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It’s almost time to kick things into high gear with the start of the MLB season, a showdown in Japan between the Dodgers and Cubs, just two weeks away.

We’re starting to preview each division on the Just Baseball Show and the top players in each division on Justbaseball.com.

The glory of baseball is nearly upon us, and with a ton of big things on the way, we wanted to take some time in this week’s newsletter to share some news with you all.

Top National League Players by Division

Each day this week we’re publishing another divisional top players list. We kicked off the week with the National League as all three division top players lists are live now.

Next week, we’ll dive into the best players in the American League. For now, we’ll focus on the star-studded National League that features most of the teams considered to be top contenders.

NL East

WIth three teams very much in the middle of a contention window and the richest man in baseball joining the division, the NL East is looking to be a scrumptious 4-course meal of superstars.

You’ve likely heard of these elite veterans filling out the list before. But while they don’t crack stack up against the stars of the Mets, Braves, and Phillies, there are also a number of younger players on the Nationals, in particular, that could fly into this tier soon enough.

In his first season as a Met, Juan Soto earns the title of the top player in the division with new teammate Francisco Lindor being the runner-up following a…NL MVP runner-up season.

He may not be considered quite at the level he once was, but Bryce Harper is still Bryce Harper. A bunch of Braves will try to bounce back from injuries or underperformance and the Phillies will need their co-stars to show up in a big way.

NL Central

This is considered to be one of the weaker divisions in baseball, but theres plenty of intriguing young talent flowing throughout the inner sanctum of the NL Central.

A new addition to the division jumps into the top tier while a combination of veteran staples and rising stars fill out the remainder.

Ascending into the true superstar tier last season, Elly De La Cruz claims the top spot on this list with new Cubs superstar Kyle Tucker closely behind at the two spot.

The duo that will lead the charge of the Brewers next generation in William Contreras and Jackson Chourio check in at the next two spots. A handful of steady veterans follow with a demigodly-talented, but frustrating, young player rounding out the list.

NL West

Every division has talent, but this one particularly stands out. There is no other way to frame than: the NL West, led by the Dodgers trio, is a supernova.

One new player in the division makes the list, while the rest were already dominating it last season.

It’s no surprise that the best player in the world, Shohei Ohtani, leads this list with teammate Mookie Betts following as he enters his first season as a shortstop.

Coming off a huge season, Ketel Marte is in the top three as teammate Corbin Carroll rounds up the top five looking to translate his 2024 second half across all of 2025. The Padres trio of star hitters and the Giants new infield tag-team finishes off this one.

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Just Baseball Trivia of the Week

Our newsletter will have a trivia question every week to test and expand the baseball knowledge of our subscribers! The answer to the weekly trivia question will be at the bottom of the newsletter each week.

Which player was Just Baseball’s 44th-ranked prospect in 2021 while not being a top 100 prospect on any major publication?

A) Jackson Jone

B) Mark Vientos

C) Oneil Cruz

D) Josh Jung

What’s on Deck at Just Baseball

As we approach the start of the 2025 MLB season, we figured this would be as good enough a time to update you on what Just Baseball has cooking for in the coming, weeks, months, and beyond!

Our aim this season is to take our content and connection to this community of baseball fans to the next level. We’ve got a TON of treats in store for you.

Aram Leighton’s Top 100 Prospects List Drops Next Week. We may be biased, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive top-100 list. His detailed write ups backed with data on every prospect provide insight on their tools, projections, areas for growth, and more. Prospect sickos will be in heaven, as the the list will be live on March 10th!

Just Baseball’s Discord Launches Next Week. A new addition to our content this season will be a subscription-based Discord that allows our community to connect direct with our podcast hosts, writers, and staff members. There will also be frequent giveaways and plenty of other benefits. Expect to hear plenty more information on this soon!

Addison to 35th is the Newest Podcast in Just Baseball Network. An all things Chicago baseball podcast, hosted by Herb Lawrence and Ryan Herrera, launched this week. Featuring a weekly episode on the White Sox with Herb, a weekly episode on the Cubs with Ryan, and additional special episodes, this new podcast will keep Chicago baseball fans informed and entertained all season. I mean, just look at that logo! Check it out!

Baseball vs the World is relaunching with a vengeance! Speaking of sweet logos, one of our more unique podcasts, hosted by staff writer Javier Reyes, is back this week! The show is about all the fun, quirky, and more pop-cultural sides of baseball, from best movie scenes, to uniforms rankings, to…an award show all about Alex Rodriguez? Check out the return of the show this week with guest Peter Appel on the funniest moments of the last year wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along for updates about the show (and oh so beautiful graphics) on Twitter/X and instagram!

Other Headlines

• One of the better veteran free agents still left on the market has found a home at last. Jose Quintana agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s coming off a 2.5 fWAR season with the Mets where he posted a 3.75 ERA across 31 starts. He’ll look to provide a stable presence in a rotation featuring plenty of volatility.

• College baseball season keeps rolling with some powerhouses surging early and others showing crucial weaknesses. Stay updated with college ball all season long with On the Clock and read all the news from the third week of the season here.

Not Gambling Advice

It’s time for more MLB futures! Our second round of future bets for the 2025 season from Peter Appel are out now with a few more exciting picks.

Check out these plays in his full analysis video or the article write up! INSERT

Trivia Answer: B) Mark Vientos

Never ranked as a top 100 prospect by any major publication, Vietnos cracked the top 50 of Just Baseball’s list four years ago. He’s now a key piece of the Mets lineup following an electric postseason run last year.

Just Baseball Merch

Our newest line of merchandise features spring-theme apparel to get you ready for the upcoming MLB season!

We have also restocked on all your favorites including our vintage World Series line, hats, hoodies, City Series line, and much more.

Check out the full collection of Just Baseball swag here!