With the 2026 MLB season kicking off, it’s a good moment to dive into some interesting stats that might just catch your attention.
Now, I’m not talking about the jerseys fans are wearing, although that’s kind of amusing too.
It’s fascinating to see how player popularity shifts with jersey sales. For three straight years, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has dominated the jersey sales, setting an impressive streak of 30 months at the top. His jersey, recognized worldwide, has fans sporting Dodger blue from Los Angeles to Tokyo and beyond. Though he leads, he isn’t without competition.
You might find it surprising that the player in second place is also from the Dodgers—Yoshinobu Yamamoto, fellow countryman and 2025 World Series MVP. For the first time, two Japanese stars are holding the top two spots in league history.
It seems the Dodgers aren’t just killing it on the field; they’re also sweeping the jersey sales charts. Alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto, the team boasts Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman at 5th and 7th, respectively, and Quique Hernandez at 12th in the top 20. The Dodgers are becoming a global brand, and it’s evident that fans want to showcase their favorite players.
In other rankings, Aaron Judge is still a staple, sitting in 3rd place, while newcomer Cal Lowry from the Mariners surprisingly takes 4th, proving that emerging stars are making their mark.
Other players from new teams are also catching on quickly. Nolan Arenado has landed at 6th with the Diamondbacks, and “Polar Bear” Pete Alonso now holds 8th with the Orioles after his move from Queens to Baltimore.
Rounding out the top 10 are rising talents Roman Anthony at 9th and Pete Crow-Armstrong at 10th.
Here’s a quick view of the top 20 most popular MLB jerseys, based on official Nike sales across the Fanatics Network.
1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers
3. Aaron Judge, Yankees
4. Cal Lowry, Mariners
5. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
6. Nolan Arenado, Diamondbacks
7. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
8. Pete Alonso, Orioles
9. Roman Anthony, Red Sox
10. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
11. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
12. Quique Hernandez, Dodgers
13. Bryce Harper, Phillies
14. Juan Soto, Mets
15. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
16. Francisco Lindor, Mets
17. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
18. Paul Skeens, Pirates
19. Josh Naylor, Mariners
20. Christian Yelich, Brewers
