as a diss of Ohtani, Witt or anyone else. It just puts in perspective how special Judge has been at the plate.