The 2026 MLB All-Fun Team highlights the most entertaining players to watch at each position, focusing on aesthetics and enjoyment rather than performance alone. This selection aims to celebrate the joy of baseball amidst its challenges.
Key points
2026 MLB All-Fun Team celebrates entertaining players
Focus on aesthetics and enjoyment rather than performance
Offers fans a way to appreciate baseball amidst challenges
Not necessarily the best players, but fun to watch
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Being a baseball fan can be a painstaking process, at times. Ultimately, we love it, but in what other sport do the very best teams lose more than 60 times in a season? There's just so much losing baked into fandom! It's part of the deal, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But sometimes we need to grasp for fun in other ways. Just appreciating aesthetically pleasing players is one thing we can do to enjoy ourselves.
Who are the most fun players in baseball to watch this season? That's what we're to answer with the 2026 All-Fun MLB team
This is just one man's opinion, so you are free to disagree and build your own. These aren't necessarily the best players, but great players are obviously fun to watch while bad players (relatively speaking, of course, as every player good enough to make the majors is insanely talented) are not so much.
Side note: You'll notice there aren't owners in here. Owners aren't fun to watch. Keep that in mind before we start talking about the new CBA negotiations this coming offseason.
Now let's dive in.
Catcher
Cal Raleigh, Mariners
A switch-hitter with light-tower power and a cannon for an arm? Yes please. The novelty of the nickname wore off a while ago for me, but it's probably still a bonus for many people. He's probably never going to hit 60 homers in a season again, but wasn't once good enough? For a catcher?
Yes, I'm totally caught up in the fever. Murakami strikes out a lot. But, holy smokes, when he makes contact, it's like the ball is fired out of a rocket launcher.
How about this division of hits for the 26-year-old MLB rookie from Japan: 12 home runs, zero doubles, zero triples and 14 singles. Basically, he's just here to drop bombs, and we're all better for it.
He bats for average and is an all-around great hitter while also swiping seven bags to this point. His career high in steals is 43. He's really here for the defense, though. There's a highlight-reel play or two or three seemingly on a nightly basis.
With six top-five finishes in AL MVP voting, Ramírez might be thought of as an "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" type, but he takes a backseat to no one on this team. He's long been a stat-sheet stuffer. He's had over 40 doubles three times, over 30 home runs four times, over 100 RBI four times, over 100 runs five times and over 25 steals five times. He's 11 for 11 in steals this season and already has both six doubles and six homers.
I think it would be fair to say Elly is the most electric player in all of baseball. You won't find a more fun player. He's greatly talented and capable of a 40-40 or even a 50-50 season at some point.
Oneil Cruz, Pirates; Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs; Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
He's wildly inconsistent, but Cruz is one of the most toolsy players in baseball. This is to say that he has the capability to be a five-tool superstar. He routinely swings among the hardest and hits balls as hard as anyone. And last year he became the tallest player ever to lead his league in steals.
PCA has a ways to go with the bat, but he still topped 30 homers last year. His calling cards would be the speed and defense. He's arguably the most talented defender in all of baseball and he just skates across center field with seeming ease, covering probably half of that patch of grass out here.
Acuña doesn't need much explaining, right? I absolutely love him and always will.
After missing most of last season due to injury, Alvarez has been a man on a mission this year, destroying everything in his path. Just seeing that imposing mass of humanity stepping into the left-handed batter's box makes me smile. The fear factor doesn't get any higher for an opposing pitcher.
Paul Skenes, Pirates; Sandy Alcantara, Marlins; Jacob deGrom, Rangers
Skenes is a must-watch just for the domination factor, but also because we're very likely witnessing the early stages of the greatness that will lead to the Hall of Fame someday.
Alcanatara is a favorite here because of the old-school mentality that he is supposed to finish what he started. I absolutely love workhorse starting pitchers and hope we'll return to an era where complete games weren't all that uncommon. Alcantara had six in 2022, three in 2023 and already has one this season.
As for deGrom, I think it's that he isn't physically imposing like a Skenes type, but still fires it up to the plate with serious authority. I've loved watching him for years, going back to his Mets days.
Who are the most entertaining players in the 2026 MLB All-Fun Team?
The 2026 MLB All-Fun Team features players chosen for their entertaining playing styles, though specific names are not provided in the excerpt.
What criteria were used to select the 2026 MLB All-Fun Team?
The team was selected based on players' aesthetics and enjoyment factor rather than their overall performance or statistics.
Why is the concept of an All-Fun Team important for baseball fans?
The All-Fun Team offers fans a way to appreciate the entertainment aspect of baseball, especially during seasons where their favorite teams may struggle.
How does the All-Fun Team differ from traditional MLB All-Star selections?
Unlike traditional All-Star selections that focus on performance metrics, the All-Fun Team emphasizes players who provide joy and entertainment on the field.
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