After several weeks of hard-fought postseason baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are the last two teams left standing in the 2025 MLB season. They were two of the best in the league all season and will now decide the champion for this year.
To get to this point, many players had to elevate their games to overcome their competitors in the playoffs. With that in mind, we take a look at the 10 best players in the 2025 World Series.
10. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays
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Dalton Varsho had a solid season for the Jays in 2025. However, the gifted defender has elevated his game in a major way during the playoffs. The center fielder is hitting .273 in 44 at-bats, with two home runs and eight runs batted in. His recent strong play, along with his gold glove-level defense at a premium position, is why he is among the most important players in the 2025 World Series.
Daulton Varsho playoff stats: .273 AVG, .304 OBP, .500 SLG, .804 OBP, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R
9. Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers
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In the first half, there were questions about whether Roki Sasaki would be the Japanese import that doesn’t really pan out for the Dodgers. However, after getting moved to the pen late in the season and becoming the undisputed closer during the playoffs, the 23-year-old has been outstanding.
He has three saves in October and an impressive 1.13 ERA in eight highly pressurized innings. Francisco Rodriguez and Adam Wainwright were also young prospects who got thrown into the deep end of the postseason and dominated. Not knowing any better has its benefits. Furthermore, getting to ride a red-hot closer is a big advantage in the postseason.
Roki Sasaki playoff stats: 3 saves, 1 hold, 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 6 SO, 2 BB
8. Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
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Kevin Gausman has always been a rock-solid starting pitcher throughout his 13 seasons in the big leagues. However, at just the right time, he has elevated his game and been Toronto’s ace in the playoffs. He leads the starters with a 2.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. The Blue Jays needed their veteran starters to take their game to new heights in the postseason, and Gausman has done that and then some this fall.
Kevin Gausman playoff stats: 2-1 record, 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12 SO,9 BB, 18 IP
7. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Although he bashed 20 home runs this year, this was not a vintage season for Mookie Betts. It seemed like his spring health issues had a notable effect, and he would not be the player LA needed in the playoffs. Then the eight-time All-Star turned on when the postseason arrived.
Although he has not hit one out of the park in 41 plate appearances, he has gotten on base often and is third in total bases behind only sluggers Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez. Betts has once again proven he is one of the best winners of this era.
Mookie Betts playoff stats: .293 AVG, .370 OBP, .439 SLG, .809 OBP, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 12 R
6. Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
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Ernie Clement is the sort of rock-solid player who plays high-level defense that can make an impact on a winning team. However, the five-year veteran has been outstanding in the 2025 MLB playoffs. He is hitting .429 and has a whopping 1.063 OPS in 11 games. It takes surprises to reach the championship round, and Clement has been the biggest this year.
Ernie Clement playoff stats: .429 AVG, .444 OBP, .619 SLG, 1.063 OPS, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R
5. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays
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George Springer won’t be considered an MLB legend, but he is one come playoff time. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Springer has been the Jays’ most dangerous hitter because he can take it deep at any time, and especially in big moments. His go-ahead three-run homer in Game 7 of the ALCS was another example, and it pushed him into third place on the all-time postseason home run list. Springer is a scary man this time of year.
George Springer playoff stats: .239 AVG, .321 OBP, .609 SLG, .929 OPS, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R
4. Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman get far more attention, but for a second straight year, Teoscar Hernandez has been a problem for opponents in the playoffs. In 2025, he is second on the team in hits and homers and leads in RBIs, while posting an .888 OPS. Toronto can not sleep on the veteran slugger, or they will pay dearly.
Teoscar Hernandez playoff stats: .268 AVG, .302 OBP, .585 SLG, .888 OPS, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R
3. Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers signed Blake Snell last winter because they felt he had the mental makeup to excel this time of year. He has proved them right by going 3-0 this month and posting an absurd 0.86 ERA in 21.0 innings. The two-time Cy Young winner has been filthy and worth every penny in October.
Blake Snell playoff stats: 3-0 record, 0.86 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, 28 SO, 5 BB, 21.0 IP
2. Vladimir Guerrero, Toronto Blue Jays
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Some scoffed at the $500 million deal the Blue Jays gave Vladimir Guerrero in the offseason. However, at least in year one, he has lived up to it. He helped lead them to the third-best record in the league this season and has spearheaded their run through the playoffs. Hitting six home runs and putting up a ridiculous 1.440 OPS. If not for Ohtani’s ability to pitch at a high level, he would be No. 1 on our list.
Vladimir Guerrero playoff stats: .442 AVG, .510 OBP, .930 SLG, 1.440 OPS, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 11 R
1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
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A week ago, Shohei Ohtani was struggling, then in the Brewers series, he reminded the world why he is the best baseball player on Earth. To close out Milwaukee, he had the greatest game ever by slugging three home runs and striking out 10 while giving up no runs in six innings. He is a force of nature who will win the NL MVP again in 2025 and is getting hot at a really bad time for Toronto.
Shohei Ohtani playoff stats: .220 AVG, .333 OBP, .634 SLG, .967 OPS, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R
After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka … More about Jason Burgos