Dodgers' Kyle Tucker Ranked Below Padres' $340 Million Superstar on MLB Opening Day List

Bleacher Report's rankings have Tucker at No. 18 and Tatis Jr. at No. 17, sparking debate in the NL West rivalry.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:06pm

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker is one of the best players in baseball, having signed a $240 million contract that set the record for the highest average annual value in MLB history. However, in Bleacher Report's recent top 25 MLB player rankings, Tucker was ranked 18th, while San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. was ranked 17th, surprising many Dodgers and baseball fans.

Why it matters

The Dodgers-Padres rivalry is one of the fiercest in baseball, and the debate over which player is better between Tucker and Tatis Jr. is sure to add fuel to the fire. While Tatis is a better defender, Tucker bested him in several offensive categories in 2025, and the two will likely be compared throughout the upcoming season as they vie for the title of the NL West's best player.

The details

According to Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly, Tucker has been worth 8.7 WAR over the last two seasons, despite missing time due to injuries. Tatis, on the other hand, is a two-time Platinum Glove Award winner, making him a better defender in right field than Tucker. However, Tucker outperformed Tatis in several offensive categories in 2025, including OPS+ (143 compared to Tatis' 125).

  • The rankings were released on Monday, less than 10 days before the start of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Kyle Tucker

A left-handed slugging outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers who recently signed a $240 million contract, setting the record for the highest average annual value in MLB history.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

A three-time All-Star outfielder for the San Diego Padres who was ranked one spot ahead of Tucker in Bleacher Report's top 25 MLB player rankings.

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What they’re saying

“Per FanGraphs, Tucker has been worth 8.7 WAR over the last two seasons. That's a pretty remarkable number considering a right shin fracture limited Tucker to only 78 games during his final season in Houston in 2024, before he played through a hairline fracture in his right hand as a member of the Chicago Cubs for more than half the 2025 season.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

As the 2026 MLB season gets underway, the debate over whether Tucker or Tatis Jr. is the better overall player will likely continue throughout the summer, with their on-field performances and impact on their respective teams' success being closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

The takeaway

This ranking dispute highlights the intense rivalry between the Dodgers and Padres, as well as the depth of talent in the NL West. It also underscores the importance of advanced metrics like WAR in evaluating player performance, as Tucker's impressive numbers over the past two seasons may not have been fully reflected in traditional counting stats due to his injury history.