Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Left 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.
The final position in the series is left field, which is headlined by Jarren Duran (BOS), Riley Greene (DET) and Steven Kwan (CLE) who each had the best season of their career in 2024, while Jose Altuve (HOU) joins them while shifting from second base to the outfield.
There is also a trio of rising stars who call left field home, with Jackson Chourio (MIL), Wyatt Langford (TEX) and James Wood (WAS) all 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.
Catch up on the 2025 Position Rankings Series: First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen, Center Fielders, Right Fielders
Nos. 30-26
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30. Jordan Beck, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Zac Veen
Beck was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of the University of Tennessee, and he established himself as a top prospect in 2023 when he posted an .867 OPS with 34 doubles, 25 home runs and 91 RBI in 126 games between High-A and Double-A. The 23-year-old hit .188 with 65 strikeouts in 184 plate appearances in his first MLB action last year, and he will get a long look in 2025.
29. Kyle Stowers, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Griffin Conine
The Marlins acquired Stowers and Connor Norby from the Orioles last summer in the deal that sent Trevor Rogers the other way, and both young hitters have a chance to see regular playing time for a rebuilding club. Stowers is a .208/.268/.332 hitter in 340 plate appearances the past two seasons.
28. Seth Brown, Athletics
Next Man Up: Miguel Andújar
Brown has been a cheap source of power for the A's in recent seasons, slugging 73 home runs over the past four years with a 103 OPS+ and 3.2 WAR in 497 games during that span. The 32-year-old also provides some useful versatility with the ability to play first base and both corner outfield spots, though he is a below-average defender in the grass.
27. Tommy Pham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Jack Suwinski
Pham joined his eighth team in the last four years when he signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pirates in February. If he makes it through the entire season in Pittsburgh, it will be the first time since 2021 in San Diego that he made it through an entire year without being traded. The 37-year-old had a 16-homer, 22-steal season in 2023.
26. Jason Heyward, San Diego Padres
Next Man Up: Connor Joe
Heyward enjoyed a career renaissance with the Dodgers in 2023, posting a 119 OPS+ and 1.9 WAR in 124 games after signing a minor league deal. His production regressed last season and he was eventually released, but he caught on with the Astros and again exceeded expectations with a 112 OPS+ in 24 games. The Padres inked him to a one-year, $1 million deal to help ease the loss of Jurickson Profar in left field.
Nos. 25-21
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25. MJ Melendez, Kansas City Royals
Next Man Up: Jonathan India
A converted catcher, Melendez has tallied minus-26 DRS in the outfield over the past three seasons, though his metrics did take a small step forward last year as he shifted from right field to left field. Still only 26 years old, he has averaged 29 doubles, 20 home runs and 64 RBI per 162 games during his three years in the big leagues.
24. Andrew Benintendi, Chicago White Sox
Next Man Up: Travis Jankowski
Benintendi is two seasons into a five-year, $75 million deal with the White Sox, and he has fallen quite a ways from when he was an All-Star in 2022. The 30-year-old hit .229/.289/.396 for a 95 OPS+ last season, though he did launch a team-leading 20 home runs to match his own career-high mark. He won a Gold Glove in 2021, but has not been a defensive standout with the White Sox.
23. Austin Hays, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Gavin Lux
The Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5 million deal after he was non-tendered by the Phillies, but he is not far removed from being an All-Star with the Orioles in 2023. He hit .354/.405/.537 in 90 plate appearances against lefties during an otherwise disappointing 2024 season, and if nothing else he will serve as a productive platoon option.
22. Jasson Domínguez, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: Everson Pereira
One of the most hyped Yankees prospects in decades, Domínguez has been given a clear runway to claim the everyday left field job this season. The 22-year-old dealt with some injuries last year, but hit .314/.376/.504 over 58 games in the minors before joining the MLB roster as a September call-up. He has a chance to be one of the AL Rookie of the Year front-runners if things click.
21. Christopher Morel, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: Kameron Misner
Morel flashed impact offensive tools during his time with the Cubs, but he lacked a clear defensive home with a crowded outfield on the North Side and was flipped to the Rays at the deadline last year in exchange for Isaac Paredes. The 25-year-old is controllable through 2028 and already has a pair of 20-homer seasons under his belt with still untapped upside.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Michael Conforto, Los Angeles Dodgers
Next Man Up: James Outman
Conforto posted a 116 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 130 games for the Giants during a resurgent 2024 season, and he was able to parlay that performance into a one-year, $17 million deal with the Dodgers. With a .232 average and .705 OPS for his career against lefties, he will likely be a strict platoon option.
19. Max Kepler, Philadelphia Phillies
Next Man Up: Johan Rojas
The only major change to the Phillies line this year is Kepler in left field, as he shores up what was a revolving door for the final outfield spot alongside Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh in 2024. The 32-year-old had a 102 OPS+ with 161 home runs and 20.5 WAR over 10 seasons with the Twins, though he has dealt with some injury issues in recent years.
18. Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: Matthew Lugo
One of the few consistent performers in the Angels lineup a year ago, Ward posted a 111 OPS+ and slugged a team-high 25 home runs in 156 games while ranking fourth on the team with 2.3 WAR. The 31-year-old still has club control through the 2026 season, and he could be a trade candidate this summer if the Angels fall out of the race early.
17. Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins
Next Man Up: Harrison Bader
The No. 20 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Larnach has spent parts of the last four seasons in the big leagues, and he quietly put together a breakout performance in 2024. He hit .259/.338/.434 for a 116 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in a career-high 400 plate appearances, and he should be one of the team's primary run producers in 2025.
16. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Alek Thomas
After earning his first All-Star selection in 2023, Gurriel tested the free agency waters and quickly rejoined the D-backs on a three-year, $42 million deal. The 31-year-old posted his fourth straight 2-WAR season in 2024, hitting .279/.322/.435 for a 109 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 18 home runs, 75 RBI and 2.0 WAR in 133 games.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Jurickson Profar, Atlanta Braves
Next Man Up: Bryan De La Cruz
The Braves rolled the dice on Profar's career year and signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal in free agency, hoping he can come close to replicating the 134 OPS+ and 3.6 WAR he logged with the Padres in 2024. Even with some power regression, his on-base skills give him a high offensive floor.
14. Heliot Ramos, San Francisco Giants
Next Man Up: Luis Matos
Ramos had the definition of a post-hype breakout last season, earning an All-Star selection two years removed from his last appearance on the Baseball America Top 100 prospect list. The 25-year-old logged a 125 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 22 home runs and 72 RBI over 121 games in a 2.3-WAR campaign, giving the Giants a rare homegrown impact bat.r
13. Tyler O'Neill, Baltimore Orioles
Next Man Up: Heston Kjerstad
The O's let Anthony Santander sign a five-year, $92.5 million deal with the Blue Jays, inking O'Neill to a far more budget-friendly three-year, $49.5 million contract to replace him in the outfield. The 29-year-old has reached 100 games played just twice in his career, but he had a 132 OPS+ with 31 home runs and 2.6 WAR in 113 games last year. The two-time Gold Glove winner will also be a significant defensive upgrade over Santander.
12. Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Michael Siani
With a .364 career on-base percentage and multiple games played at six different positions during his first three MLB seasons, Donovan fits the Ben Zobrist archetype as a Swiss Army knife who provides sneaky power and elite versatility. The Cardinals figure to give Nolan Gorman a long look at second base this season, which likely means Donovan sees the bulk of his work in left field.
11. Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners
Next Man Up: Dominic Canzone
Despite a down year by previous standards, Arozarena still logged his fourth straight 20/20 season in 2024. The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year and 2023 All-Star Game starter could make a huge difference in the middle of the Seattle lineup during his first full season with the team, and he still has club control through the 2026 season.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets
Next Man Up: Starling Marte
The Mets could end up regretting the back end of Nimmo's hefty eight-year, $162 million contract, but he had another productive season in 2024 while shifting from center field to left field. The 32-year-old had a 107 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 23 home runs, 90 RBI and 2.2 WAR in 151 games, and he stands as one of the best active players to never make an All-Star team.
9. Anthony Santander, Toronto Blue Jays
Next Man Up: Nathan Lukes
One of the most impactful Rule 5 picks of all-time, Santander launched 154 home runs in his six full seasons with the Orioles, including a career-high 44 long balls in 2024. That earned him a five-year, $92.5 million deal from the Blue Jays in free agency, and another 40-homer season could be on deck moving from Camden Yards to the Rogers Centre.
8. James Wood, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Alex Call
Wood was baseball's No. 7 prospect entering the 2024 season, and he made his MLB debut on July 1, quickly becoming one of the best bats in the Nationals lineup. In 79 games, he posted a 122 OPS+ with 26 extra-base hits, 14 steals and 1.1 WAR, posting elite batted-ball metrics along the way. His 92.8 mph average exit velocity and 52.0 percent hard-hit rate both would have ranked among the MLB leaders had he tallied enough plate appearances.
7. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Seiya Suzuki
The longest-tenured player on the Cubs roster, Happ has won three straight Gold Gloves in left field while establishing himself as one of the best two-way corner outfielders in baseball. He posted a 120 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 25 home runs, 86 RBI and 3.9 WAR in 2024, and he has quietly racked up 11.8 WAR over the past three seasons.
6. Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Next Man Up: Evan Carter
Langford spent just 47 games in the minors before making his MLB debut on Opening Day last season, going from No. 4 overall pick in 2023 to everyday player in 2024. The University of Florida product steadily improved as his rookie season unfolded, finishing with a 111 OPS+ while tallying 25 doubles, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 19 steals and 3.9 WAR in 134 games. Still only 23 years old, he has perennial All-Star upside.
5. Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
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Next Man Up: Christian Yelich
Jackson Chourio more than held his own as the youngest player to appear in a big league game in 2024, showing future superstar potential in his age-20 season to earn some down-ballot NL MVP votes.
After taking his lumps early in the year, things clicked in a big way and from June 1 through the end of the season he hit .303/.358/.525 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs, 63 RBI and 15 steals over his final 98 games.
That eight-year, $82 million extension the Brewers gave him before he ever made his MLB debut now looks like a stroke of genius for a budget-conscious organization.
4. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
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Next Man Up: Chas McCormick
After 14 seasons as the starting second baseman for the Houston Astros, Jose Altuve now calls left field home following a 2024 season where his defensive metrics continued a steep downturn.
A roughly league-average defender for much of his career, he piled up an ugly minus-41 DRS over the last three seasons at second base, undercutting some of his still elite offensive value.
After posting a 126 OPS+ and 3.4 WAR last season, he still has the bat to be an impact player entering his age-35 campaign and 15th year in the big leagues.
3. Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers
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Next Man Up: Justyn-Henry Malloy
Riley Greene has been viewed as a future leader of the Detroit Tigers lineup since he was selected No. 5 overall in the 2019 draft as the second high school bat off the board after Bobby Witt Jr.
The 24-year-old has steadily improved over his first three seasons in the majors, with a legitimate breakout performance in 2024 when he hit .262/.348/.479 for a 133 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 24 home runs, 74 RBI and 5.4 WAR in 137 games.
An All-Star for the first of what could be many times last year, he is the offensive face of the franchise for the Tigers and still capable of another step forward as he moves closer to his prime years.
2. Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Roman Anthony
A strong 2023 season from Jarren Duran proved to be just the appetizer of a full-blown breakout campaign last year that saw him finish eighth in AL MVP balloting while making his first All-Star appearance.
The 28-year-old hit .285/.342/.492 for a 129 OPS+ and piled up extra-base hits with 48 doubles, 14 triples and 21 home runs while also adding 75 RBI, 111 runs scored and 34 steals.
On top of his offensive performance, he was also one of baseball's best defensive players, racking up 23 DRS while bouncing between left field and center field en route to an 8.7-WAR season.
1. Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
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Next Man Up: Johnathan Rodríguez
With a throwback game built on contact skills and defense, Steven Kwan has stacked up 12.8 WAR over his first three seasons in the majors after never appearing on a Top 100 prospect list prior to his debut.
The 27-year-old put the ball in play in nearly 80 percent of his plate appearances last season, hitting .292/.368/.425 for a 126 OPS+ while slugging a career-high 14 home runs and scoring 83 runs in 122 games.
He has also won three straight Gold Glove Awards to begin his career, tallying 47 DRS and providing significant secondary value to help supplement his lack of power at a traditionally power-centric position.
