The names at the top of MLB’s most popular jersey list are exactly the kind of stars you’d expect, even if the order still says plenty about where the league’s attention is landing.
Major League Baseball announced its most popular jerseys of the 2026 season on Friday, and Shohei Ohtani finished No. 1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. That made him the first player since sales tracking began in 2010 to end up atop the list four years in a row, according to the league. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees followed at No. 2, even after missing a chunk of the season.
Juan Soto checked in next. The Mets slugger is still only 27, and injuries have been part of his second year in New York, but when he’s been on the field, he’s been plenty dangerous. In 108 games, Soto is hitting .274/.393/.522 with 27 homers and 68.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto landed on the list as well after another strong season for the Dodgers. The reigning World Series Most Valuable Player has posted a 2.53 ERA in 28 starts, with a 182-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 185 innings.
Mookie Betts gives the Dodgers another entry. After a rough start to the year, he has settled in and now owns a .261/.329/.455 line with 22 homers and 68 RBIs in his 13th big league season.
Bryce Harper is there too, and it’s easy to see why. The two-time MVP, now 33, has put together a strong season for the Phillies, batting .270/.381/.486 with 28 homers and 86 RBIs in a league-leading 159 games. He’s been on the field and in the middle of Philadelphia’s order all year.
Freddie Freeman keeps showing up on these lists, and this year is no different. In his 17th big league season, he’s still hitting .292 and remains a fixture with fans, fresh off his sixth straight All-Star nod.
Fernando Tatis Jr. also made the cut after a rocky start to his season. He struggled to drive the ball out early, but has completely flipped things around and is now the best player on the hottest team in the league.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is another former MVP on the list, and his presence is no surprise. He’s still just 28, and for the most part, he’s stayed healthy for Atlanta.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is the name that stands out most for what’s missing. It’s a little surprising he isn’t higher, considering he’s likely to win the NL MVP Award, has been electric all season, and plays for one of baseball’s most popular franchises in the Cubs.
Judge’s spot near the top also fits, even if the season hasn’t been his cleanest. He’s missed a lot of time, but he’s still Judge.
In Other News...
Juan Soto Just Turned Up The Pressure On The Mets
Juan Sotos first season in Queens already comes with a clear message for the front office: the Mets need more help. After a year that ended without a postseason trip, Soto said the club has to do as much as it can this offseason to build up the roster, a view shaped in part by his own uneven performance and the injuries he dealt with along the way. It was a candid reminder that the expectations here are not about treading water, but about contending.
The timing matters because the Mets are heading into a winter where every avenue is expected to be on the table, from free agency to trades. Sotos comments add a layer of urgency to that search, since hes already framing next season as one that has to look different if the team is going to get back into the race. For a fan base waiting for a real step forward, the pressure to make the right moves is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Have A Number Retirement Debate Fans Cant Ignore
The Yankees retirement of CC Sabathias No. 52 reopened a familiar New York debate, and it inevitably turns the conversation back to the Mets and how they treat one of baseballs most visible honors. Across town, the Mets have retired 12 numbers, a count that reflects a different approach than their Bronx rivals, even as the franchise continues to weigh which former players truly belong in that select company.
Carlos Beltrans No. 15 is already part of that group, and the discussion around future Mets candidates is where the conversation gets interesting for fans. With several former players still looming as possible additions to the clubs retired-number history, the question is less about whether the Mets have enough names to consider and more about which ones will ultimately clear the standard the organization wants to set. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Attendance Dip Puts Heat On A Bigger 2027 Debate
The Mets 2026 home attendance took a notable step back, falling 14.8% from the previous season and ranking as the sharpest decline in Major League Baseball. Even so, Citi Field still drew the third-largest crowd total of the ballpark era, which says plenty about how strong the baseline remains even when the trend line points the wrong way.
What makes the drop more interesting is the conversation it is setting up for 2027, where pricing strategy and roster changes are expected to stay under the microscope. Attendance rarely comes down to one factor in a market like this, and the Mets are now in the familiar spot of balancing a big-stage brand with a fan base that will notice when the product, and the price, start to drift. [Read more 🡒]