Royals Land Four on MLB’s Top 100 List, Led by Bobby Witt Jr. at No. 3
Major League Baseball’s annual Top 100 Players Right Now list is officially out, and Kansas City fans have plenty to smile about heading into the 2026 season. Four Royals earned spots on the prestigious list, with a familiar face leading the way - and a few rising stars joining him for the first time.
Let’s break down where each Royal landed and why their spot on the list matters.
SS Bobby Witt Jr. - No. 3
There’s no surprise here. Bobby Witt Jr. is the engine that drives the Royals - and he’s not just a star in Kansas City, he’s one of the brightest in all of baseball.
For the second straight year, Witt Jr. ranks No. 3 on the list, trailing only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. That’s elite company, and Witt absolutely belongs in the conversation.
He backed up his breakout with another monster season in 2025: leading the majors in hits (184), topping the league in doubles (47), and flashing the leather well enough to take home another Gold Glove. Add a Silver Slugger and a top-five finish in AL MVP voting, and you’ve got a player who’s not just great - he’s consistently great.
Witt’s slash line hovered just under .300, with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. That’s a blend of power, speed, and contact that few players in the game can match.
And defensively? He continues to make the spectacular look routine at shortstop.
At this point, excellence is expected from Witt Jr. - and that’s a testament to just how high he’s set the bar.
3B Maikel Garcia - No. 65
Maikel Garcia’s breakout wasn’t just a feel-good story - it was a statement. After locking in a long-term extension with the Royals, Garcia now finds himself on the MLB Top 100 list for the first time, landing at No. 65.
He earned it.
In his first full season as an everyday starter, the 25-year-old Venezuelan third baseman slashed .286 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. But it wasn’t just the bat - Garcia brought elite defense to the hot corner, finishing second among all MLB third basemen in WAR, trailing only perennial All-Star José Ramírez.
Garcia showed he can hold his own on both sides of the ball, and if he repeats or builds on that performance in 2026, expect him to climb even higher on this list - and close the gap between him and his left-side infield partner Witt Jr.
LHP Cole Ragans - No. 89
Cole Ragans’ 2025 season was a frustrating one - not because of performance, but because injuries kept him from showing the dominance he displayed the year before. Still, the southpaw did enough to remain on the Top 100 list, coming in at No. 89.
When healthy, Ragans has the kind of stuff that makes scouts and hitters alike take notice. In just 13 starts last season, he posted a 4.67 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 20 walks. The ERA doesn’t jump off the page, but the strikeout numbers - and his underlying pitch metrics - speak to a pitcher who can still be a frontline starter.
The key for Ragans in 2026 is simple: stay healthy. If he can recapture the form that earned him Cy Young votes in 2024, he’ll not only rise on this list - he’ll anchor a Royals rotation that has the potential to surprise some people.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino - No. 93
Vinnie Pasquantino is finally healthy - and finally getting the recognition he deserves.
The Royals’ first baseman cracks the Top 100 for the first time at No. 93 after a full, productive season in 2025. He played in 160 games - a personal best - and delivered 32 home runs, 113 RBIs, and a .264 batting average. That’s the kind of middle-of-the-order production Kansas City has been waiting to see on a consistent basis.
Pasquantino’s power and plate discipline have always been there, but injuries kept him from putting it all together. Now that he’s shown what he can do over a full season, the hope is that this is just the beginning.
If he stays healthy and keeps mashing, Pasquantino could be a mainstay on this list for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Four Royals in the Top 100 is no small feat - especially when two of them are making their debut. It’s a sign that Kansas City’s core is not only talented, but evolving into one of the more compelling young groups in the league.
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to be the face of the franchise - and one of the faces of the sport. But with Garcia, Ragans, and Pasquantino stepping into the national spotlight, the Royals are showing that they’re building something bigger than just one superstar.
If 2026 brings health and continued growth, don’t be surprised if even more Kansas City names show up on next year’s list.