MLB League Leaders 1.0: Aaron Judge, Chris Sale Dazzle (Through May 3)

When you take a look at the league leaders around Major League Baseball so far this season, there are plenty of guys that you'd expect to see.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani obviously is near the top of the league in a handful of categories. New York Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge is among the league's best home run hitters this year, which shouldn't shock anyone. San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller is the best overall reliever in baseball. The list goes on. But there are also surprises. How about Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied with Judge for the league lead in homers with 13? Or, Los Angeles Angels starter José Soriano potentially being the most dominant starter in baseball?

There have been some shockers, and some performances around the league that fans have come to expect from the stars out there.

With that being said, let's take a look at where the league leaders are sitting through May 3rd action.

Offensive League Leaders

May 3, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) waits for his teammates after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Home Runs	Total
1. Aaron Judge, NYY	13
1. Munetaka Murakami, CHW	13
3. Yordan Álvarez, HOU	12
3. Ben Rice, NYY	12
5. Matt Olson, ATL	11

Batting Average	Total
1. Ildemaro Vargas, ARI	.382
2. Ben Rice, NYY	.343
3. Otto Lopez, MIA	.341
4. Xavier Edwards, MIA	.336
4. Shea Langeliers, ATH	.336

Runs Batted In	Total
1. Matt Olson, ATL	31
2. Liam Hicks, MIA	29
2. Drake Baldwin, ATL	29
2. Sal Stewart, CIN	29
5. Oneil Cruz, PIT	28

Stolen Bases	Total
1. Nasim Nunez, WSH	14
2. José Ramírez, CLE	13
2. Jose Caballero, NYY	13
4. Oneil Cruz, PIT	11
4. Chandler Simpson	11

The biggest surprise of this group certainly is Vargas. He hasn't been the hottest overall hitter in the game and just had a 27-game hitting streak snapped. Plus, he was hitting over .400 on May 1. He's playing at another level and fans should know about him. Judge and Murakami have been the most prolific sluggers in baseball so far this season. Judge and Murakami's 13 homers have both come in 34 games. That's a pace of 61.9 homers across 162 games played. Wouldn't that be fun if we could have two sluggers pushing for 60 homers throughout the summer?

Pitching League Leaders

Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Wins	Total
1. Chris Sale, ATL	6
2. José Soriano, LAA	5
2. Landen Roupp, SF	5
2. Justin Wrobleski, LAD	5
2. Gavin Williams, CLE	5

ERA	Total
1. Shohei Ohtani, LAD	0.60
2. José Soriano, LAA	0.84
3. Justin Wrobleski, LAD	1.25
4. Cam Schlittler, NYY	1.51
5. Clay Holmes, NYM	1.69

Strikeouts	Total
1. Jacob Misiorowski, MIL	59
2. Dylan Cease, TOR	56
3. Gavin Williams, CLE	53
4. Jesús Luzardo, PHI	51
4. Nolan McLean, NYM	51

It appears as though Chris Sale is aging backwards. He has made seven starts so far this season and has a 2.14 ERA and a 49-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 42 innings pitched. He had a tough few years over with the Boston Red Sox due to injuries, but is healthy and looks like a superstar at 37 years old.

Misiorowski has dazzled and has one of the most electric fastballs in the game. Ohtani has had his best start to a season from a pitching perspective in his career so far. Arguably, there hasn't been a starter more dominant. But will he be able to rack up enough innings to make a run at the NL Cy Young Award? Soriano has come out of nowhere and should be the favorite in the American League right now.

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