Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Center Fielder for the 2025 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2025 MLB preseason position rankings!
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2025 campaign.
Next up is center field, which is headlined by three of the game's brightest young stars in Michael Harris II (ATL), Jackson Merrill (SD) and Julio Rodríguez (SEA), while the oft-injured tandem of Byron Buxton (MIN) and Luis Robert Jr. (CWS) are also capable of top-tier production when healthy.
Looking to the future, Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), Parker Meadows (DET), Garrett Mitchell (MIL), Evan Carter (TEX) are some of the up-and-comers penciled into starting spots on Opening Day who are capable of taking another step forward.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2025 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a look at the next man up in center field. This is who would take over as the starter if the current starter were to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player, and in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Catch up on the 2025 Position Rankings Series: First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen
Nos. 30-26
1 of 10
30. Dane Myers, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Derek Hill
Myers was claimed off waivers from the Tigers prior to the 2023 season, and he hit .316/.406/.489 with 32 extra-base hits in 100 games between Double-A and Triple-A that year to raise his prospect profile. The 29-year-old batted .263/.333/.442 for a 109 OPS+ in 108 plate appearances as a rookie last season, and he is expected to be the prominent piece of a center field platoon with Derek Hill.
29. Jonny DeLuca, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: Richie Palacios
The Rays traded Jose Siri to the Mets back in November, and shortly after completing that deal announced that DeLuca would be the team's starting center fielder in 2025. The 26-year-old was acquired last offseason along with Ryan Pepiot in the deal that sent Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers. He hit just .217/.278/.331 with 22 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 107 games last year, but posted strong defensive metrics (5 DRS, 7.8 UZR/150) in the outfield.
28. Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: Mickey Moniak
Adell might never live up to the lofty expectations he generated during his time in the minors, but he is a good athlete with playable power and a solid glove. The 25-year-old hit .207/.280/.402 for a 91 OPS+ with 20 home runs, 62 RBI and 15 steals in 130 games last year, and now he will swap spots with Mike Trout and shift from right field to center field.
27. Jose Siri, New York Mets
Next Man Up: Tyrone Taylor
Siri was acquired from the Rays in November after hitting .187/.255/.366 for a 76 OPS+ in 130 games last year while striking out at a 37.9 percent clip. He was still a 1.8-WAR player on the strength of his defense (12 DRS, 5.6 UZR/150), and he is just a year removed from posting a 102 OPS+ with 25 home runs and 12 steals. The Mets could just play the hot hand between him and Tyrone Taylor.
26. Kyle Isbel, Kansas City Royals
Next Man Up: Joey Wiemer
Isbel is a prototypical glove-first center fielder, though he did post a career-high 83 OPS+ with 13 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 42 RBI and 11 steals in 136 games last season. The 28-year-old was a .277/.353/.455 hitter across five seasons in the minors, so there could still be a bit more in the tank offensively.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
Next Man Up: Chas McCormick
After three seasons as a productive fourth outfielder, Meyers was handed the starting center field job last offseason. He tallied a career-high 513 plate appearances in 2024 and hit .219/.286/.360 for an 85 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 RBI, 11 steals and 1.7 WAR. The 28-year-old has more pop than the traditional defensive-minded center fielder, and the starting job appears to be his once again in 2025.
24. Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Dylan Crews
Young began last season as the No. 18 prospect in the Nationals farm system, and he wound up finishing second on the team with 2.8 WAR in 2024. The 25-year-old's value largely stemmed from his defense (12 DRS, 2.5 UZR/150) and he was a NL Gold Glove finalist in center field. Offensively, he hit .256/.316/.331 with 28 extra-base hits, 33 steals and 75 runs scored.
23. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox
Next Man Up: Roman Anthony
Rafaela was a solid run producer at the bottom of the Red Sox lineup last season while bouncing between shortstop and center field defensively. The 24-year-old inked an eight-year, $50 million extension in April, and went on to hit .246/.274/.390 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 75 RBI and 19 steals. Improving on a 2.6 percent walk rate will be the next step in his development, and he could be pushed into a super-utility role once Roman Anthony arrives.
22. TJ Friedl, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Will Benson
Friedl posted a 117 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 18 home runs, 66 RBI, 27 steals and 3.8 WAR during a breakout 2023 season, but injuries limited him to 85 games in 2024. A fractured wrist during spring training and a fractured thumb in May not only kept him on the sidelines, but seemingly swapped him of his power when he did return to action. Can the 29-year-old return to his 2023 level of production with a clean bill of health?
21. Lane Thomas, Cleveland Guardians
Next Man Up: Tyler Freeman
Following a surprise 20/20 season in 2023, Thomas backed up his breakout performance last season by posting a 101 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 15 home runs, 63 RBI and 32 steals in 130 games. The Guardians acquired him at the trade deadline and he had two home runs and nine RBI against the Tigers in the ALDS. Now he is set to enter a contract year as Cleveland's everyday center fielder.
Nos. 20-16
3 of 10
20. Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
Next Man Up: Leody Taveras
Carter entered the 2024 season as one of the AL Rookie of the Year front-runners following a brilliant postseason where he hit .300/.417/.500 with 10 extra-base hits and nine runs scored in 17 games during the Rangers' run to the 2023 World Series title. Instead, injuries limited him to just 45 games, and now he profiles as a post-hype sleeper heading into his age-22 season.
19. Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Corbin Carroll
The White Sox had their pick of McCarthy or Dominic Fletcher last offseason in a deal that sent pitching prospect Christian Mena the other way last offseason, and it looks like they made the wrong choice. While Fletcher had a 47 OPS+ and minus-0.3 WAR in 72 games last year, McCarthy hit .285/.349/.400 for a 109 OPS+ with 28 extra-base hits, 25 steals and 1.7 WAR in 142 games.
18. Jung Hoo Lee, San Francisco Giants
Next Man Up: Heliot Ramos
The Giants gave Lee a six-year, $113 million deal last offseason, and while a season-ending shoulder injury limited him to just 37 games as a rookie, expectations remain high for his future with the club. The 26-year-old is hitting .333/.448/.625 with two home runs and five RBI in 29 plate appearances so far this spring, and he could be slotted between Willy Adames and Matt Chapman in the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
17. Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Victor Scott II
Over the past three seasons, Nootbaar has hit .246/.351/.426 for a 116 OPS+ while averaging 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored and 2.3 WAR while seeing time at all three outfield spots. The 27-year-old is expected to open the year at the starting center fielder with Brendan Donovan and Jordan Walker at the corner spots, but expect to see plenty of Victor Scott II or Michael Siani in center field as well when Donovan plays second base.
16. Parker Meadows, Detroit Tigers
Next Man Up: Matt Vierling
Meadows spent the first four months of the 2024 season bouncing between Triple-A, the majors and the injured list. The 25-year-old returned to the big leagues for good on Aug. 3 and hit .293/.341/.495 with 24 extra-base hits in 230 plate appearances the rest of the way. He then went 7-for-26 with two doubles, one home run and three steals over seven games in the playoffs, and he enters 2025 as a legitimate breakout candidate.
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Nos. 15-11
4 of 10
15. Tommy Edman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Next Man Up: Andy Pages
Recovery from wrist surgery and an ankle sprain kept Edman out of action until Aug. 19 last year, and he made his season debut as a member of the Dodgers after he was acquired from the Cardinals at the deadline. The 29-year-old logged a 101 OPS+ in 37 games down the stretch, then hit .328/.354/.508 with seven extra-base hits, 13 RBI and five steals in 16 games during the postseason while winning NLCS MVP honors. The Dodgers locked him up with a five-year, $74 million extension, and he will be the primary center fielder in 2025 while providing depth at second base and shortstop.
14. Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers
Next Man Up: Blake Perkins
In 116 MLB games over the past three seasons, Mitchell has hit .264/.343/.463 for a 121 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 37 RBI, 52 runs scored, 20 steals and 3.6 WAR. The 26-year-old has the tools to be a top-10 center fielder by season's end, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy over a full season before climbing any higher in these rankings.
13. JJ Bleday, Athletics
Next Man Up: Esteury Ruiz
Bleday was taken No. 4 overall in the 2019 draft by the Marlins after hitting .347/.465/.701 with 27 home runs during a breakout junior season at Vanderbilt. Things never quite clicked in Miami and he was traded to the Athletics for A.J. Puk prior to the 2023 season. The 27-year-old finally broke out last year, posting a 120 OPS+ with 43 doubles, 20 home runs, 60 RBI and 2.1 WAR in 159 games to stake claim to the everyday center field job.
12. Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
Next Man Up: Colton Cowser
Since his out-of-nowhere 30/30 season in 2021, Mullins has settled in as a solid everyday center fielder, posting a 105 OPS+ while averaging 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 64 RBI, 70 runs scored, 28 steals and 3.1 WAR over the last three years. The 30-year-old is headed for free agency next winter, and could position himself for a huge payday with a strong 2025 season.
11. Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies
Next Man Up: Johan Rojas
The Phillies acquired Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline in a one-for-one swap that sent young catcher Logan O'Hoppe to the Angels, and he has logged back-to-back 3-WAR seasons while bringing some welcome stability to what had been a revolving door in center field. The 27-year-old posted a 109 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 55 runs scored and 19 steals in a career-high 135 games last year, and he is controllable through the 2027 season.
Nos. 10-6
5 of 10
10. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays
Next Man Up: Joey Loperfido
Varsho led all outfielders with 28 Defensive Runs Saved last season and won his first Gold Glove in a 5.0-WAR season, which is wild considering he was originally drafted and developed as a catcher. The 28-year-old also posted a 98 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 18 home runs, 58 RBI and 73 runs scored, but his spot inside the top 10 is thanks to his elite defense.
9. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Kevin Alcántara
This ranking might seem bullish based on the overall numbers that Crow-Armstrong posted as a rookie in 2024, but he turned a major corner at the plate during the second half of the season. From Aug. 1 through the end of the year, he hit .284/.337/.466 with 16 extra-base hits and 27 RBI in 52 games. If the 22-year-old can maintain that level of offensive production alongside his elite speed (27/30 SB) and defense (11 DRS, 7.7 UZR/150), stardom awaits.
8. Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Jack Suwinski
The Pirates finally made the decision to move the 6'7" Cruz off shortstop last August, and while he is still learning to play center field, his elite athleticism and long strides give him the chance to be a plus defender. The move should also allow him to focus more on his offensive development after he posted a 113 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 21 home runs, 76 RBI and 22 steals last season, albeit with 181 strikeouts and a 30.2 percent strikeout rate.
7. Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Sam Hilliard
Elite center field defense kept Doyle in the starting lineup during his rookie season in 2023 when he hit .203 with a 53 OPS+ in 126 games, and the Rockies patience was rewarded last year when he broke out offensively. The 26-year-old hit .260/.317/.446 for a 104 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 23 home runs, 72 RBI and 30 steals in a 4.0-WAR season while taking home NL Gold Glove honors for the second year in a row.
6. Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: Aaron Judge
The Yankees acquired Bellinger from the Cubs in what amounted to a cost-cutting move for the North Siders. The 29-year-old did not match his 2023 bounce-back performance this past season, but he still posted a 111 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 18 home runs, 78 RBI and 2.2 WAR while providing his usual solid defense in center field. Aside from plugging a hole in center field, he will also be counted on to pick up a significant chunk of the run production that was lost when Juan Soto departed in free agency.
5. Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
6 of 10
Next Man Up: Austin Slater
Luis Robert Jr. showed what he is capable of when healthy in 2023 when he played in a career-high 145 games and posted a 130 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 38 home runs, 80 RBI, 90 runs scored, 20 steals and 5.0 WAR en route to his first All-Star selection and AL Silver Slugger honors.
The 27-year-old was slowed by injuries again last year, suiting up for just 100 games while nursing a hip flexor strain and hitting .224/.278/.379 with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, 23 steals and 1.4 WAR while striking out at a 33.2 percent clip.
He has one guaranteed season left on his contract, followed by a pair of $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027 that hold $2 million buyouts. If he is healthy and productive, he could be the biggest prize of the 2025 trade deadline.
4. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
7 of 10
Next Man Up: Harrison Bader
Byron Buxton has performed at an MVP level at times when healthy, but he has played more than 100 games just twice during his 10 years in the big leagues, including the 102 games he played in 2024.
He hit .279/.335/.524 for a 137 OPS+ last season while tallying 27 doubles, 18 home runs and 56 RBI in 388 plate appearances, and he also returned to center field defensively after he was used exclusively as a designated hitter in 2023.
The 31-year-old has four years and $60.6 million left on his contract entering the 2025 season, and if the Twins are going to rebound from a disappointing year, keeping him healthy and productive will be key.
3. Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
8 of 10
Next Man Up: Jarred Kelenic
It's easy to forget that Michael Harris II is still only 24 years old, and he will be for the entirety of the 2025 season after celebrating his birthday just last week.
After a 3.2-WAR season over just 110 games in 2024, he has now racked up 11.7 WAR over his first three years in the big leagues, delivering on the early potential he showed when he won 2022 NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Even with the early success he has experienced, it still feels like he could reach another level in the coming years, and that eight-year, $72 million extension he signed following his rookie season could end up being one of the best bargains in baseball before too long.
2. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Brandon Lockridge
In almost any other year, Jackson Merrill would have run away with NL Rookie of the Year honors, but instead he settled for a runner-up finish to Paul Skenes while also finishing ninth in NL MVP balloting and winning a Silver Slugger.
The 21-year-old hit .292/.326/.500 for a 127 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 24 home runs, 90 RBI and 4.4-WAR while learning to play center field on the fly after lining up almost exclusively at shortstop in the minors.
He added an .833 OPS with one double, one triple, one home runs, five RBI and four runs scored in seven playoff games, and he might already be the best all-around player on a star-studded San Diego Padres roster.
1. Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
10 of 10
Next Man Up: Victor Robles
It speaks volumes that a "down year" for Julio Rodríguez still resulted in 4.3 WAR and a third straight 20/20 season to kick off his MLB career, all before his 24th birthday.
The homegrown five-tool superstar slumped for much of the first half last season, but eventually found his groove and hit .328/.349/.546 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 26 games over the final month of the season.
He still has legitimate MVP potential, and with a full season of Randy Arozarena helping provide some support in the lineup, another 30/30 season and top 10 finish in AL MVP balloting might be the floor on his 2025 outlook.
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