In the MLB there have been many legendary hitters, some with great swings and hitting presence. Below are 25 of the best hitters in MLB history, many of them legends of the game.

Here are 25 of the best hitters in MLB history, batter up! Take a swing and hit it out of the park!

Mike Schmidt

Noted for his power hitting and exceptional defense as a third baseman. Finished his career with 548 home runs and a three-time MVP.

A 10-time Gold Glove winner, showcasing his defensive prowess. Inducted into the Hall of Fame due to his all-around skill set.

Albert Pujols

Renowned for his consistency and power, notably with the St. Louis Cardinals. Achieved 3,236 hits and 667 home runs in his illustrious career.

A three-time MVP and known for his remarkable hitting and leadership. Considered one of the most complete hitters of his era.

Roberto Clemente

Highly regarded for his hitting and remarkable outfield arm. Finished with 3,000 hits and a career .317 batting average.

A 12-time Gold Glove winner and won the NL MVP in 1966. His tragic death while on a humanitarian mission cemented his legendary status.

Frank Robinson

Known for his powerful hitting and strong overall offensive abilities. Achieved 586 home runs and became the first player to win MVP awards in both leagues.

A 14-time All-Star and led the Orioles to two World Series titles as a player-manager. Regarded for his impactful career both on and off the field.

Joe DiMaggio

Renowned for his remarkable 56-game hitting streak, a record that still stands. Finished his career with a .325 batting average and 361 home runs.

A three-time MVP and 13-time All-Star in his celebrated career. Remembered for his impact on the game and his marriage to Marilyn Monroe.

Honus Wagner

Known as one of the earliest superstars of the game. Finished his career with a .328 batting average and excelled in every facet of the game.

One of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His rare baseball card is one of the most valuable collectibles in sports history.

Jimmie Foxx

Renowned for his incredible power, hitting 534 home runs in his career. A three-time MVP and part of two World Series-winning teams.

Notable for his exceptional hitting and feared presence at the plate. Regarded as one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history.

Alex Rodriguez

Known for his exceptional power and versatile defensive skills. Finished his career with 696 home runs and won three MVP awards.

A 14-time All-Star, showcasing his impact on the game. Despite controversies, his hitting prowess remains undoubted.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Regarded for his smooth swing and exceptional fielding in center field. Concluded his career with 630 home runs and 13 All-Star selections.

A 10-time Gold Glove winner, displaying all-around skills on the field. Known for his charisma and impact on the game.

Pete Rose

Holds the record for the most career hits with 4,256. A 17-time All-Star and 1973 NL MVP.

Played with intensity and consistency throughout his career. His ban from baseball due to gambling remains a controversial point in his legacy.

Mel Ott

Renowned for his powerful hitting and unique batting stance. Concluded his career with 511 home runs and a .304 batting average.

A 12-time All-Star and known for his consistency as a hitter. Respected as one of the early power hitters in the game.

Miguel Cabrera

Known for his exceptional contact hitting and power. Achieved 2,955 hits and 487 home runs in his career.

A two-time MVP and winner of the Triple Crown in 2012. Recognized for his consistency and all-around hitting skills.

Tony Gwynn

Revered for his incredible bat control and high contact rate. Finished his career with 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average.

An eight-time batting champion and 15-time All-Star. Known for his dedication to the game and prowess as a hitter.

Chipper Jones

Renowned for his switch-hitting skills and consistency as a hitter. Concluded his career with 468 home runs and a .303 batting average.

A 1999 NL MVP and an eight-time All-Star. Regarded as a key figure in Braves’ history and a clutch performer.

Rod Carew

Known for his exceptional contact hitting and unique batting stance. Finished his career with 3,053 hits and a .328 batting average.

A seven-time batting champion and 18-time All-Star. Regarded for his consistent and skilled approach at the plate.

Babe Ruth

Revolutionized baseball, transitioning from a dominant pitcher to an iconic power hitter. Set numerous records, including the single-season home run record.

Won seven World Series titles and boasted a lifetime .342 batting average with 714 home runs. Notably known as one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Ted Williams

Renowned for his remarkable .344 career batting average and exceptional plate discipline. Achieved two Triple Crowns and two MVP awards during his career.

Known for being the last player to hit .400 in a season, boasting a .406 average in 1941. Highly regarded for his skills as one of the most consistent hitters in the game’s history.

Barry Bonds

Despite controversies, holds the records for most career home runs (762) and single-season home runs (73). Known for his exceptional combination of power and plate discipline.

Seven-time NL MVP, demonstrating an unparalleled impact as a hitter in MLB history. Accumulated 2,935 hits and 2,558 walks during his career.

Ty Cobb

Famed for his aggressive and intense playing style. Holds the highest lifetime batting average at .366 and won numerous batting titles.

Known for his all-around abilities on the field and his remarkable 4,189 career hits. One of the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Stan Musial

Consistently performed as a hitter, securing seven NL batting titles. Wrapped up his career with 3,630 hits and an impressive .331 batting average.

A versatile player who excelled in both the outfield and at first base. Three-time NL MVP, illustrating his excellence in hitting and overall play.

Hank Aaron

Broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, finishing with 755 homers. Consistent hitter and record holder for the most career RBIs (2,297).

A 25-time All-Star and 1957 National League MVP, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.

Recognized as a Hall of Famer for his power and longevity in the game.

Willie Mays

Known as a five-tool player, excelling in hitting, fielding, and baserunning. Finished his career with 660 home runs and 3,283 hits.

A two-time NL MVP and a 24-time All-Star, showcasing his all-around skills in the game. Famous for “The Catch” during the 1954 World Series, adding to his legendary status.

Lou Gehrig

Known for his consecutive games played streak of 2,130 and remarkable durability. Finished with 493 home runs and a career .340 batting average.

A seven-time All-Star and six-time World Series champion with the Yankees. His diagnosis with ALS, now known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” brought attention to the ailment.

Mickey Mantle

Regarded for his exceptional power as a switch-hitter. Concluded his career with 536 home runs and a .298 batting average.

A three-time MVP and 20-time All-Star, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Recognized as one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history.

Rogers Hornsby

Achieved two Triple Crowns, particularly for his outstanding batting average. Finished his career with a .358 batting average and 301 home runs.

Two-time NL MVP, dominating offensive statistics in his era. Known for his intense and at times challenging personality.

Cabrera has played in the MLB since 2003, played his first five seasons for the Florida Marlins until 2007, and was acquired by the Detroit Tigers in that year. At that time he had only 842 hits.

Fifteen years later, the Venezuelan player made it into the 3,000-hit club, an accomplishment that only 33 players in MLB history have achieved.

Four teams received more than 1,000 of Cabrera’s total hits

The Detroit Tigers’ division rivals are the teams Cabrera has hit the most against, by a wide margin. More than 1,000 of the +3,000 hits are split between them. This is because there are more games played between division rivals than against the rest of the league.

By checking and analyzing the official data on the MLB website, we can find a lot of information about the historic achievement. By putting the numbers in a graph as a data visualization, we make it easier to read and see how Cabrera’s +3,000 hits are divided by team over his entire career.

One of the things we found is that Cabrera has hits against two teams that are no longer in the league: The Montreal Expos and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Expos franchise was changed to Washington and since 2004 they are the Washington Nationals; on the other hand Tampa Bay changed its name from Devil Rays to just Rays in the 2008 season. And Cabrera batted against all teams, with the old and new names.

Using the Average instead of the number of hits, we can find something obvious: he had fewer innings against the two teams he has played for, but hitting well over .400 against them. That’s why they appear at the top of this graphic.

Note: the official data has the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Guardians as the same team, so you will only see “Cleveland” on both charts.

One of the greatest sluggers of all time, Cabrera’s having a huge bounce-back year with the struggling Tigers this season. He finally looks healthy again and it’s showing with his offensive production.

The Venezuelan superstar recorded his 3,000th career hit in front of thousands of fans chanting his name at Comerica Park. Now, he’s one of just 33 players to ever achieve such an impressive feature.

Miggy 3,000: Funniest Memes And Reactions From Miguel Cabrera’s 3,000th Hit

Cabrera had drawn plenty of criticism over the past couple of years for all the money he was making and how he struggled to stay healthy. Then again, it’s not like he had anything else to prove at this point in his career.

A Triple Crown winner, World Series champion, 2-time MVP, and one of the greatest pure hitters in the history of baseball; the internet went nuts over Miggy’s 3,000th career hit. Here, we gathered some of the funniest memes and reactions to it.

The Detroit Tigers entered the season as a somewhat dark horse to get a Wild Card spot, yet they’ve had a tough start of the season, mostly due to injury. Javier Baez has been on the shelf for some time now and that’s taken a toll on their chances.

Then again, they still play in one of baseball’s easiest divisions. And with Miguel Cabrera turning back the clock andhitting above .300 again as he did a decade ago, anything can happen.

With countless accolades under his belt, there’s no doubt Cabrera’sincredible career will end in Cooperstown once it’s all said and done. But what’s the rush? Miggy isn’t going anywhere and he’s not done making history yet.

Miggy was heading to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning aiming not only to achieve the milestone but also to increase the Tigers’ lead. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone intentionally walked him, preventing Cabrera from writing history and sparkingrage fromthe home crowd in the process.

Cabrera had previously missed three opportunities.When he was looking for a fourth chance, the Tigers had runners in second and third base as the Yankees were trailing by onewith Lucas Luetge on the mound. Boone later explained the reason behind his unpopular decision.

This is why Yankees intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera ahead of potential 3,000th hit

Even though Miggy himself showed no hard feelings towards the Yankees, claiming that he failed to do something with his previous three chances, the MLB world – especially Tigers fans – took it differently.

Aaron Boone, however, explained it had nothing to do with Cabrera potentially registering a3,000th hit. The Yankees manager said he decided to walk Cabrerabecause he simply preferredAustin Meadows to face Luetge.

“I just liked the matchup a little bit better in that situation, and it came down to a baseball call for me,” Boone said, per The Athletic‘s Lindsey Adler. “Tough decision, and I thought Lucas executed a pitch and got the soft contact, but you know, (Meadows) dumped it in there. So, tough call.”

Call it karma or whatever you want, but Boone’s plan only made things worse for the Yankees. Meadows’ hit resulted in two runs that extended the Tigers’ lead to three and eventually sealed a shutout win. Nowit only looks like a matter of time before Cabrera finally reaches the 3,000 hit mark, something he’ll try to do when the Tigers play the first of three consecutive home gamesagainst the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

For now only Pujols is the only 3,000 hit club member active playing in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals as a designated hitter. But the 42-year-old Pujols is close to the end of his career, although it is likely that he will play another season or two before retiring.

In the 21st century, very few players were able to go over 3,100 hits, only three players managed to score a little more than the mark, Jeter with 3,465, Alex Rodriguez with 3,115, and Cal Ripken Jr with 3,184 hits.

Who is the upcoming 3,000 hit club member?

Miguel Cabrera is close to joining the exclusive club as he needs only 4 hits to reach 3,000 hits. Most of Cabrera’s hits have been as the Tigers although he played five years with the Florida Marlins from 2003 to 2007, but from 2008 onwards Cabrera is part of the Detroit Tigers.

Cabrera also has another record, the 500 home runs club, so far he has 502 home runs in addition to almost two thousand runs. Cabrera was also named an 11x All-Star and was a one-time World Series Champion with the Marlins in 2003.

How many mlb players have 3,000 hits?

32 players are members of the 3,000 hit club, most of them joined the club in the 20th century, and Pete Rose set the record for hits with a total of 4,256 that so far no one has been able to break, only Ty Cobb was able to come close to that number with a total of 4,189 hits.

But, after the Astros scandal, it seems like every single team in Major League Baseball is a bit over the board when it comes to their signs. They’ve been borderline paranoid about it and never hesitate to make accusations.

That happened a couple of days ago when the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, as second baseman Nick Madrigal said that Miguel Cabrera was getting signs from the second base.

Miguel Cabrera On Sign Stealing: ‘I Don’t Play That Game’

The Tigers ended up beating Lucas Giolito and taking a 5-2 triumph home. However, Cabrera was clearly disgusted about this accusation, and addressed the situation during a virtual press conference:

“I mean, c’mon, I don’t play that game,” said Cabrera. “You need to [show] respect, you know? You don’t need to show up me, or the runner on second, try to say we’re passing signs from second. Come on. I don’t care why they do it, but they need to stop because we don’t play that game; that’s why I said something to him right away. Everybody’s paranoid about all that stuff right now, but they’re over the limit. We don’t play like that. We respect the game,” Miggy concluded.

A.J. Hinch Stands By Miguel Cabrera

Needless to say, Tigers managerA.J. Hinch stood by his star’s word. Then again, the fact that he was the manager when the Houston Astros cheated doesn’t do much – if anything – to help their credibility:

“We knew he was talking to somebody, too. Miggy talks to a lot of guys when he plays. It was hard to distinguish what was going on. I didn’t think anything of it until today when you guys asked him the question [about it], and obviously, I got the update,“ Hinch said.

At the end of the day, Miguel Cabrera is one of the greatest hitters of all time so it’s not like he needs to steal signs to get the most of the best pitchers on earth. So maybe, we should stop with the constant accusations.

Pujols is one of the greatest sluggers of all time, one of the most intimidating players to ever set foot on the plate, and one of the most beloved teammatEs and persons any other player could think of.

That’s why it was suchhuge praise when he said that Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter he’s ever faced during a long interview with USA Today, adding that Mike Trout is the best overall player he’s ever seen:“Miguel Cabrera, the best hitter by far,” Pujols said.

Albert Pujols Says He’s Still Undecided On Retirement

Then again, what people really want to know about Pujols right now is whether he’ll retire or not. And while most indications point towards a farewell, he said he’s still not fully committed to that idea:

“I’ll make that decision at the end of the year. And when that timecomes that I do retire, it won’t be on Instagram or anything like that. My fans deserve better than that. I’ll have a press conference so everyone knows at once. But my mind isn’t going there right now,” the former Cardinals star said.

Pujols claims that he has no regrets about his career and that’s only right. I mean, he’s a 2-time World Series champion with a flawless résumé, so why should he have any kind of regret?

Thus far, the Dominican has made it to 10 All-Star Games, he’s won 3 National League MVPs, 6 Silver Slugger awards, 2 Gold Glove awards, and has logged over 3,200 career hits with a lifetime average of .299.

Obviously, we could all put together a list of the best hitters in the world and no one could argue our judgment, as there are just too many stats and metrics to compile the best among the best.

However, if you take a deeper look at all the stats that matter, both traditional and advanced, you may be on to something. That’s why today, we put together the ultimate ranking of the top 25 mosts dominating MLB hitters of the decade:

Note: for obvious reasons, we’re not counting players with fewer than 810 games played over the decade, so that would take out stars like Aaron Judge or Yoenis Céspedes.

25. Adrián González

Adrián González’ didn’t finish off the decade the way he would’ve wanted after being released by the New York Mets in 2018 but still, he had a hell of a run as one of the most powerful hitters in the world.

González posted a batting average of .287, slugging percentage of .485, OPS of .843, and OPS+ of 129. He also hit 180 home runs and led the league in hits in 2011, winning a couple of Silver Sluggers in the meantime.

24. Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun has made 5,336 plate appearances in the decade with 241 home runs and 811 RBIs. He’s quickly climbing the ladder as one of baseball’s biggest stars since winning the MVP award back in 2011.

His career .533 slugging percentage demonstrates how well he’s been able to hit both for power and average and lead a Brewer’s offense that has lacked more talent for years. Also, he always comes huge when his team needs him the most.

23. Justin Turner

Justin Turner has posted an OPS+ of 128 through a decade, which is tied for the 23rd best in Major League Baseball ever since. Also, he’s earned a reputation for being incredibly productive and clutch in the postseason.

He’s not much of a power hitter but his ability to make contact has taken the Dodgers out of hundreds of bad situations. Thus far, he holds a .292 batting average on the decade with just 554 strikeouts in 3,805 plate appearances.

22. Prince Fielder

Not so long ago, Prince Fielder was considered to be one of the most powerful hitters in the world. However, most pitchers couldn’t do anything to keep him on hold, as they also had to deal with Miguel Cabrera either before or after him.

Fielder was a master at taking balls out of the dirt and knocking them out of every ballpark. He had 159 home runs over a 6-year span and was a two-time Silver Slugger from 2011 to 2016. Also, he was incredibly durable, playing all 162 games for three straight seasons.

21. Buster Posey

Buster Posey isn’t human. There’s nothing you could tell me to convince me otherwise, as there’s no way on earth a catcher with over 8,300 innings behind the plate could be as durable and productive as him when it came to hitting.

Posey won the MVP in 2012 after averaging .336/.408/.549 on a league-leading 171 OPS+ and hasn’t taken his feet off the gas ever since, posting an OPS+ of over 108 on every season but the last one.

20. Matt Holliday

Matt Holliday had 4,343 plate appearances on the decade and struck out 756 times but he had 1,066 hits, which is 22nd best among qualifying players over that span. He’s flirted with .300 while hitting over 300 home runs and 2,000 hits per his career.

Most importantly, Holliday is bouncing back from his failed stint with the New York Yankees by helping carry the offensive load for the struggling Colorado Rockies. He also batted for .435 with a .652 SLG to lead the Cardinals to the World Series in 2011.

19. Albert Pujols

Don’t get me wrong, I actually think Albert Pujols is a top-3 hitter in the history of the game. This is by no means disrespect towards him, it’s just that he’s slow down a bit during the second half of the decade. That’s why he’s not ranked higher.

The lone fact that Pujols is still on this list after 19 years should tell you just enough about his resume. He led the league in homers, RBIs, and intentional walks in 2010, and even though he hasn’t been the same lately, he deserves his spot on this list.

18. Robinson Canó

Robinson Canó’s name and legacy suffered a major bump due to his recent PED use scandal but his numbers are still official and thus, we can’t objectively take him out of this ranking.

He ranks first in hits this decade with 1,695, 4th in runs scored (828), 1st in doubles (363), and 4th in RBIs (878) while being 18th in strikeouts (830) among 29 qualifying players. He could’ve been considered a top-5 hitter of the decade if it weren’t for the aforementioned reasons.

17. J.D. Martínez

J.D. Martínez had an MVP-caliber season back in 2018 but you know how reluctant media is to give the award to designated hitters. Still, he ranks 8th in OPS+ in the decade (138), 11th in home runs (231), despite striking out the 8th most among qualifying players (1,070).

Martínez is one of the most powerful hitters in the world and has won 3 Silver Sluggers over the decade while batting .294. He led the league in RBIs (130) and Total Bases (358) back in 2018 and will now have the huge responsibility of lifting the Red Sox’s offense without Mookie Betts.

16. Edwin Encarnación

Edwin Encarnación has struggled mightily with injuries lately but there’s no denying that he’s one of the deadliest hitters in the league, as you can tell by his OPS+ of 134 during a 9-year span, which would be 15th among qualifying players.

He’s made the 6th most plate appearances (5,764) and while his .264 batting average is far from impressive, his .519 slugging percentage surely makes up for it. Also, he led the American League with 127 RBIs in 2016 and has had 8 30+ home run seasons over that span.

15. Adrián Beltré

Adrián Beltré had .307 batting average from 2010-18, which would rank 3rd higher among all qualifying players. He did so while making 5,253 plate appearances and only striking out 648 times, which tells you just enough about how much of a badass he was on every at-bat.

Beltré won 4 Silver Slugger awards with 801 RBIs (8th best) over an 8-year span. Also, he never had a batting average of less than .287 in the decade, led the league in hits (199) in 2013. He still had a lot left in the tank when he decided to retire, for sure.

14. Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen was one of the most dominant five-tool players of the early 2010s. He’s cooled off a bit since leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates, for sure, but his ability to make contact, speed, and athleticism made him a huge threat as a base-runner.

He won the MVP in 2013 and finished in the top 5 for four straight seasons, while also winning 4 Silver Slugger awards. He also posted an OPS+ of 135 with a .286 batting average and 1,540 hits (4th best).

13. Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson didn’t get off to the best start of the decade but has quickly climbed the ladder recently as a huge threat in the plate. He’s won 1 MVP with a couple of Silver Slugger awards and while he may not be the most efficient batters, he sure is a top-tier base-runner.

Donaldson has scored 652 runs with 219 home runs, 226 doubles, 12 triples, and averages of .273/.369/.509 and he led the league in runs scored (122) and RBIs (123) in 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

12. Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich sits at the 12th spot among qualifying players with an OPS+ of 137 since entering the league in 2013 and is pretty clear to tell why he’s quickly become one of the fan favorites and most impactful players.

Despite playing just 6 years, he’s already 6th in the league with 24 triples to go along with 209 doubles, 139 home runs, and 500 RBIs. He won one MVP and finished in second place last season despite leading the NL in average, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+ for the second straight year.

11. Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper hasn’t been around for as long as most of the players on this list but you can already tell he’s a game-changer. He won the MVP in just his fourth season in Major League Baseball and hasn’t cooled off ever since.

Harper is a major threat in the plate and led the league in walks with 130 in 2018. He’s been intentionally walked 81 times in the decade. Thus far, he’s posted an OPS+ of 137 with 19 triples, 635 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .512.

10. José Bautista

It’s crazy to think that José Bautista can’t make an MLB roster at this point in his career, considering he was one of the most deadly hitters in the league for years. Perhaps there’s much more than what we’re just being told here.

I mean, this guy posted an OPS+ of 137, led the league in home runs twice (including a 54 homer season), with two seasons of a slugging percentage above .610 and a league-leading OPS of 182. He also won 3 Silver Slugger awards over that span before his downfall.

9. Freddie Freeman

Freddie Freeman hasn’t found the success he should’ve already because of how poorly managed the Atlanta Braves were during his early years. Still, he embraced his role as the face of the franchise and turned them around with his impressive offense.

Freeman’s unorthodox stance has proven to be quite effective thus far, as he’s posted an OPS+ of 137 with 227 home runs, 805 RBIs, and averages of .293/.379/504 with one Silver Slugger award.

8. David Ortiz

The only reason why David Ortiz didn’t make the top 5 is that he retired in 2016. Still, he ranks 4th in OPS+ with a shocking 151, while being intentionally walked 119 times (3rd best) in 4,036 plate appearances. He was just a menace.

Big Papi posted averages of .292/.383/.562 and had 700 RBIs in just 957 games played during the decade. He won 3 of his 7 Silver Sluggers awards over that span and will go down as one of the greatest DHs in baseball history.

7. Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz ranks 7th in OPS+ among qualifying players with 138 and while some people may be shocked to see him ranked this high in our list, he’s been by far one of the most efficient and consistent hitters in all baseball for years.

Also, the Dominican slugger hit 346 home runs during the decade, the most among all players on this list. All that while maintaining a .286 batting average. He does have 1,302 strikeouts (2nd), though.

6. Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt never won an MVP because he didn’t play for a bigger market but he was a bad man, for sure, especially during the first half of the decade, as you can tell by his 141 OPS+ since 2011.

Goldschmidt ranks 6th in runs scored (806), 7th in home runs (243), 6th in RBIs (807), and 5th in walks (733). He’s also a 4-time Silver Slugger and finished in the MVP’s top-3 voting 3 times on his career.

5. Giancarlo Stanton

We can talk non-stop about how Giancarlo Stanton has underperformed for the New York Yankees thus far but there’s no denying that he’s one of the most dominant hitters in MLB history, let alone this past decade.

The former MVP ranks 5th in OPS+ with 144, 3rd in home runs (308), 9th in RBIs (785), and third in slugging percentage (.547). On a less positive note, he’s also 1st in strikeouts with 1,375, which has been the biggest issue with him aside from his injuries.

4. Joey Votto

Even though he’s always among the league’s leaders in almost every single category it still feels as if we don’t talk enough about Joey Votto but truth to be told, he’s been a synonym of consistency and production since the start of the decade.

He started off the decade with an MVP campaign and has led the league in OBP 7 times and 5 times in walks ever since. Also, his 152 OPS+ is ranked 3rd among qualifying players. He has 1,532 hits and ranks 1st in OBP with .428.

3. José Altuve

José Altuve’s MVP campaign will always have an asterisk next to it due to the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal. However, stats prove that he didn’t actually benefit from their sign-stealing, believe it or not.

Altuve isn’t exactly a power-hitter and was a bit of a late bloomer, but he’s become a nightmare for opposing pitchers with his batting average of .315. He’s won 5 Silver Sluggers and 3 Batting Titles in just 8 years as a full-time player.

2. Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera has drawn a lot of criticism for the huge deal he signed with the Detroit Tigers as he’s struggled with injuries lately. It seems like people forget he’s the first player in 45 years to win the batting triple-crown, and the last one to do it.

Cabrera is one of the best 5 hitters in baseball history. He ranks first in average last decade with .317 and intentional walks (144) to go along with 268 home runs, 941 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 153 while just striking out 936 times (14th best). He also won 5 Silver Slugger awards and 2 MVPs this decade before his production took a major dip due to age and injuries.

1. Mike Trout

And obviously, Mike Trout sits at the top of yet another ranking. Even though he’s just been around since 2011, there are still serious considerations about if whetherTrout is already the greatest baseball player in history. And while he lacks the World Series’ rings to back that statement, he’s surely put together quite a resume.

He’s 1st in OPS+ with 176 (which is also the 5th best ever), 1st in runs (903), slugging percentage (.581), OPS (1.000), and triples (46), while being 3rd in walks (803) and 5th in batting average (.305). He’s already a 3-time MVP, 7-time Silver Slugger, and has led the league in OPS 6 times in 9 years. Also, he’s never finished out of the top-5 in MVP voting since his sophomore year.

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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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.