10 best players in the 2025 World Series

7. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk

The 26-year-old Kirk was named to the All-Star Game for the second time in 2025. He hit a career best 15 homers while posting a .282/.348/.421 batting line in 506 plate appearances. Kirk was also stellar behind the plate, saving nine runs while earning praise for his ability to steal strikes for his pitchers.

6. Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman

The Blue Jays ace had another strong season in 2025, posting a 3.59 ERA and a 1.062 WHiP over 193 innings, striking out 189 batters with 50 walks. Gausman has been excellent during the postseason as well, allowing just three runs on 10 hits and nine walks over 18 innings. 

5. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell

The two-time Cy Young award winner has typically performed better over the second half of the season throughout his career. That performance has continued into the playoffs, where Snell has posted a 2.58 ERA and a 1.033 WHiP over 69.2 innings in the postseason, striking out 89 batters with 28 walks. He will start Game 1 for the Dodgers, and given his playoff track record, could set the tone for Los Angeles in the World Series.

4. Dodgers catcher Will Smith

A three-time All-Star, Smith had arguably the best performance of his career in 2025, posting a .296/.404/.497 batting line with 17 homers and 20 doubles in 436 plate appearances. Although he struggled in the NLDS, Smith had six hits and two walks in 17 plate appearances against the Brewers. He has been an asset in controlling the running game, leading the league in caught stealing percentage in 2024.

3. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto dominated in 2025, posting a 2.49 ERA and a 0.990 WHiP in 173.2 innings, striking out 201 batters with 59 walks. He fired a complete game in Game 2 of the NLCS, allowing a leadoff home run for the only damage. Yamamoto is slated to start the second game of the World Series.

2. Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Guerrero has been a force for the Blue Jays during the 2025 playoffs, belting six homers and three doubles in 51 plate appearances, striking out just three times while drawing six walks. The ALCS MVP is white hot entering the World Series and could be the difference maker as Toronto looks to win its first championship since 1993.

1. Dodgers pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani continued to cement his case as one of the greatest players in MLB history in 2025, posting a .282/.392/.622 batting line with 55 homers in 727 plate appearances and posted a 2.87 ERA and a 1.043 WHiP over 47 innings as he worked back from elbow surgery. He belted three homers and fired six shutout innings against the Brewers in the NLCS, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out 10 batters. Ohtani is fully healthy and will be a significant factor for the Dodgers in the World Series.