Baseball is full of towering home runs and towering egos. And when you hand a guy a bat and millions of dollars, sometimes he starts swinging at more than just fastballs.
These 17 MLB sluggers made headlines not just for their power, but for their personality clashes. Teammates, managers, media—no one was safe when these guys stepped into the dugout.
17. Jose Canseco
Canseco could crush baseballs and burn bridges with equal force. He always found himself in the middle of drama, whether it was on the field, in the clubhouse, or on Twitter.
16. Carlos Zambrano
Okay, he was technically a pitcher, but when he picked up a bat, you’d think he was trying to hit more than baseballs. Known for blowups with teammates and wild clubhouse energy, Big Z was chaos personified.
15. Yasiel Puig
Puig brought flair, power, and a whole lot of attitude wherever he went. His teammates either loved his passion or got tired of the nonstop antics real quick.
14. Barry Bonds
Bonds was a generational hitter and a generational headache. His icy relationships with teammates and the media made him one of baseball’s most complicated legends.
13. Milton Bradley
If there was a conflict to be had, Bradley found a way to get in on it. His talent was real, but so was the never-ending tension with everyone around him.
12. Jeff Kent
Kent had power at the plate and zero patience for nonsense—or for Barry Bonds, apparently. The two famously clashed in the Giants’ dugout, and Kent didn’t exactly play peacemaker with others either.
11. Manny Ramirez
Manny being Manny was fun… until it wasn’t. Behind the goofy antics was a guy who had more than a few clubhouse dustups.
10. A.J. Pierzynski
Pierzynski wasn’t just a catcher—he was a full-time instigator. Opponents hated him, teammates barely tolerated him, and somehow he thrived in the chaos.
9. Gary Sheffield
Sheffield didn’t sugarcoat a single thing in his career. That honesty led to fireworks with managers, teammates, and front offices from coast to coast.
8. Albert Belle
Belle swung with fury and lived with a chip on his shoulder the size of the outfield wall. No one messed with him—and few wanted to even try.
7. Reggie Jackson
Mr. October had a bat that screamed “clutch,” but his ego screamed even louder. His clashes with Billy Martin and teammates were legendary.
6. Josh Donaldson
When Donaldson’s on, he’s one of the most intense players in the game—and not always in a good way. His edge rubbed more than a few people the wrong way.
5. Bryce Harper
Harper’s fire and flair made him a star, but they also made him polarizing. He’s had his fair share of dugout drama and feuds with fellow players.
4. Kevin Brown
Brown was mean on the mound and grumpy everywhere else. He clashed with media, teammates, and even punched a wall—because why not?
3. Bobby Bonilla
Bonilla’s career was full of swagger, tension, and that infamous contract. His relationships with teammates and the press were anything but smooth.
Read More: 14 MLB Sluggers Who Went from Home Runs to Head-Scratchers
2. George Bell
Bell had pop in his bat and a short fuse in the locker room. He once nearly came to blows with his own manager—never a great sign of team unity.
Read More: 17 MLB Sluggers Who Forgot How to Hit
1. Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod had all the tools, all the fame, and all the drama. From feuds with teammates to scandals off the field, he turned friction into a full-time job.
Read More: 23 Sluggers Who Redefined the Home Run
