What has been the best season of Samad Taylor’s career ends with him taking the top spot on our 25th and final #HighFive of the 2026 season.
1. Samad Taylor
On a roster that features a Top-10 payroll in the Majors and a future Hall of Famer, Samad Taylor was the most consistent piece for San Diego this season.
His efforts helped them stay afloat in the National League Wild Card race while their other superstars found their way back to All-Star form.
Samad Taylor Has Been a Sparkplug for San Diego Padres
He played some of his best baseball to close out the 2026 season, hitting .500 with a .750 slugging percentage, an OPS above 1.000, seven RBIs, three stolen bases and a home run over his last seven games as his Padres entered Thursday with their magic number to make the playoffs at one.
For Taylor, his most recent home run was his second of the season and Major League career.
He will look to find success in his first ever playoff run beginning next week in the Wild Card round where they are expected to match up against the Chicago Cubs for the second season in a row: Chicago took the series last year 2-1 at Wrigley Field.
2. Lawrence Butler “Lawdog”
Lawrence Butler completely turned his season around after the calendar turned to August. He takes the two-spot on our Week 25 #HighFive as he looks to carry a strong final week into the offseason.
Lawrence Butler Is Back: How A’s Young Star Turned His Season Around
In his last seven games, Butler, who had his first three-hit game of 2026, slashed .346/.433/.577 with a homer and three RBIs.
Butler took a while to get going this year, in part to recover from offseason knee surgery which had him not fully participating in Spring Training.
The year of 2027 will be a big one for the Athletics right fielder who signed a 7-year, $65.5 million deal before the 2025 season.
3. Taj Bradley
Taj Bradley capped off a solid year on the mound, throwing six innings of one-run baseball and recording his 12th win to claim the third spot on our Week 25 #HighFive.
Those 12 wins are the sixth most amongst American League pitchers, while his 205 strikeouts rank fourth.
Taj Bradley Is Still Rolling In May
In addition to his win total and strikeouts, Bradley also set career bests in games started with 31, ERA with a 3.73 and batting average against as batters only hit .214 off of him.
Come 2027, he will not be fighting for a spot in the Twins rotation, but a chance to become the team’s ace and Opening Day starter.
4. Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts saved his best baseball for last as he heats up right on time to help aid his Dodgers in their quest for a three-peat.
September was by far the best month for the most accomplished Black player in the Majors.
Mookie Betts Is On A Heater & Looking Ready For Run To Third-Straight World Series
Entering Thursday he is batting .347, with 21 RBIs, eight doubles, six home runs, a .449 on-base percentage and .693 slugging percentage.
Most of his damage done this week came last weekend against the San Francisco Giants where he recorded seven hits in two games including three doubles during Saturday’s contest.mBetts and his Dodgers will end the season at Oracle Park against those same Giants in a three-game series.
5. Chandler Simpson
The soon-to-be American League stolen base champ gets the fifth and final spot on our Week 25 #HighFive.
Chandler Simpson With Back-To-Back 40 Stolen Base Seasons To Begin MLB Career
Chandler Simpson shocked the baseball world with his play this season, becoming one of the best offensive players in the Majors.
In addition to leading the A.L. with 46 steals, Simpson ranks second in batting average trailing only possible MVP Yordan Alverez for the Batting Crown.
He has collected hits in nine of his last 10 games entering Thursday, including a current four-game hitting streak.
Simply put, if Simpson is able to continue to put the ball in play and cause havoc on the basepaths, his first-place Rays have a legitimate shot at the first World Series in their franchise’s history.
