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Ranking Each MLB Team's Starting Center Fielder for 2026 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2026 MLB preseason position rankings.
Up next is center field, where a wave of young talent led by Julio Rodríguez (SEA), Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), Jackson Merrill (SD) and Michael Harris II (ATL) has transformed the position in recent years.
With Mike Trout (LAA) shifting back to center field and Steven Kwan (CLE) trying his hand at the position after winning four Gold Gloves in left field, the top tier of talent has a lot of moving parts. This is also a position where defense carries more weight than it does at almost any other spot on the diamond, aside from catcher and shortstop.
Each team's projected primary starter for the 2026 season is included in the rankings. Players are ranked based on expectations for the coming campaign. 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 2026 Preseason Position Ranking here: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen
Top Prospects Who Will Eventually Be Starting in 2026
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Max Clark, Detroit Tigers (No. 17 on B/R Top 100)
Center field has been a revolving door in Detroit for more than a decade, but Clark is expected to bring that to a halt. The 21-year-old hit .271/.403/.432 with 36 extra-base hits and 19 steals in 111 games while reaching Double-A last season, and his 60-hit, 60-speed profile and elite defensive tools give him franchise cornerstone upside.
Jacob Melton, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays acquired Melton in the three-team deal that sent Brandon Lowe to the Pirates during the offseason, and after hitting .286/.389/.556 with 22 extra-base hits in 35 games at Triple-A last year, he is on the MLB doorstep. The 25-year-old has 20/20 potential, and despite struggling in his first taste of the big leagues last year, he could be a major factor in 2026.
Cole Carrigg, Colorado Rockies
Carrigg saw time at catcher, shortstop and center field at the onset of his pro career, and he has settled in primarily as an outfielder where his speed and athleticism are a good fit. The 23-year-old had 39 extra-base hits and 46 steals in 123 games at Double-A last year, and with Brenton Doyle mentioned in trade rumors during the past year, he could see an opportunity later this year.
Nos. 30-28
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30. Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
Offense (AAA): 506 PA, .334/.411/.452, 34 XBH (7 HR), 46 SB
With a 60-grade hit tool, top-of-the-scale speed and proven production at the Triple-A level, Crawford will get a shot at securing the everyday center field job out of camp. Questions remain about whether he can make enough quality contact to be an impact offensive player at the next level, but his speed and defense give him a high enough floor to deserve an extended look.
29. Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks
Offense: 74 PA, 51 OPS+, .182/.257/.288, 7 XBH (0 HR), 2 SB
Defense: Did not play CF in 2025
WAR: -0.4
Lawlar has played just 335 total games since he was taken No. 6 overall in the 2021 draft, and he now stands as a post-hype sleeper learning a new position to try to secure an everyday role. The 23-year-old has the athleticism and speed to be a good fit in center field after playing primarily on the left side of the infield in the past, and a .298/.395/.515 line in the minors speaks to his offensive upside.
28. Luisangel Acuña, Chicago White Sox
Offense: 193 PA, 63 OPS+, .234/.293/.274, 7 XBH (0 HR), 16 SB
Defense: 3.0 INN, 0 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 0.6
Acuña has a top prospect pedigree and is coming off a terrific performance in the Venezuelan Winter League where he posted a .939 OPS with 18 extra-base hits and 12 steals in 39 games. The White Sox acquired him in the deal that sent Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets, and he is competing with Brooks Baldwin for the starting center field job this spring. The 23-year-old is out of minor league options, so he is a safe bet to be on the roster in some capacity.
Nos. 27-25
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27. Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
Offense: 364 PA, 68 OPS+, .231/.296/.287, 13 XBH (2 HR), 15 SB
Defense: 901.1 INN, 13 DRS, 14 OAA
WAR: 1.4
Young has racked up 25 DRS in center field over the past two seasons, a total that trails only Ceddanne Rafaela (32), Daulton Varsho (26) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (26) at the position. He is essentially a glove-only player with a punchless .313 slugging percentage and 78 OPS+ during that same stretch, but his defense is enough to provide positive overall value.
26. Kyle Isbel, Kansas City Royals
Offense: 409 PA, 83 OPS+, .255/.301/.353, 24 XBH (4 HR), 4 SB
Defense: 1,032.0 INN, 9 DRS, 12 OAA
WAR: 1.6
Isbel has quietly tallied 5.5 WAR over the past three seasons primarily thanks to his glove work in the middle of the Kansas City outfield. The 29-year-old did post a career-low 18.1 percent strikeout rate last season while logging an on-base percentage above .300 for the first time in a full season, but it's his defense that keeps him in the starting lineup.
25. Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers
Offense: 78 PA, 63 OPS+, .206/.286/.294, 5 XBH (0 HR), 3 SB
Defense: 179.2 INN, 0 DRS, 5 OAA
WAR: 0.0
Over 141 games in the majors, Mitchell has a 112 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 13 home runs, 23 steals and 3.6 WAR. Unfortunately, it has taken him four years to play that many games, and his career has been derailed time and again by injuries. The 27-year-old is healthy and has a clear path to an everyday job. Is this the year he finally stays upright long enough for a true breakout?
Nos. 24-22
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24. Cedric Mullins, Tampa Bay Rays
Offense: 498 PA, 94 OPS+, .216/.299/.391, 41 XBH (17 HR), 22 SB
Defense: 1,064.1 INN, -14 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 0.5
Mullins has never replicated the breakout 30/30 season he had for the Orioles in 2021, but he is a steady source of power and speed at a premium position. The 31-year-old consistently posted strong defensive metrics prior to last season, and joining a Tampa Bay organization that emphasizes defense more than most could help that part of his game rebound.
23. Victor Scott II, St. Louis Cardinals
Offense: 463 PA, 72 OPS+, .216/.305/.296, 21 XBH (5 HR), 34 SB
Defense: 1,087.2 INN, 12 DRS, 16 OAA
WAR: 2.2
With top-of-the-scale speed and good instincts, Scott is an elite defensive center fielder, and he also uses his wheels well on the base paths where he swiped 34 bags in 38 attempts last year. However, after hitting .171/.274/.239 with six extra-base hits in 140 plate appearances after the All-Star break, questions remain about whether he will ever be even an average offensive contributor.
22. Wenceel Pérez, Detroit Tigers
Offense: 383 PA, 103 OPS+, .244/.308/.430, 34 XBH (13 HR), 8 SB
Defense: 183.0 INN, -4 DRS, -1 OAA
WAR: 0.8
Pérez is the likely beneficiary if the Tigers decide to send a struggling Parker Meadows down to Triple-A to open the year, and with a 103 OPS+ last season he has proven he can make an impact at the plate. Top prospect Max Clark is expected to debut at some point in 2026, at which point Pérez can shift back to right field where he made 71 starts last year.
Nos. 21-19
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21. Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
Offense: 381 PA, 103 OPS+, .292/.354/.373, 20 XBH (3 HR), 16 SB
Defense: 844.0 INN, 5 DRS, 9 OAA
WAR: 2.4
Meyers hit just .219/.286/.360 over 513 plate appearances during the 2024 season before taking a major step forward at the plate last year. Unfortunately, his breakout was cut short by a calf injury that cost him nearly two months, and now he enters the 2026 season as a key cog in a crowded and blurry outfield situation in Houston.
20. Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
Offense: 538 PA, 72 OPS+, .233/.274/.376, 40 XBH (15 HR), 18 SB
Defense: 1,090.2 INN, 0 DRS, 6 OAA
WAR: 0.1
On last year's production alone, Doyle belongs near the bottom of these rankings, but he's just a year removed from a 4.0-WAR season in 2024 where he posted a 102 OPS+ with 23 home runs and 30 steals while winning his second straight NL Gold Glove. His name came up in trade talks during the offseason, but the Rockies were hesitant to sell low.
19. Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles
Offense: 360 PA, 83 OPS+, .196/.269/.385, 30 XBH (16 HR), 14 SB
Defense: 398.2 INN, -1 DRS, 1 OAA
WAR: 1.0
Cowser was the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, posting a 120 OPS+ with 24 home runs and 3.1 WAR in 153 games, but his follow-up campaign was sidetracked by multiple injuries. He dealt with a fractured thumb, concussion and broken ribs, ultimately playing just 92 games, and now he enters 2026 with something to prove while taking over for Cedric Mullins as the primary center field.
Nos. 18-16
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18. Denzel Clarke, Athletics
Offense: 159 PA, 78 OPS+, .230/.274/.372, 13 XBH (3 HR), 6 SB
Defense: 383.2 INN, 7 DRS, 13 OAA
WAR: 1.0
A season-ending hip injury brought Clarke's rookie campaign to an abrupt halt after just 47 games, but that was more than enough time to prove he is an elite-level defender. The question now is how much he will hit in the majors, and after posting an .828 OPS across five seasons in the minors, there is potential for more than he showed in his first big league action.
17. Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
Offense: 220 PA, 114 OPS+, .247/.336/.392, 16 XBH (5 HR), 14 SB
Defense: 460.0 INN, 3 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 1.9
Carter starred for the Rangers during the 2023 postseason after playing just 23 games as a September call-up, tallying 18 hits and 10 walks in 17 games during their run to the World Series. That seemingly put him on a star trajectory, but injuries have limited him to 108 games over the last two seasons, and he is still searching for a true breakout season.
16. TJ Friedl, Cincinnati Reds
Offense: 685 PA, 102 OPS+, .261/.364/.378, 38 XBH (14 HR), 12 SB
Defense: 1,295.0 INN, -10 DRS, 1 OAA
WAR: 2.3
Friedl had a 117 OPS+ with 48 extra-base hits, 27 steals and 3.6 WAR during a breakout 2023 season, but he dealt with a rash of injuries the following year before rebounding to roughly league-average production in 2025. The 30-year-old is a rare undrafted free agent success story, and he has been a nice find for a Cincinnati organization with consistent question marks in the outfield.
Nos. 15-13
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15. Jakob Marsee, Miami Marlins
Offense: 234 PA, 132 OPS+, .292/.363/.478, 26 XBH (5 HR), 14 SB
Defense: 393.0 INN, 1 DRS, 4 OAA
WAR: 1.9
Marsee made his MLB debut last August and hit .448/.568/.793 with five doubles, one triple and one home run through his first 10 games before settling in as a steady contributor over the final two months. The 2023 AFL MVP came to the Marlins in the deal that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, and now he is angling to establish himself as a long-term piece in Miami.
14. Luis Robert Jr., New York Mets
Offense: 431 PA, 85 OPS+, .223/.297/.364, 26 XBH (14 HR), 33 SB
Defense: 865.2 INN, 0 DRS, 7 OAA
WAR: 1.4
With a .223/.288/.372 line, 85 OPS+ and 29.6 percent strikeout rate in 856 plate appearances the last two seasons, Robert is more of a reclamation project than superstar addition for the Mets. However, he is also still only 28 years old, and moving from an also-ran White Sox team to a presumptive contender could be the jumpstart his career needs.
13. Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants
Offense: 501 PA, 117 OPS+, .277/.347/.449, 42 XBH (17 HR), 11 SB
Defense: 568.2 INN, 6 DRS, 3 OAA
WAR: 3.9
Bader set career-high marks in hits (124), doubles (24), home runs (17), RBI (54) and total bases (201) last season, and he parlayed that into a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants. With two of the league's worst defensive outfielders in Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos flanking him, his ability to handle the sprawling center field at Oracle Park might be where he makes the biggest impact for his new club.
Nos. 12-10
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12. Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Offense: 544 PA, 87 OPS+, .200/.298/.378, 41 XBH (20 HR), 38 SB
Defense: 1,061.1 INN, -14 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 0.3
Cruz is overflowing with raw talent, and there's a lot to like about a 20-homer, 38-steal season. His strikeout rate (32.0%) and whiff rate (34.0%) were among the worst in baseball, but he quietly improved his walk rate from 8.5 to 11.8 percent, which is a sign he's still growing as a hitter. There is also potential for improvement defensively in what will be his second full season in the outfield.
11. Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers
Offense: 624 PA, 114 OPS+, .272/.313/.461, 55 XBH (27 HR), 14 SB
Defense: 973.0 INN, -1 DRS, 5 OAA
WAR: 3.8
Pages was a key contributor for the World Series champions last season, but he ran out of steam in October, going 4-for-51 with one extra-base hit in the playoffs. The 25-year-old is on a short list of guys capable of slugging 30 home runs while playing a capable center field, but he'll need to put his lackluster postseason in the rearview.
10. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox
Offense: 587 PA, 95 OPS+, .249/.295/.414, 54 XBH (16 HR), 20 SB
Defense: 1,167.1 INN, 20 DRS, 22 OAA
WAR: 4.7
Rafaela has a strong case for the title of best defensive center fielder, and his 20 DRS trailed only Steven Kwan (22) among all players in 2025. His on-base skills are lacking, but his 4.8 percent walk rate actually represented an improvement from the 2.6 percent mark he logged as a rookie. With his glove, a 90 OPS+ with 40 extra-base hits and 20 steals will consistently make him a 4-WAR player.
Nos. 9-7
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9. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Offense: 556 PA, 121 OPS+, .232/.359/.439, 41 XBH (26 HR), 2 SB
Defense: Did not play CF in 2025
WAR: 1.5
Trout started 106 games at designated hitter last year and spent the rest of his time in right field, and it's no coincidence that he also reached 120 games played for the first time since 2019. Despite his injury issues and the fact that he turns 35 in August, he has made it clear he prefers to return to center field, and time will tell if that once again hinders his availability.
8. Trent Grisham, New York Yankees
Offense: 581 PA, 125 OPS+, .235/.348/.464, 44 XBH (34 HR), 3 SB
Defense: 1,133.0 INN, -11 DRS, -2 OAA
WAR: 3.5
Grisham looked like a potential non-tender candidate following the 2024 campaign after hitting .191/.298/.353 in 1,288 plate appearances over the previous three seasons. Instead, he put together a career year at the plate with the batted-ball metrics to back it up, though his defensive metrics took a step backward. He has the widest range of potential outcomes of anyone inside the top 10.
7. Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
Offense: 641 PA, 88 OPS+, .249/.268/.409, 52 XBH (20 HR), 20 SB
Defense: 1,397.0 INN, 6 DRS, 8 OAA
WAR: 2.2
After a dismal first half, Harris rallied to hit .299/.315/.530 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI in 67 games after the All-Star break, and he finished with the first 20/20 season of his career. His 2.5 percent walk rate and .268 on-base percentage both ranked dead last out of 145 qualified hitters, so any improvement in his plate discipline could make him a top-five player at the position.
Nos. 6-4
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6. Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Offense: 693 PA, 96 OPS+, .272/.330/.374, 41 XBH (11 HR), 21 SB
Defense: 1.0 INN, 0 DRS, 0 OAA
WAR: 3.7
After winning four straight Gold Gloves in left field, Kwan is trying his hand in center this year for a Cleveland team without a clear answer at the position. If he can settle in up the middle, it might help keep the oft-injured Chase DeLauter healthy by lining him up at a corner spot. Kwan is also a free agent after the 2027 season, and it would add to his market appeal if he can play a quality center field.
5. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays
Offense: 271 PA, 122 OPS+, .238/.284/.548, 35 XBH (20 HR), 2 SB
Defense: 550.1 INN, 10 DRS, 9 OAA
WAR: 2.8
Varsho was a 5.0-WAR player and Gold Glove winner in 2024, and while injuries limited him to just 71 games last year, he managed to slug 20 home runs in 271 plate appearances while once again posting elite defensive metrics. The 29-year-old is entering a contract year and will be hitting in the middle of a loaded Blue Jays lineup, which should mean big numbers if he stays healthy.
4. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
Offense: 483 PA, 112 OPS+, .264/.317/.457, 47 XBH (16 HR), 1 SB
Defense: 1,001.1 INN, 0 DRS, 2 OAA
WAR: 2.7
Merrill finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and ninth in NL MVP balloting as a rookie while learning to play center field on the fly, and he is still younger than several of the game's top prospects with his 23rd birthday coming shortly after Opening Day. He made three trips to the injured list last year and still managed a 112 OPS+ and 47 extra-base hits in 115 games.
Nos. 3-1
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3. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Offense: 542 PA, 136 OPS+, .264/.327/.551, 63 XBH (35 HR), 24 SB
Defense: 973.0 INN, -5 DRS, 3 OAA
WAR: 4.9
Over 11 seasons, Buxton has posted a 114 OPS+ while averaging 30 home runs, 21 steals and 5.4 WAR per 162 games. Last season marked just the second time in his career he reached 120 games played, and the result was a career-high 35 home runs and a Silver Slugger. It's simply the question of whether he can stay on the field for an entire season that keeps him from challenging for the No. 1 spot.
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
Offense: 647 PA, 118 OPS+, .247/.287/.481, 72 XBH (31 HR), 35 SB
Defense: 1,357.0 INN, 15 DRS, 21 OAA
WAR: 6.0
PCA was a legitimate MVP candidate during the first half last season, posting an .847 OPS with 25 home runs and 27 steals. That dipped to a .634 OPS and six long balls after the break, but he still became the first Cubs player since Sammy Sosa in 1995 with a 30/30 season. If his offensive game ends up landing somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, his elite defense will make him a perennial 5-WAR player.
1. Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Offense: 710 PA, 128 OPS+, .267/.324/.474, 67 XBH (32 HR), 30 SB
Defense: 1,406.1 INN, 9 DRS, 10 OAA
WAR: 6.8
Entering his age-25 season, J-Rod already has 22.9 WAR under his belt, a pair of 30/30 seasons, three All-Star selections and three top-10 finishes in AL MVP balloting. That's a solid career resume for some players, and he's done it all before entering what is generally viewed as a player's prime years. He is a true five-tool talent and the face of the franchise for a Mariners team built for sustained contention.
