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ESPN
Jul 22, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
In 2001, Barry Bonds had arguably the best offensive season in MLB historical past: He hit .328 and broke the single-season file with 73 dwelling runs. Or perhaps his best season was 2002, when he hit .370/.582/.799. Or perhaps it was 2004, when he hit .362/.609/.812, drawing 232 walks. He was so good pitchers determined they did not even wish to attempt to get him out: They deliberately walked him 120 instances that yr.
Bonds received 4 consecutive MVP awards from 2001 to 2004, averaging 10.8 WAR per season. In rating the highest 25 MLB gamers within the twenty first century, you possibly can’t ignore that gorgeous stage of dominance.
However how excessive do you rank him? We’re contemplating solely accomplishments from 2000 on, and as nice as Bonds was in these years, most of his profession worth got here earlier than 2000 (103.7 of his 162.8 WAR). The performance-enhancing-drug allegations complicate his place in historical past much more.
Certainly, this is a matter for others apart from Bonds: Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez … legendary gamers, problematic legacies. And the place do you rank Shohei Ohtani? He has received two MVPs as a two-way participant and may win a 3rd this season as a DH, however he is solely seven seasons into his MLB profession. Or Clayton Kershaw — there is no denying his regular-season feats, however he has struggled within the postseason. Or the fabulous Ichiro Suzuki, whose influence goes past mere statistics. Or Derek Jeter, the last word winner. Or others in the midst of their careers, similar to Mookie Betts and Bryce Harper.
It wasn’t simple to kind by way of all these gamers. Disagree with our listing, which was voted voted on by ESPN’s baseball consultants, should you should. Ultimately, nonetheless, there was a transparent alternative for No. 1. — David Schoenfield
1. Albert Pujols
Key accomplishments: Three-time MVP, 2001 Rookie of the Yr, 11-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time World Collection winner, 703 HRs (fourth all time).
They known as him The Machine. Pujols’ swing was direct and to the purpose: energy emanating from his decrease half, firing by way of palms he used with the precision of a surgeon, his bat a weapon that positioned Pujols among the many recreation’s best right-handed hitters ever. Rogers Hornsby, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Albert Pujols. He belongs. A Thirteenth-round draft choose who will likely be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer in 2028, Pujols’ lone ding is an end-of-career fade with the Angels. In 12 seasons with the Cardinals, he was simple. — Jeff Passan
2. Mike Trout
Key accomplishments: Three-time MVP (tied for second most all time), 11-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger, 2012 AL Rookie of The Yr, lively profession chief in WAR (86.1, per Baseball-Reference).
Solely three hitters have piled up extra WAR for the reason that century started than Trout, and all of them had greater than a decade head begin on him when he launched, fully-formed, into the majors at age 19, two years after going twenty fifth within the 2009 draft. That is how shortly Trout leaped into the dialog concerning the recreation’s historic elite. As maybe the primary star whose greatness was sharpened by up to date analytics, Trout’s all-around dominance was on show from the beginning. At 32, Trout has received three MVP awards and completed within the high 5 of balloting seven different instances. Accidents have slowed his momentum, but when Trout can string collectively just a few extra wholesome campaigns, the child from Millville, New Jersey, may but transcend his standing as the perfect of his era and problem for the crown of finest ever, interval. — Bradford Doolittle
3. Clayton Kershaw
Key accomplishments: Three-time Cy Younger winner, 2014 MVP, 10-time All-Star, 5 ERA titles, Triple Crown winner, Gold Glove winner, 2020 World Collection champion, no-hitter in 2014.
Early within the 2016 season, then-San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner stated of his nice West Coast rival: “Are we watching the perfect ever at his finest?” Possibly so. Throughout his peak from 2011 to 2017, Kershaw went 118-41 with a 2.10 ERA. Whilst he is battled accidents, he is remained efficient: His profession 2.48 ERA is the bottom for a beginning pitcher since 1920 and his profitable proportion the best since 1900 for a pitcher with 2,000 innings. The Los Angeles Dodgers lefty was by no means the toughest thrower, however he was a perfectionist who as soon as went almost 4 seasons with out permitting a house run on his curveball. — David Schoenfield
4. Miguel Cabrera
Key accomplishments: Two-time MVP (2012-13, final participant to win consecutive MVPs), Triple Crown winner in 2012, 12-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, 4 batting titles, 2003 World Collection champion.
Cabrera arrived within the main leagues at 20, discovered himself batting cleanup within the World Collection, whacked an opposite-field dwelling run off Roger Clemens and charted a course that may finish 20 years later with 3,174 hits. Cabrera’s spray chart was a factor of magnificence, with dots connoting his hits in all corners of the stadium — and 511 over the fence. He managed to hit for energy with out sacrificing his innate bat-to-ball talent, and he peaked in 2012, when he grew to become the primary hitter in 45 years to win batting, dwelling run and RBI titles in the identical season. — Jeff Passan
5. Ichiro Suzuki
Key accomplishments: 2001 AL Rookie of the Yr and MVP, 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, AL batting titles in 2001 and 2004.
His most well-known play is his “Star Wars” throw from his rookie season. His most well-known file is the 262 hits he registered in 2004. He was 27 when he went to Seattle and nonetheless completed with greater than 3,000 hits — certainly, extra profession hits, should you can embody his Japanese totals, than Pete Rose. The long-lasting Ichiro’s hits began with the pull of the sleeve within the batter’s field, the bat held excessive in entrance of him, then outracing the ball to first base. “No single quantity may ever clarify a human as thrilling, as uncommon, and as great as Ichiro,” Joe Posnanski wrote. — David Schoenfield
6. Barry Bonds
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: 317 dwelling runs (MLB-record 73 in 2001), 1,128 walks, 4 consecutive MVPs (2001 to 2004), six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, two batting titles.
Bonds is the perfect dwelling baseball participant, and by no means was he higher than the eight seasons he performed this century. In that point, he smashed the single-season dwelling run file, obtained on base at a 51.7% clip — a determine final reached in a person yr by Ted Williams in 1957 — and got here as shut as anybody to mastering the artwork of hitting. Bonds’ steroid use has saved him out of the Corridor of Fame, however those that witnessed him play know: 21st-century Bonds was the closest we have seen to Babe Ruth. — Jeff Passan
7. Justin Verlander
Key accomplishments: 2011 AL MVP, three-time Cy Younger winner, nine-time All-Star, two-time World Collection champion, 2006 AL Rookie of the Yr, high 15 in profession strikeouts, three no-hitters.
Will Verlander be baseball’s final 300-game winner? He’ll should coax 40 extra wins out of his Corridor of Fame-bound arm, but when it is ever going to occur once more, it will be Verlander who does it. A real throwback to the times when ace pitchers held sway within the massive leagues, Verlander has mixed dominance and sturdiness in a means that harkens again to the times of Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan. With 260 wins and three,300-plus strikeouts and extra on the way in which, that is what Verlander at all times wished. “I really like being a pitcher,” Verlander stated in 2018 “Once I first began taking part in baseball, I at all times envisioned myself as a pitcher. I idolized Nolan Ryan, that old-school grit.” — Bradford Doolittle
8. Alex Rodriguez
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Three-time AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007), 11-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, 2009 World Collection champion, 548 HRs (second most since 2000).
A-Rod helped usher within the golden period of the jumbo-sized shortstop, a place lengthy reserved for educated fielders who could not hit. Rodriguez mashed, for energy and common, to all fields, a gifted batsman. His abundance of expertise was unassailable. He additionally drew the longest steroid suspension in baseball historical past, coloring his achievements and cooking his status. Historical past will see Rodriguez as probably the most gifted gamers ever, however as is the case with all performance-enhancing drug customers, the excellence comes with an invisible asterisk. — Jeff Passan
9. David Ortiz
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Corridor of Famer, three-time World Collection champion, 2013 World Collection MVP, 10-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, 531 HRs (third most since 2000).
Large Papi will likely be remembered most for feasting within the largest of moments. As the sport’s best designated hitter, Ortiz had Cooperstown numbers — 541 profession homers and a .931 OPS — however that is solely the tip of Papi’s boisterous iceberg. He had 17 profession playoff homers as a part of three championship Boston Red Sox golf equipment and hit .455 over 14 World Collection video games. That features 2013, when, at age 37, he went 11-for-16 with two homers and eight walks within the Fall Traditional towards a St. Louis Cardinals group that nearly actually couldn’t get him out. After Ortiz was elected to the Corridor of Fame, longtime teammate Dustin Pedroia stated of him, “From day one, in an enormous second, all the things was in sluggish movement. He discovered a option to come by way of in moments the place you dream of as a child. He did it each single time.” — Bradford Doolittle
10. Max Scherzer
Key accomplishments: Three-time Cy Younger winner, two-time World Collection champion, eight-time All-Star, high 10 all time in strikeouts, threw two no-hitters in 2015.
Scherzer pitched essentially the most dominant back-to-back video games in MLB historical past. On June 14, 2015, he pitched a 16-strikeout one-hitter, permitting solely a bloop single. In his subsequent begin, he misplaced an ideal recreation when he hit the twenty seventh batter. He is had a record-tying 20-strikeout recreation, postseason heroics and one of many best months ever in June 2019 (6-0, 1.00 ERA, 68 strikeouts) — which he did with a damaged nostril. He threw 98 mph whereas mixing in 4 different pitches. Most of all although, the final picture will likely be his depth, stomping round on the mound after recording one other strikeout. — David Schoenfield
11. Adrian Beltre
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: five-time Gold Glove winner, two-time Platinum Glove winner, four-time All-Star, 455 HRs in profession (fifth most since 2000); Corridor of Famer.
The lore of Beltre has grown since his retirement following the 2018 season and positioned him alongside Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson among the many recreation’s finest third basemen. Nobody at third performed extra video games than Beltre, a testomony to his willingness to grit by way of ache. He manned the place with grace and consistency, two tenets that apply to the remainder of his recreation. Beltre’s counting stats by no means screamed famous person, he by no means received an MVP and his allergy to walks restricted his ceiling. However that is all ancillary to the reality of who Adrian Beltre was: the last word ballplayer’s ballplayer. — Jeff Passan
12. Derek Jeter
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: two-time World Collection champ, 2000 World Collection MVP, Corridor of Famer, 2,658 hits (fifth most since 2000), 141 postseason hits (most since 2000), 12-time All-Star.
Few gamers have had as many iconic moments: the Jeffrey Maier dwelling run final century, the flip, the dive, Mr. November, the house run for hit No. 3,000, the walk-off single in his last recreation. He did all of it within the stress cooker of New York, taking part in for the game’s most fabled franchise. Jeter’s legend can’t be separated from the pinstripes he wore: Earlier than he joined the Yankees, they hadn’t received a World Collection in 15 years; with him, they received 5. He is been retired 10 years and we nonetheless hear Yankee Stadium PA announcer Bob Sheppard: “Now batting for the Yankees … No. 2 … Derek … Jeter.” — David Schoenfield
13. Mariano Rivera
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Corridor of Famer, two-time World Collection winner, 11-time All-Star, 523 saves and 29 postseason saves (each most since 2000).
Rivera was inevitability personified. Thriving in baseball’s most mercurial of roles — the ninth-inning reliever — he emerged from the bullpen to the pounding tones of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” evening after evening, yr after yr. Each time he did so, dread-filled Yankees opponents knew the bell was tolling — for them. Armed with one pitch — a cutter that righty hitters waved at and lefty hitters couldn’t barrel up — Rivera grew to become New York’s nearer in 1997 and by no means put up something however stellar seasons on his option to a 2.21 lifetime ERA and file 652 saves. For all of that, he was higher than anybody in October, posting a 0.70 ERA and 42 saves over 96 playoff video games. — Bradford Doolittle
14. Shohei Ohtani
Key accomplishments: Two-time MVP, 2018 Rookie of the Yr, four-time All-Star, two 40-HR seasons, 38-19 file as pitcher (3.01 profession ERA), top-five Cy Younger end.
When ESPN runs the sequel to our top 100 athletes of the 21st century in 2050, Ohtani is the likeliest candidate from baseball to price worthy of the highest 10. His first seven years in MLB have been transcendent. What earlier than him was taken as reality — that no person can hit and pitch at a excessive sufficient stage to warrant doing each — is now null. Ohtani arrived from Japan with a freighter of hype and solely exceeded it, stretching the definition of what a baseball participant may be. “Shohei,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated, “is arguably essentially the most gifted participant who’s ever performed this recreation.” — Jeff Passan
15. Mookie Betts
Key accomplishments: 2018 MVP, two-time World Collection winner (2018 with the Purple Sox, 2020 with the Dodgers), eight-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove, six-time Silver Slugger, received batting title in 2018.
It was a sizzling, sweltering day early in spring coaching. The Purple Sox had been coming off a 2018 World Collection title and the coaching employees had gamers working a cone drill. Most took it sluggish and leisurely. One didn’t. Possibly that helps clarify why Betts is maybe the right ballplayer — a outstanding hitter for common and energy, a proper fielder who can execute the unimaginable throw (ask Tony Kemp), an athlete who can transfer to shortstop mid-career. A Harvard evaluation from 2021 named Betts the perfect all-around participant in MLB historical past: Sure, Betts is nice at all the things. — David Schoenfield
16. Bryce Harper
Key accomplishments: Two-time MVP (2015 and 2021), 2012 NL Rookie of the Yr, eight-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, 2022 NLCS MVP, 2018 HR Derby champion at Nationals Park.
He was on the quilt of Sports activities Illustrated at 16 with the headline “Baseball’s Chosen One” and has someway managed to reside as much as the hype, together with a few of the finest postseason numbers of all time. He even helped make baseball enjoyable once more — from his all-out type of play to his inexperienced Phillie Phanatic cleats. Not often has there been a extra excellent match between ballplayer and metropolis than Harper and Philadelphia. “He brings you into his recreation along with his expertise and grit. That resonates with the fan base,” former Phillies nice Chase Utley stated. — David Schoenfield
17. Roy Halladay
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Corridor of Famer, two-time Cy Younger winner (one in all seven gamers to win Cy Younger within the American and Nationwide leagues), eight-time All-Star, two no-hitters.
Halladay was the product of a bygone period during which a pitcher endeavored to complete what he began. By no means gifted with overwhelming velocity, Halladay killed with paper cuts. He walked hitters at an almost-identical price to Greg Maddux and logged 220-inning-plus seasons like they had been nothing. His proper arm obtained the glory, however it was Halladay’s mind — his innate sense of methods to pitch to each hitter — that received him 203 video games. When he died in a aircraft crash in 2017, a profound disappointment unfold by way of the game. The good pitching artisan was gone, by no means to be replicated. — Jeff Passan
18. Pedro Martinez
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Corridor of Famer, 2000 Cy Younger winner, four-time All-Star, three-time ERA title, 2004 World Collection winner, 2000 and 2002 strikeout chief.
Earlier than Martinez and his 2004 Boston teammates ended the franchise’s epic World Collection title drought, each Purple Sox star needed to area countless questions concerning the “Curse of the Bambino.” Certainly one of Martinez’s solutions summed up how a brief, skinny righty may change into probably the most dominant hurlers ever: “I do not imagine in rattling curses. Get up the rattling Bambino and have me face him. Possibly I am going to drill him within the ass.” From 1997 to 2003, the peak of one in all baseball’s most explosive offensive eras, Martinez was nearly as good as any pitcher has ever been, going 118-36 with a 2.20 ERA, 213 ERA+, over 250 strikeouts per season and profitable three Cy Younger Awards. — Bradford Doolittle
19. Buster Posey
Key accomplishments: 2012 MVP, 2010 Rookie of the Yr, three-time World Collection winner, seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, Gold Glove in 2016.
Posey was the quiet rock of the Giants who received three World Collection titles in 5 years, the most important star on a group that outpunched its weight class in October. Posey would by no means say he was the perfect participant on the group: He most popular to deflect consideration to his teammates. He married his highschool sweetheart, moved to catcher at Florida State to fill a necessity and bounced again from a devastating leg damage to win MVP honors. “Everyone concerned with him knew that this was somebody of strong character,” Giants scout John Barr as soon as stated. — David Schoenfield
20. Zack Greinke
Key accomplishments: 2009 AL Cy Younger, six Gold Gloves, six-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, two ERA titles.
Simply earlier than the playoffs following one in all Greinke’s finest seasons (19-3, 1.66 ERA for the 2015 Dodgers), one in all his catchers, A.J. Ellis, stated, “I might say he is extra of a scientist than an artist. A scientist who’s extremely gifted, self-aware and trustworthy.” You by no means knew fairly what was happening in Greinke’s head, however you knew no matter it was, it was fascinating. At his peak, he may vacillate from a 95-plus heater on one pitch to an almost-never-gets-there eephus on the subsequent, confounding hitters and thrilling followers who like to see a grasp craftsman on the mound. After almost quitting the sport at 22, Greinke was a Cy Younger winner at 25 and pitched till he was 39, profitable 225 video games alongside the way in which. — Bradford Doolittle
21. Aaron Judge
Key accomplishments: 2022 MVP, 2017 Rookie of the Yr, AL-record 62 HRs in 2022, six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger.
Put an asterisk right here: On condition that Choose is amid one other historic season, he is solely going to climb even increased sooner or later. There’s by no means been a participant like him: He is constructed like an NFL defensive finish with prodigious energy, but he is agile sufficient to play heart area. “He is actually constant in who he’s and what he presents,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated earlier this yr. “I might say he is the perfect I’ve ever seen at that.” Choose could be on his option to 60 dwelling runs once more: Not dangerous for a participant who hit two dwelling runs as a freshman at Fresno State. — David Schoenfield
22. Randy Johnson
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Corridor of Famer, three-time Cy Younger winner, five-time All-Star, 2001 World Collection champion, 4 ERA titles, 4,875 profession strikeouts (second all time), threw excellent recreation in 2004.
A lot of Johnson’s finest work got here within the Nineties, however the last three of his 4 consecutive Nationwide League Cy Younger Awards had been earned from 2000 to 2002, when Johnson put up numbers not seen since Sandy Koufax. At 6-foot-10, Johnson lorded over the sector from the pitcher’s mound, unspooling fastballs and sliders from a low three-quarters arm slot that befuddled hitters. He personified the ability of the strikeout, a lesson that took root and adjusted the sport altogether. Slayer of birds, pursuer of perfection, The Large Unit was an outlier in dimension, potential and manufacturing. At his finest, there have been few higher. — Jeff Passan
23. Freddie Freeman
Key accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, 2020 NL MVP, 5 top-5 MVP finishes, 2018 Gold Glove, 9 seasons with .300 batting common (tied for many amongst lively gamers).
In his 20s, Freeman was an excellent hitter. In his 30s, he is change into a Corridor of Famer. “Within the batter’s field, he’s the modern-day Tony Gwynn,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. Like Gwynn, Freeman hits line drives all around the area — besides he additionally hits many over the fence. He has a brief stroke, which permits him to keep away from the excessive strikeout totals of lots of right this moment’s hitters. “I simply like to go up there and stick to my plan, which is left-center,” Freeman as soon as stated. It is working. At 34, he performs day by day and is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. — David Schoenfield
24. CC Sabathia
Key accomplishments: 2007 AL Cy Younger winner, six-time All-Star, 2009 World Collection champion, one in all three left-handed pitchers in MLB historical past with 3,000 profession strikeouts.
Sabathia received a Cy Younger with Cleveland and a World Collection with the Yankees, however essentially the most revealing second of his profession got here with Milwaukee in 2008, when the Brewers had been combating for the playoffs — which they hadn’t made since 1982. Sabathia ignored his impending free company and made his last three begins on three days of relaxation. He pitched an entire recreation on the ultimate day to clinch the postseason. “Driving to the ballpark on that final recreation of the season, I keep in mind telling my cousin, ‘Get able to have fun. We’ll win,’” he remembered final yr. — David Schoenfield
25. Manny Ramirez
Key accomplishments: Since Jan. 1, 2000: Two-time World Collection champ, World Collection MVP in 2004, nine-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, 357 HRs, eight 100 RBI seasons.
Ramirez was the purest of hitters, and which may nicely be the last word praise for a batter. In a recreation the place essentially the most aesthetically pleasing hitters swing from the left aspect, Ramirez’s right-handed stroke was a stunning little bit of kinematics, the human physique tuned to near-perfection. Ramirez by no means completed increased than third in MVP voting, however he helped Boston win its first World Collection in 86 years and booked seven seasons this century with an OPS above 1.000. No matter his foibles — a number of constructive steroid checks and his frequent goofs written off as “Manny being Manny” — his bat was past reproach. — Jeff Passan
