It is with great pleasure that we have brought back the Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Cup, and let us explain how this works:
For every regular-season game, we anointed the top five players with the most points, in descending order: 5-4-3-2-1.
We know the following:
- The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points more easily than elite players on loaded squads.
- In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, which favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throw fewer innings than previous generations. This is also true for closers not made for this process.
- Please remember that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way we did: as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.
- As such, expect it to take time to see Pitchers on this list, or high-average hitters with limited power.
Here are the final standings (and note that we will be adding more of the results over the next few weeks):
1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: 220 Cup Points in 158 Games, 1.39 Cup Points per Game. 7.7 bWAR, 146 Runs Scored, 164 Hits, 55 Home Runs, 102 Runs Batted In, 20 Stolen Bases, .282/.392/.622 Slash Line, 1.014 OPS & 179 OPS+. 14 Games, 1-1 Record, 2.87 ERA, 47.0 IP, 62 SO, 145 ERA+, 1.043 WHIP, 6.89 SO/BB.
Who other than a superstar who can accrue points with his bat and on the mound, win the Notinhalloffame Cup?
This is a trophy built for Shohei Ohtani, the only active player in the Majors who plays both ways. Although he threw for only 47 Innings, that is what put him over New York’s Aaron Judge. Ohtani led the National League in Runs (146), Slugging (.622), OPS (1.014), OPS+ (1.014), and broke his single-season Home Run record with 55 dingers.
The final week in the standings was a battle between Ohtani and Judge, and while his work as a hurler put him over the top, what Ohtani has done this year and since 2021 has been nothing short of immaculate.
Congratulations to Shohei Ohtani for winning the notinhalloffame.com MLB Cup.
By the way, the title needs to be accepted in person here at our current home base in Seattle.
2. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, Outfield: 217 Cup Points in 152 Games, 1.43 Cup Points per Game. 9.7 bWAR, 137 Runs Scored, 179 Hits, 53 Home Runs, 114 Runs Batted In, 12 Stolen Bases, .331/.457/.668 Slash Line, 1.114 OPS & 215 OPS+.
Aaron Judge had the Notinhalloffame Cup locked up, but after bouncing back and forth with Shohei Ohtani, Judge fell in the last two games. However, it is hard to beat a player (for this Cup) when you don’t pitch. Wait, does that mean Judge is the de facto winner here? Sadly, no.
Judge had a phenomenal year, where he maintained his power (53 Home Runs) while winning his first Batting Title (.331). He did not just lead the AL in that stat; he swept the Slash Line, OPS, and OPS+ while also finishing first in Runs (137) and Walks (124).
The Yankees made it to the playoffs, but could they have done so without Judge? We doubt it.
3. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners, Catcher: 183 Cup Points in 159 Games, 1.15 Cup Points per Game. 7.3 bWAR, 110 Runs Scored, 147 Hits, 60 Home Runs, 125 Runs Batted In, 14 Stolen Bases, .247/.359/.589 Slash Line, .948 OPS & 169 OPS+.
Is this the best year by a Catcher? Offensively, yes, it looks like!
Raleigh shattered the Home Run record for a Catcher with 60 taters, and led the AL in that stat and RBIs (125). “The Big Dumper” was an All-Star for the first time in 2025, and his output propelled the Mariners to a top seed in the 2025 playoffs.
4. Pete Alonso, New York Mets, First Base: 179 Cup Points in 162 Games, 1.11 Cup Points per Game. 3.4 bWAR, 87 Runs Scored, 170 Hits, 38 Home Runs, 126 Runs Batted In, 1 Stolen Base, .272/.347/.524 Slash Line, .871 OPS & 144 OPS+.
Would you believe that Alonso was at the top of the standings (by far) when we first published our ranking in early May?
This is arguably the first surprise on this list, as, with all due respect to Alonso, he does not seem like he should be this high, but again, we remind you that this is a point system based on individual games!
Alonso had a great year, blasting away like always, but this time with a respectable Batting Average of .272 (his best), and a National League leading 41 Doubles.
Regardless, the biggest news for Alonso is that he opted out of his contract and will likely not be a Met next year.
5. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians, Third Base: 166 Cup Points in 158 Games. 1.05 Cup Points per Game. 5.8 bWAR, 103 Runs Scored, 168 Hits, 30 Home Runs, 85 Runs Batted In, 44 Stolen Bases, .283/.360/.503 Slash Line, .863 OPS & 137 OPS+.
The story of the improbable Guardians' run to the postseason can not happen without their top gun, and potential Hall of Famer, Jose Ramirez, who added his seventh All-Star and fifth straight. He was fourth in OPS+, sixth in OPS, and eighth in Slugging.
6. Juan Soto, New York Mets, Outfield: 164 Cup Points in 160 Games, 1.03 Cup Points per Game. 6.2 bWAR, 120 Runs Scored, 152 Hits, 43 Home Runs, 105 Runs Batted In, 38 Stolen Bases, .263/.396/.525 Slash Line, .921 OPS & 160 OPS+.
It is the New York Mets that are the first team to post two players, and it comes in the form of a player who had a slow start after signing a monster contract.
Juan Soto did not make the All-Star Game (making him the highest-ranked player on this list not to), but he finished the season as the National League leader in OBP (.396), Walks (127), and Stolen Bases (38), the last of which was a huge surprise considering his previous high was 12. Soto also had a career-high 43 Home Runs. The Mets may not have made the playoffs, but in year one, New York got value from the superstar.
7. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets, Shortstop: 163 Cup Points in 160 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game. 5.8 bWAR, 117 Runs Scored, 172 Hits, 31 Home Runs, 86 Runs Batted In, 31 Stolen Bases, .267/.346/.466 Slash Line, .811 OPS & 129 OPS+.
Yes. The New York Mets, the team with the most epic choke job in the last twenty years, have three ranked players before any other squad has two. How is this possible? The short answer is to see how long it takes for the Mets to have five players here, and when a Pitcher finally shows up.
Lindor had his first All-Star since 2019 (fifth overall), and was the NL leader in Plate Appearances (732) and At Bats (644). He also had his second 30-30 year, and was third in Runs Scored (117), fifth in Hits (172), and was eighth in Home Runs (31).
8. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres, Third Base: 162 Cup Points in 159 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game. 4.1 bWAR, 91 Runs Scored, 169 Hits, 27 Home Runs, 95 Runs Batted In, 14 Stolen Bases, .275/.335/.460 Slash Line, .795 OPS & 118 OPS+.
Machado continues his amazing career by adding a seventh All-Star and continuing to be the Padres' top offensive weapon. Machado, who was ninth in Hits in the NL, also turned a National League-leading 34 Double Plays at Third Base.
9 (TIE). Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, Designated Hitter: 161 Cup Points in 162 Games, 0.9938 Cup Points per Game. 4.7 bWAR, 111 Runs Scored, 145 Hits, 56 Home Runs, 132 Runs Batted In, 10 Stolen Bases, .240/.365/.928 Slash Line, .928 OPS & 150 OPS+.
This year’s All-Star Game MVP led the NL with 56 Home Runs and 132 RBIs, both of which were career highs. He also had a career best in Hits (145), and was second in both Slugging and OPS, but his 197 Strikeouts cost him Cup Points.
9 (TIE). Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays, Third Base: 161 Cup Points in 154 Games, 1.0454 Cup Points per Game. 4.5 bWAR, 93 Runs, 159 Hits, 45 Home Runs, 110 Runs Batted In, 7 Stolen Bases, .264/.311/.535 Slash Line, .846 OPS & 131 OPS+.
This was the (expected) breakout year for the 22-year-old Dominican Third Baseman, who exploded with 45 Home Runs, a .846 OPS, and the best bat on a promising Rays roster. We can’t wait to see what “La Maxima” has next!
11. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals, Shortstop: 158 Cup Points in 157 Games, 1.0064 Cup Points per Game. 7.1 bWAR, 99 Runs, 184 Hits, 23 Home Runs, 88 Runs Batted In, 38 Stolen Bases, .295/.351/.501 Slash Line, .852 OPS & 136 OPS+.
Witt spent most of the year in the top ten, and having “only” 23 Home Runs might have cost him a Cup Point or two. Nevertheless, this is Kansas City’s top gun, who led the American League in Hits (184) for the second straight year, and also topped the AL in Doubles (47).
12. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers, First Base: 155 Cup Points in 147 Games, 1.0544 Cup Points per Game. 3.5 bWAR, 81 Runs, 164 Hits, 24 Home Runs, 90 Runs Batted In, 6 Stolen Bases, .295/.367/.502 Slash Line, .869 OPS & 141 OPS+.
Freeman was an All-Star again this year, his ninth overall, and is now four-for-four in Los Angeles.
13. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres, Outfield: 149 Cup Points in 155 Games, .09613 Cup Points per Game. 5.9 bWAR, 111 Runs, 159 Hits, 25 Home Runs, 71 Runs Batted In, 31 Stolen Bases, .268/.368/.446 Slash Line, .814 OPS & 125 OPS+.
Tatis Jr. was an All-Star for the third time this year, and led the NL Rightfielders in Total Zone Runs (31) and Range Factor per Game (2.33).
14. James Wood, Washington Nationals, Outfield: 148 Cup Points in 157 Games, .09427 Cup Points per Game. 3.7 bWAR, 87 Runs, 153 Hits, 31 Home Runs, 94 Runs Batted In, 15 Stolen Bases, .256/.350/.475 Slash Line, .825 OPS & 132 OPS+.
While Wood struck out an NL-leading 221 times, he smacked 31 Home Runs and was the Nationals' top bat. He was an All-Star for the first time.
15 (TIE). Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks & Seattle Mariners, Third Base: 145 Cup Points in 159 Games, .09120 Cup Points per Game. 3.6 bWAR, 91 Runs, 134 Hits, 49 Home Runs, 118 Runs Batted In, 4 Stolen Bases, .228/.298/.526 Slash Line, .824 OPS & 126 OPS+.
Suarez had a great year, where he was traded from Arizona to Seattle, and matched his career-best in taters with 49. Suarez did have a better period in Arizona (.897 OPS) than in Seattle (.682 OPS).
15 (TIE). Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers, Outfield: 145 Cup Points in 157 Games, .09236 Cup Points per Game. 2.1 bWAR, 84 Runs, 155 Hits, 36 Home Runs, 111 Runs Batted In, 2 Stolen Bases, .258/.313/.493 Slash Line, .806 OPS & 120 OPS+.
Following James Wood, the American League leader in Strikeouts, Greene dodged the same in the NL (201). Greene went to his second straight All-Star, and showed his best power numbers (36 HR & 111 RBI).
15 (TIE). Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners, Outfield: 145 Cup Points in 160 Games, .09063 Cup Points per Game. 6.8 bWAR, 106 Runs, 174 Hits, 32 Home Runs, 95 Runs Batted In, 30 Stolen Bases, .267/.324/.474 Slash Line, .798 OPS & 128 OPS+.
Julio completed his fourth season and earned his third All-Star. Rodriguez matched his career-best 32 Home Runs and was the American League leader in Plate Appearances (710) and At-Bats (652).
18 (TIE). Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox & San Francisco Giants, Designated Hitter: 144 Cup Points in 163 Games, .08834 Cup Points per Game. 4.0 bWAR, 99 Runs, 153 Hits, 35 Home Runs, 109 Runs Batted In, 1 Stolen Base, .252/.372/.479 Slash Line, .851 OPS & 140 OPS+.
Devers had a great year, but, interestingly, the Red Sox soared when he left and the Giants declined when he arrived. This was his fifth straight 35 Home Run year, and his .372 OBP was the best of his career.
18 (TIE). Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays, First Base: 144 Cup Points in 156 Games, .09231 Cup Points per Game. 4.5 bWAR, 96 Runs, 172 Hits, 23 Home Runs, 84 Runs Batted In, 6 Stolen Bases, .252/.381/.467 Slash Line, .848 OPS & 133 OPS+.
Vladdy was an All-Star for the fifth straight time, and he brought the Blue Jays to their first American League Pennant since 1993. Not bad considering it looked like Guerrero was going to become a free agent after this year.
20. Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks, Shortstop: 143 Cup Points in 161 Games, .08888 Cup Points per Game. 7.0 bWAR, 98 Runs, 173 Hits, 20 Home Runs, 100 Runs Batted In, 27 Stolen Bases, .290/.389/.462 Slash Line, .851 OPS & 136 OPS+.
Perdomo quietly was the National League leader in bWAR in what was his breakout year.
Soon, we will release more updates that will show the complete list.
Comments powered by CComment