When Stanton is in, the Yankees win. The former MVP began the season in midseason form hitting .500 during the first week to earn the top spot on our Week 1 #HighFive list.
1. Giancarlo Stanton
After playing in only 77 games last season due to injuries with both of his elbows Stanton’s impact early on for the Yankees is a welcomed sight.
READ: Giancarlo Stanton Is On A Multi-Hit Game Tear Over Season’s First Four Games
He has recorded two hits in each of his five starts this year and is currently posting a .500 batting average with a home run, four RBI and two doubles.
Stanton has seen his fair share of struggles over recent years whether it be due to injuries or just poor performance at the plate, but if he can sustain this success and stay healthy enough to be in the lineup, the Yankees who are 680-471 with him and Judge both play could see themselves as favorites to come out of a stacked American League.
2. Chase Burns
The second overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft is off to a fast start this season as his five shut out innings in his first start of the year land him in the two spot on our #HighFive list.
READ: Chase Burns Notches First Major League Win In Reds’ 2-0 Victory Over Pirates
Burns struck out seven, walked three and allowed zero runs in five innings in Monday’s victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This will be the first full Major League season for the highly touted former Wake Forest Demon Deacon. He is in a pitching rotation that could feature the two best Black starters in the Majors alongside flame throwing All-Star Hunter Greene who is currently on the Injured List and is expected to rejoin the Reds this Summer.
In 14 games last year Burns pitched to a 4.10 ERA and had four games where he struck out 10 batters. He was also able to hone in on his control towards the back half of 2025 walking just four batters in August and September compared to 12 in June and July.
Burns next start will be Easter Sunday in Arlington against the Texas Rangers.
3. Xavier Edwards
Xavier Edwards is one of the most underrated players in the Majors. After a fast start to 2026, he looks to lose that tag and become a household name.
READ: Xavier Edwards Is Sparking Miami Marlins’ Surprise 3-1 Start
The Marlins shortstop has hit over .280 in each of his last three seasons and stolen 63 bases over the span. Edward began this season with hits in six straight games, a .409 batting average and .435 On Base Percentage. His Marlins entered Thursday tied with the Yankees and Brewers for the best record in the Majors. This weekend Edwards will play in his home state New York against fellow #HighFive member Giancarlo Stanton and the Yankees.
4. Taj Bradley
A fresh start, some new coaches in his ear and another year of learning under his belt could help Taj Bradley reach a new level of success as he dominated in his first outing of 2026 to take the four spot on our #HighFive list.
He went 4.1 innings allowing only one run on three hits while striking out nine Baltimore Orioles.
Bradley, who only reached the nine-strikeout mark twice last season is soaking in all he can from new Minnesota Twins Pitching Coach, former Major League reliever and MLBbro.com contributor LaTroy Hawkins.
This offseason rather than pitching for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic Bradley decided to stay in camp with the Twins in order to make the Major League rotation. That decision has paid off early, as he was able to get more familiar with his new staff during his first Spring Training with the Twins after being traded by the Rays at last season’s deadline.
Bradley did not pitch at all until the end of his senior year of high school, so he is still finding his way on the mound, whether it be with mechanics or pregame preparation.
5. Andrew McCutchen “Cutch”
From being unemployed and contemplating retirement to making the Rangers Opening Day lineup it has been quite the month for one of this generation’s faces of Black Baseball.
READ: Andrew McCutchen Launches Three-Run Bro Bomb To Power Rangers Past Phillies 8-3
McCutchen slashed .429/.467/1.253 with four RBI and a three-run homer off Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo.
McCutchen has now homered with six different teams in his 18-year career and may have vengeance motivating him this time around after his original franchise and one he will be in their Ring of Honor, the Pittsburgh Pirates decided not to bring him back.
