The 2019 MLB season technically kicked off in Japan on Wednesday, but all 30 teams will be returning to action in just over a week on March 28.

Over the offseason, ESPN released its ranking of the top 100 MLB players of 2019. A panel of writers, experts and analysts voted from a list of 300 players to select the best of the best in the league entering the new season.

Some major names, like the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, saw their stock drop from 2018. In fact, five players from last year's top 50 weren't even ranked this time around. Others, like pitchers Aaron Nola and Gerrit Cole, moved way up on the list after impressive campaigns last season.

The World Series champion Boston Red Sox were well-represented in the top quarter of the list. American League MVP and Boston outfielder Mookie Betts made a significant jump up in the rankings, but was it enough to topple last year's No. 1 (and soon-to-be highest-paid player) Mike Trout?

Click through below to see the top 25 MLB players of 2019, as ranked by ESPN:

25 PHOTOS ESPN ranks the top MLB players of 2019 See Gallery ESPN ranks the top MLB players of 2019 25. Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets 2018 rank: 34 (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) 24. Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies 2018 rank: 100 (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) 23. Luis Severino, SP, New York Yankees 2018 rank: 31 (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) 22. Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers 2018 rank: 29 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) 21. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs 2018 rank: 12 (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) 20. Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves 2018 rank: Not ranked (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) 19. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres 2018 rank: 15 (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 18. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves 2018 rank: 25 (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) 17. J.D. Martinez, DH, Boston Red Sox 2018 rank: 27 ((Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ((Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 16. Corey Kluber, SP, Cleveland Indians 2018 rank: 6 (Photo by Loren Elliott/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Photo by Loren Elliott/MLB Photos via Getty Images) 15. Bryce Harper, RF, Philadelphia Phillies 2018 rank: 5 (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 14. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians 2018 rank: 30 (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) 13. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals 2018 rank: 11 (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) 12. Blake Snell, SP, Tampa Bay Rays 2018 rank: Not ranked (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) 11. Aaron Judge, RF, New York Yankees 2018 rank: 16 (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) 10. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros 2018 rank: 3 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) 9. Chris Sale, SP, Boston Red Sox 2018 rank: 8 (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) 8. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians 2018 rank: 14 (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) 7. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers 2018 rank: 41 (AP Photo/Gary A. Vasquez, Pool) (AP Photo/Gary A. Vasquez, Pool) 6. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros 2018 rank: 57 (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) 5. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies 2018 rank: 7 (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) 4. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets 2018 rank: 32 (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 3. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals 2018 rank: 4 (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) 2. Mookie Betts, OF, Boston Red Sox 2018 rank: 17 (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) 1. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels 2018 rank: 1 (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

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