The steroid era in baseball was full of towering home runs, bulging biceps, and players who looked like they belonged more in a wrestling ring than a dugout. While it left a controversial legacy, there’s no denying it produced a very specific archetype: big, loud, and unapologetically powerful.
Today’s game may be cleaner, but there are still a few guys who feel like they were born to bash in that chaotic era. Whether it’s their size, swagger, or just their knack for the dramatic, these players feel like they’d fit right in with the 1998 crowd.
18. Pete Alonso
Alonso swings like he’s trying to hit the ball into another zip code. His raw power and stocky frame would’ve made him a home run derby mainstay in the late ’90s.
17. Aaron Judge
At 6’7” and built like a defensive end, Judge could’ve been the face of the steroid era—no syringes needed. He hits with absurd power and has the intimidation factor that the era thrived on.
16. Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton looks like a Marvel superhero and hits like one, too. His exit velocity numbers would’ve had old-school scouts thinking their radar guns were broken.
15. Bryce Harper
With his flair for drama and muscular build, Harper would’ve been a poster boy for 2002 baseball. He’s got the fire, the flash, and the forearms to back it all up.
14. Yordan Alvarez
Alvarez isn’t flashy, but he’s got the kind of lefty power that defined the era. He’s built like a tank and casually crushes balls to dead center like it’s no big deal.
13. Kyle Schwarber
Schwarber’s bat was made for moonshots and chaos. He might not look like a bodybuilder, but his bombs have that unmistakable ‘roid-era energy.
12. Oneil Cruz
He’s 6’7” and plays shortstop like it’s totally normal. In the steroid era, he’d be billed as a freak athlete with limitless upside and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
11. Eloy Jiménez
When healthy, Eloy has the kind of light-tower power that screams late-90s slugger. His swing is violent, and his presence in the box is pure intimidation.
10. Joey Gallo
Gallo’s entire brand is homers or bust, which would’ve made him beloved during the juiced ball heyday. He’s got the frame and the swing path to fit right in next to McGwire and Sosa.
9. Julio Rodríguez
J-Rod has the look, the tools, and the star power to have thrived in the spotlight-heavy steroid era. He’s explosive in every way and plays the game with an electric flair.
8. Mike Trout
Trout may be mild-mannered, but his body and skill set are pure steroid-era gold. He’s strong, explosive, and could’ve put up Bonds-like numbers if he wanted to lean into the villain role.
7. Rafael Devers
Devers has that compact, powerful build that the ’90s loved. He swings out of his shoes and plays with a bulldog intensity that would’ve had fans eating it up.
6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Just like his dad, Vlad Jr. has the kind of effortless power that feels tailor-made for a juiced ball and a smaller strike zone. He would’ve been a menace in 2001.
5. Fernando Tatís Jr.
Tatís brings the swagger, the hair, and the highlight-reel bat speed. His larger-than-life presence would’ve fit perfectly in an era that craved baseball rockstars.
4. Juan Soto
Soto’s plate discipline is modern, but his strength and swing would’ve made him a slugging machine in the early 2000s. He struts, he mashes, and he owns the spotlight.
3. Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani is basically a cheat code, so of course, he fits the steroid-era vibe. Pitching and hitting at an elite level? That’s the kind of superhuman stuff that era celebrated.
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2. Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña plays loud and swings louder. His energy and freak athleticism would’ve made him a must-watch in a time when style mattered just as much as stats.
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1. Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt Jr. is a five-tool monster with the kind of high-octane play that would’ve made him a phenom during the steroid boom. He’s flashy, powerful, and built to dominate in any era—including the wildest one of all.
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