Ever since Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, baseball players have been viewed as beefy giants. You know what we mean—those guys at the ballpark who make you think, “my arms would get tired swinging that bat!”
But in recent years, home runs and strikeouts have risen through the roof, and batting averages and ERA’s (Earned Run Average) have dropped like a stone. And it seems to be all thanks to a new generation of players with slim builds. So it’s no wonder that this new wave is bringing in girls from all over town to ball games where they might not have paid much attention before.
Today’s baseball stars are leaner and more agile than ever. Some are ripped; some look like they could run a marathon. But there’s one thing they all have in common: the ability to swing like Kung Fu masters when it comes to batting, running bases, and fielding.
From Cal Ripken Jr. to Alex Rodriguez, here are the hottest baseball players that will be making us cheer this season.
Table of Contents
- 1. Noah Syndergaard
- 2. Kevin Kiermaier
- 3. James McCann
- 4. Adam Ottavino
- 5. Adam Wainwright
- 6. Anthony Recker
- 7. Ben Revere
- 8. Brandon Crawford
- 9. Brandon Morrow
- 10. Brennan Boesch
- 11.Bryce Harper
- 12. Buster Posey
- 13. Chris Coghlan
- 14. Chris Davis
- 15. Chris Young
- 16. C.J. Wilson
- 17. Clayton Kershaw
- 18. Cole Hamels
- 19. Conor Gillaspie
- 20. Daniel Murphy
- 21. David Freese
- 22. David Roberston
- 23. David Wright
- 24. Eric Hosmer
- 25. Giancarlo Stanton
- 26. Huston Street
- 27. Ike Davis
- 28. J.D. Martinez
- 29. Jose Bautista
- 30. Justin Verlander
- 31. Kevin Plawecki
- 32. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
- 33. Matt Harvey
- 34. Matt Kemp
- 35. Nolan Arenado
- 36. Paul Goldschmidt
- 37. Robinson Cano
- 38. Trevor Plouffe
- 39. Wil Meyers
- 40. Will Middlebrooks
1. Noah Syndergaard
Syndergaard nicknamed “Thor,” is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. Previously, he was a member of the New York Mets. Syndergaard was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft and was traded to the New York Mets in 2012. He was born in Mansfield, Texas, on August 29, 1992.
2. Kevin Kiermaier
Kiermaier is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. Kiermaier was a member of high school and collegiate championship teams. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on April 22, 1990.
3. James McCann
James McCann is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Mets. Previously, he was a member of the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox. He played collegiate baseball at the University of Arkansas prior to beginning his professional career. He was born in Santa Barbara, California, on June 13, 1990.
4. Adam Ottavino
Adam Ottavino is a free agent American professional baseball pitcher. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball. He throws right-handed and is an attacking player, standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 246 pounds. He was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York State, USA, on November 22, 1985.
5. Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright sometimes known as “Waino” and “Uncle Charlie,” is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was born in Brunswick, Georgia, on August 30, 1981.
6. Anthony Recker
Anthony Recker is a former professional baseball catcher and first person in the United States. He previously competed in Major League Baseball as a track athlete with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. He was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on August 29, 1983.
7. Ben Revere
Ben Revere is an American professional baseb is a professional baseball player and hitting instructor for the Atlantic Professional Baseball League’s Lexington Legends. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 3, 1988.
8. Brandon Crawford
Brandon Crawford is a Major League Baseball player for the San Francisco Giants. Crawford attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played baseball. Crawford was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2011. He was born in Mountain View, California, on January 21, 1987.
9. Brandon Morrow
Brandon Morrow is a freelance agent and a professional baseball pitcher from the United States of America. He has played with the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball. He was born in Santa Rosa, California, on July 26, 1984.
10. Brennan Boesch
Brennan Boesch is a retired professional baseball player from the United States. He debuted in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 2010 and earned the American League’s Rookie of the Month award in his first two months in the majors. He was born in Santa Monica, California, on April 12, 1985.
11.Bryce Harper
Bryce is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 2012 to 2018, he was a member of the Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals. He has been referred to as a “five-instrumentalist.” He was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 16, 1992.
12. Buster Posey
Buster Posey is a former professional baseball catcher from the United States. Posey played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career with the San Francisco Giants, beginning in 2009 and concluding in 2021. Posey was born in the Georgia town of Leesburg. He was born in Leesburg, Georgia, on March 27, 1987.
13. Chris Coghlan
Chris Coghlan is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He has played for the Chicago Cubs, Florida/Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball. Coghlan was named the 2009 National Championship Rookie of the Year. He was born in Rockville, Maryland, on June 18, 1985.
14. Chris Davis
Chris Davis, dubbed “Crush Davis,” is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He has played for the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball. He throws both left- and right-handed. He was born in Longview, Texas, on March 17, 1986.
15. Chris Young
Chris Young is an American baseball executive who currently serves as the general manager of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He is also a former professional baseball player. He was born on May 25, 1979, Dallas, Texas, USA
16. C.J. Wilson
C.J. Wilson is a former professional baseball player and owner of an American motor racing team. Wilson played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers from 2005 to 2011 and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2012 to 2015. He was born in Newport Beach, California, on November 18, 1980.
17. Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is a professional baseball pitcher from the United States of America who also works as a freelance agent. He was a member of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw, a left-handed starter, has spent 13 seasons in the big leagues since his 2008 debut. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 19, 1988.
18. Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels is a free agent American professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. He was born in San Diego, California, on December 27, 1983.
19. Conor Gillaspie
Conor Gillaspie is a former professional baseball player in the American third tier. He has appeared in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, and Anaheim Angels. He was born on July 18, 1987, in Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America.
20. Daniel Murphy
Daniel James Murphy is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 1, 1985.
21. David Freese
David Freese is a former Major League Baseball player from the United States. He started his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a pivotal figure in the 2011 debate, hitting.545 with 12 hits in the 2011 National Championships Championship. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 28, 1983.
22. David Roberston
David Roberston often known as D-Rob, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He formerly played for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. Robertson was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s baseball team. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 9, 1985.
23. David Wright
David Wright is a retired professional third-tier baseball player from the United States who spent his whole 14-year Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets. He was picked by the Mets in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft and made his MLB debut at Shea Stadium on July 21, 2004. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on December 20, 1982.
24. Eric Hosmer
Eric Hosmer was a Major League Baseball player with the San Diego Padres. From 2011 to 2017, he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. He was born in South Miami, Florida, on October 24, 1989.
25. Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton previously known as Mike Stanton, is a Major League Baseball player with the New York Yankees. He was born in Panorama City, Los Angeles, California, on November 8, 1989.
26. Huston Street
Huston Street is a retired professional baseball player from the United States. He spent 13 seasons in Major League Baseball as a track athlete with the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels. He was born in Austin, Texas, on August 2, 1983.
27. Ike Davis
Ike Davis is a retired professional baseball player from the United States. He played Major League Baseball with the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees from 2010 to 2016. He was born in Edina, Minnesota, on March 22, 1987.
28. J.D. Martinez
J.D. Martinez is an American professional baseball player and designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He also spent time in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He was born in Miami, Florida, on August 21, 1987.
29. Jose Bautista
Jose Bautista dubbed “Joey Bats,” is a former Dominican professional boxer and third basketball player. He was born in Santo Dominica, Dominican Republic, on October 19, 1980.
30. Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is a free agent American professional baseball pitcher. He made Major League Baseball appearances with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. Verlander attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he played collegiate baseball for the Monarchy. He was born in Manakin, Virginia, on February 20, 1983.
31. Kevin Plawecki
Kevin is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Boston Red Sox. Plabecki attended Purdue University before becoming professional, where he played college baseball for the Boiling squad. He was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, on February 26, 1991.
32. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Kirk Nieuwenhuis is a former Major League Baseball quarterback with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was born in Santa Monica, California, on August 7, 1987.
33. Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey a.k.a. The Dark Knight, is a professional baseball pitcher and independent agent based in the United States. He was a Major League Baseball player. Formerly with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles. He was born in New London, Connecticut, on March 27, 1989.
34. Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp (born September 23, 1984) is a free agent outfielder in Major League Baseball. He began his professional career in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and played Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Dodgers from 2006 to 2014, the San Diego Padres in 2015 and 2016, and the Atlanta Braves in 2016 and 2017, before returning to the Dodgers for the 2018 season and briefly with the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 and the Colorado Rockies in 2020.
35. Nolan Arenado
Nolan Christopher Arenado is a Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2013 against the Colorado Rockies. He was born in Newport Beach, California, on April 16, 1991.
36. Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt dubbed “Goldy,” was the first American professional baseball player, playing for the Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 10, 1987
37. Robinson Cano
Robinson Cano was the Dominican Republic’s professional baseball team’s second pitcher for the Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. Canó, a native of San Pedro de Macors, Dominican Republic, signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees in 2001. Born in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic on October 22, 1982
38. Trevor Plouffe
Trevor is a former professional third-tier baseball player and American media personality. He has played for the Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, and Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. He was born in West Hills, Los Angeles, California, on June 15, 1986.
39. Wil Meyers
Wil Meyers was an American professional baseball pitcher and first baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Previously, he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. He was originally chosen by the Kansas City Royals before being sent to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. He was born in Thomasville, North Carolina, on December 10, 1990 .
40. Will Middlebrooks
Will Middlebrooks is a former professional baseball pitcher from the United States. He made his Major League Baseball debut on May 2, 2012, against the Boston Red Sox and remained with them until 2014. He also played for the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball. He was born in Greenville, Texas, on September 9, 1988.