Dontrelle Willis Names MLB’s Top Players and World Series Favorite

Major League Baseball analyst Dontrelle Willis provided a rapid-fire assessment of the league’s current landscape during the April 13, 2026, edition of Hit and Run on FOX Sports. In a 90-second segment, the former All-Star pitcher identified the players and teams he believes are currently dominating the sport.

Willis highlighted the Los Angeles Dodgers as his pick for the World Series winner. He cited the team’s experience and the depth of their lineup as the primary reasons for this selection, noting that the Dodgers currently lead all of Major League Baseball in slugging percentage, RBI, and home runs.

You didn’t see the ring that I brought in a couple of days ago? The Dodgers, I’m taking. They’re just too deep of a lineup. They lead all of baseball in home runs, RBI and (slugging percentage). And really, Kyle Tucker hasn’t begun to be himself. But Here’s too deep and too experienced of a team.

Dontrelle Willis

Top Individual Performers

Turning to individual offensive leaders, Willis named Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez as the likely leader for home runs this season. Alvarez has already recorded six home runs for the year. Willis emphasized that the Astros will require Alvarez to remain healthy and achieve 500 at-bats to maintain their competitiveness in the AL West, noting that his line-to-line power is a perfect fit for the Houston ballpark.

In the National League, Willis identified Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz as the best at his position. He described de la Cruz as absolutely dynamic and praised his defensive range. Statistically, de la Cruz is currently hitting .280 and leads the Reds in runs scored.

On the mound, Willis designated Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres as the most unhittable pitcher in the game. He categorized Miller as absolutely elite, specifically pointing to his velocity and pitch mix.

• Fastball: 100 to 103 miles per hour
• Slider: 92 miles per hour

About Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis brings extensive professional experience to his role as an analyst for FOX Sports, AppleTV+, and the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcast team. Born on January 12, 1982, in Oakland, California, Willis was known during his playing career for an unconventional pitching style characterized by an exaggerated twist away from the batter and a high leg kick.

A left-hander, Willis played in Major League Baseball for several franchises between 2003 and 2011, including the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cincinnati Reds. His career began with the Florida Marlins on May 9, 2003, and concluded with the Cincinnati Reds on September 27, 2011.

Willis achieved significant success early in his career. In 2003, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year and won the World Series with the Florida Marlins. He was a two-time All-Star, earning selections in 2003 and 2005, and led the National League in wins during the 2005 season.

Throughout his career, Willis accumulated a win-loss record of 72–69 with an earned run average of 4.17 and a total of 896 strikeouts.