Major League Baseball (MLB)has seen many greatplayers come through in the 2010 decade. Although they are not on our list, we should not forget to mentionplayers likeGiancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, Stephen Strasburg, Cole Hamels andFreddie Freeman. It’s important to say that Albert Pujols was not included on this list either.
Some have been able to win the World Series, but not all the bestplayersplay for the most successfull teams. With that said, we present to you the 20 best MLB players of the past decade.
20. Josh Donaldson
The American League MVP in 2015.
He played for three teams throughout the decade, which included the Oakland Athletics, Toranto Blue Jays, and the Atlanta Braves. He was namedthe American League MVP in 2015, played in three All-Star games, and won the National League Comeback Player of the Yearaward in 2019.
19. Christian Yelich
He has flourished with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He began his career with the Miami Marlins where he would show his great potential. However, he consolidated himself as one of the league’s best player after being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. In the last two seasons, he would win the National League MVP awardand has been called to last two All-Star games.
18. Zack Greinke
A six time Golden Glove winner.
He began his career in 2009 and has played for six teams in the past decade. Since 2010, Greinke has taken part in five All-Star games and won six Gold Gloves.
17. David Price
He won the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox.
In the past decade, theleft handed pitcher has played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers,Toronto Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox. He won the Cy Young in 2012, has been to five All-Star games, and won the World Series in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Along with this, he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year awardin 2018.
16. Madison Bumgarner
Named World Series MVP in 2014
Having started the new decade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, heplayed the entire previous onewith the San Francisco Giants. With the Giants, hewon three World Series titles, being namedMVP in 2014. He has taken part in four All-Star games and holds the records for most strikeouts in a game for a left handedpicture.
15. Andrew McCutchen
He was named the National League MVP in 2013
He played the previous decade with thePittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, andPhiladelphia Phillies. His most successful period came in Pittsburgh where he won the National League MVP in 2013, took part in five All-Star games, won four Sliver Slugger awards, and a Gold Glove.
14. Mookie Bets
He has his best season in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox.
The current Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder did something in 2018 while playing for the Boston Red Sox that no other player in MLB history had done before. He achievedthe league MVP, the Silver Slugger, GoldGlove, had the best hitting average, andwon the World Series in the same season. Additionally, he has also taken part in four All-Star games.
13. Bryce Harper
He was named the Rookies of the Year in his first season.
He made his debutin 2012 at only 19 years of agewith the Washington Nationals where he would be called to the All-Star game in his first season and would win the National League Rookie of the Year award. Harper has taken part in five All-Star games and was named the National League MVP in 2015. In 2019, he left the Nationals to sign for the Philadelphia Phillies.
12. Jacob deGrom
He won two straight Cy Young awards.
In 2014, he made his debut for the New York Metsand would win the National League Rookie of the Year award. He has won two consecutive Cy Young awards and has participated in three All-Star games. The question now is can he keep up with his great form in this new decade?
11. Paul Goldschmidt
He enjoyed his best season in 2013 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman had some great seasons in the past decadewhen he was still playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His best season came in 2013 when he finished the campaign with the best RBI andmost homeruns in the National League. In addition, he finished second in the National League MVP voting and has taken part in six All-Star games.
10. José Altuve
He enjoyed individual and collective success in 2017.
The Venezuelan second baseman has played his entire career with the Houston Astros. He made his debut in 2012 and has enjoyed some great seasons, taking part in six All-Star game.However, heachieved individual and collective success in 2017 when he was named the American League MVP and won the World Series.
9. Chris Sale
He was a part of the Red Sox team that won the 2018 World Series.
The left handed pitcher has not won a Cy Young award, but he has had some brilliant performancesover the past decade. He was one of the Chicago WhiteSox’s best players and he helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2018. Along with this, he has participated in seven All-Star games.
8. Buster Posey
He has won three World Series titles, the first one came in his Rookie season.
An unbelievalbe decade for the San Francisco Giants’ catcher. In his first season as a professional, he would win the National League Rookie of the Year award and helped the team win the World Series. He added another two World Series titles with the Giants,was named the National League MVP in 2015, and has taken part in six All-Star games.
7. Miguel Cabrera
He won the Triple Crown in 2012.
It is true that his last couple of seasons have not been the best, but he was during a good portion of the decade one of the most dominant players in MLB. He was theAmerican League MVP on two occasions and won the Triple Crown in 2012.
6. Adrián Beltré
He flourished with the Boston Red Sox.
He began the decade by taking a pay cut to play for the Boston Red Sox, which is where he would consistentlyshow the talent that many knew he had. He was selected that year to play in his first All-Star game and would later take part in another two editions.
5.Joey Votto
He was one of the most consistent players of the decade.
His best season may have been in 2010 where he hit 37 home runs and was named the National League MVP, but he has been one of the league’s most consistent players over the years. He is an expert on getting on base, achieving a .428 on base average throughout the decade. Additionally, he has participated in six All-Star games.
4. Max Scherzer
He won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.
He began the decade with his first winning season and concluded it by winning the World Series with the Washington Nationals. Although he has not won a league MVP, he has stood out over the years for his strikeouts. He has won three Cy Young awards and is a 7-time All-Star.
3. Justin Verlander
He has achieved individual and collective success.
Throughoutthe decade, he was named American League MVP, two Cy Young awards, and six appearances at the All-Star game. He added a World Series title to his curriculum in 2017 whileplaying with the Houston Astros.
2.Clayton Kershaw
He won three National League Cy Young awards.
The Los Angeles Dodgers left handed pitcher began to stand out in 2011. Although he had been in the league for three seasons, that year he won his first of three National LeagueCy Young awards. He was named National League MVP in 2014 and is an 8-time All-Star.
1. Mike Trout
He was named American League MVP three times.
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder has been the MLB’s best player of the past decade and is already considered one of the greatest of all time. Surprisingly, he is still yet to win a postseason series, but that does nottake away from his incredible performances. He haswon threeAmerican League MVP awardsin 2014, 2016, and 2019, seven Silver Slugger awards, and has participated in eight All-Star games.
