Baseball has changed a lot since the year 2000. Steroids, sabermetrics, pitch clocks, and bat flips—it’s been a wild ride, and through it all, some players have just flat-out dominated.
This list celebrates the absolute best of the best from this century. From flamethrowing aces to generational sluggers, these 40 stars have left their stamp on the modern era of baseball and made fans fall in love with the game all over again.
40. Chase Utley
Quietly, one of his generation’s most complete second basemen, Utley was a five-tool threat who played the game hard. Philly fans still adore him for being the heart of their 2008 title run.
39. C.C. Sabathia
Big man, big game stuff. Sabathia racked up wins, strikeouts, and a Cy Young while being one of the most reliable arms of the 2000s.
38. Mookie Betts
From Boston to L.A., Mookie has done nothing but win and rake. He’s a Gold Glove outfielder with a sneaky amount of power and one of the best leadoff bats in recent memory.
37. Buster Posey
Posey brought calm to chaos behind the plate and was the backbone of a Giants dynasty. A catcher who could hit .300 and call a game? That’s rare.
36. Matt Holliday
Holliday mashed for years in Colorado and St. Louis, and he looked like a literal action figure while doing it. He was one of the most consistent outfield bats of the 2000s.
35. Gary Sheffield
That swing was violent and beautiful all at once. Sheffield was scary at the plate and piled up big numbers well into the 2000s.
34. David Wright
Before the injuries piled up, Wright was one of the brightest stars in the game. He gave Mets fans a reason to believe during some dark stretches.
33. Manny Ramirez
If you were alive during the 2000s, you know that being “Manny being Manny” was a whole lifestyle. He was chaotic, hilarious, and an excellent hitter.
32. Roy Halladay
Halladay was a masterclass in control and work ethic. He pitched like a surgeon in Toronto or Philly and never seemed rattled.
31. Carlos Beltrán
The man did it all—hit for power, steal bases, play elite defense, and come through in the playoffs. Beltrán’s postseason heroics alone get him on this list.
30. Mark Teixeira
A switch-hitting first baseman who played Gold Glove defense and hit bombs? Teixeira was a cornerstone wherever he went.
29. Justin Verlander
He’s still going strong, but the 2000s version of Verlander was a fireballer who overwhelmed hitters. He just never stopped evolving.
28. Ichiro Suzuki
He made hitting singles feel like a rock concert. Ichiro arrived with hype and exceeded it, becoming a global icon with a bat and a smile.
27. Vladimir Guerrero
Vlad swung at everything and hit everything. Watching him go down to a knee to club a homer was baseball joy.
26. Joey Votto
Quietly brilliant and fiercely loyal to the Reds, Votto has been a hitting nerd’s dream. He’s got plate discipline for days and an oddly charming personality.
25. Miguel Cabrera
Miggy could flat-out rake, whether he was winning a Triple Crown or just casually spraying lasers to all fields. He made hitting look easy.
24. Chris Sale
Sale looked like a string bean but pitched like a man possessed. His slider is still giving lefties nightmares.
23. Jose Altuve
Listed at 5-foot-6 but plays like he’s 6-foot-4. Altuve has racked up hits, MVP votes, and October moments with a mix of hustle and heart.
22. Freddie Freeman
He’s as steady as they come, always good for a .300 average and leadership vibes. Freeman helped bring the Braves back to the top.
21. Jacob deGrom
When healthy, he’s a video game. deGrom’s stuff is unfair, and his stretch of dominance felt like pitching perfection.
20. Paul Goldschmidt
He was underrated for far too long, but Goldy has been a force. Smooth defender, elite bat, and the kind of guy every team wishes they had.
19. Bryce Harper
From teenage phenom to two-time MVP, Harper has lived up to the hype. He plays with emotion and hits like a truck.
18. Max Scherzer
With two different-colored eyes and one mission: dominate. Scherzer’s intensity, strikeout numbers, and postseason grit are legendary.
17. Francisco Rodríguez
K-Rod burst onto the scene with wild energy and filthy stuff. He racked up saves and strikeouts like it was his full-time hobby.
16. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson played like a linebacker and mashed like a cleanup hitter. His MVP season with Toronto was straight fire.
15. Josh Hamilton
For a few years, Hamilton was a baseball demigod. His power, story, and 2008 Derby are the stuff of legends.
14. Johan Santana
At his peak, he was untouchable. Santana won two Cy Youngs and made hitters look silly.
13. Clayton Kershaw
He’s been the gold standard for lefties in the 21st century. Sure, the postseason got rocky early, but the body of work is incredible.
12. Carlos Correa
Love him or hate him, the man has been clutch. Correa’s glove, arm, and bat all play in October.
11. Trea Turner
Turner’s mix of speed and power feels like it came out of a baseball lab. He’s been a highlight machine wherever he’s gone.
10. Adrian Beltre
Beltre was hilarious, intense, and wildly talented. And yes, touching his head was always a bad idea.
9. Prince Fielder
Big swing, big personality. Prince gave fans dingers, charisma, and some iconic home run trots.
8. Albert Pujols
The Machine owned the first half of the 2000s. For a decade, no one was better at doing it all.
7. Yadier Molina
He’s not just a catcher—he’s a baseball institution. Molina called games like a genius and threw runners out like it was nothing.
6. Nolan Arenado
A vacuum at third base with a bat to match. Arenado makes impossible plays look routine and has mashed since day one.
5. David Ortiz
Big Papi lived for the big moment. From walk-offs to World Series bombs, he came through when it mattered most.
4. Shohei Ohtani
It may be too early to have him this high, but he’s doing things we’ve never seen before. A true unicorn, Ohtani pitches and hits like a superstar in both roles.
3. Derek Jeter
The Captain was the face of baseball in the early 2000s. He wasn’t flashy, but he was the heartbeat of a winning machine.
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2. Mike Trout
He makes greatness look boring because he’s been elite for so long. Trout’s consistency, power, and speed made him the modern blueprint.
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1. Barry Bonds
Say what you want, but no one terrified pitchers like Bonds. The walks, the bombs, the swagger—it was all unmatched.
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