Baseball is a game of many races, cultures, and historical backgrounds. Major League Baseball has a long list of talented superstars from the United States and other areas like Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Cuba. On this list are many great black baseball players. But who is the best black player of all?
Our ‘best black baseball players’ list has New York Yankees All-Star Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts, and Minnesota Twins Byron Buxton. Some of the best black baseball players of all-time include mega stars like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, San Francisco Giants’ Willie McCovey, and Barry Bonds, one of the best black baseball players in the ’90s, but to name a few.
Read all about our picks for famous black baseball players 2023.
Best Black Baseball Players
10. Marcus Semien – Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers second baseman is in his first year with the team after signing a seven-year deal worth 175 million dollars during the MLB offseason.
Semien is in his 10th season in the big leagues and is putting together another strong season. Entering the 2022 MLB season, Semien was coming off his best season in baseball as he posted 45 home runs to go along with 102 runs-batted-in while playing in all 162 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Over his career, Semien has earned one trip to the MLB All-Star game, one Gold Glove award, and one Silver Slugger award.
Current Team: Texas Rangers
Previous Teams: Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, and Toronto Blue Jays
9. Marcus Stroman – Chicago Cubs
Marcus Stroman continues to be a solid starting pitcher year in and year out while making his new start with the Chicago Cubs during the 2022 MLB season.
Stroman, who made his debut at 23 years old with the Toronto Blue Jays, pitched six seasons with the team before being traded to the New York Mets.
In those six years, Stroman racked up 47 wins while striking out at least 100 batters in four of those six seasons with the club. After the 2021 MLB season, Stroman signed a three-year deal with the Cubs worth $71 million.
Current Team: Chicago Cubs
Previous Teams: Toronto Blue Jays & New York Mets
8. Andrew McCutchen – Milwaukee Brewers
Andrew McCutchen could arguably rank as the Best Black Baseball Player in all of Major League Baseball in his prime.
With his career on the back end, the current Milwaukee Brewers outfielder continues to play at a high level, topping the 15-home run mark for the 12th time in his career.
In addition to those numbers, McCutchen has racked up over 280 home runs to go along with the 2013 NL MVP award, one Gold Glove, four Silver Slugger awards, and five selections to the MLB All-Star team.
The former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star also played on the Team USA baseball team that captured the 2017 World Baseball Classic gold medal.
Current Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees & Philadelphia Phillies
7. Tim Anderson – Chicago White Sox
The back-to-back AL All-Star shortstop is one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball, giving his team a run-scoring threat who can swipe a base when needed.
During his seven-season with the Chicago White Sox, Anderson has battled injuries for most of the 2022 MLB schedule and possibly the rest of the 2022 MLB season.
Anderson has posted at least double-digit home runs in five of the previous six seasons. His best season at the plate came in 2019. Anderson would finish with a .335 batting average, with 32 doubles, 18 home runs, and 56 runs batted in.
Current Team: Chicago White Sox
Previous Teams: N/A
6. Giancarlo Stanton – New York Yankees
Once possibly the most feared power hitter in all of baseball has had his struggles to stay healthy over the past few seasons.
Nonetheless, he still ranks among the game’s best power hitters and one of the best black baseball players.
Formerly known as Mike Stanton, he started his playing career for the Florida/Miami Marlins before being traded in a blockbuster deal to the New York Yankees.
The Yankees designated hitter and outfielder made his fifth MLB All-Star team during the 2022 MLB schedule while topping the 370-career home run total.
To go along with the home runs, Stanton won the 2017 NL MVP award and the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award in 2012 while leading the NL in home runs in 2014 and 2017.
Current Team: New York Yankees
Previous Teams: Florida/Miami Marlins
5. Cedric Mullins – Baltimore Orioles
One of the newer and fresh faces on the list is the Baltimore Orioles center fielder and AL All-Star Cedric Mullins.
Mullins, who made his MLB debut during the 2018 MLB season, put together his best season in the Majors during the 2021 MLB season, in which he finished as an All-Star, a Silver Slugger award winner, and a member of the 30/30 club.
During the 2021 MLB season, Mullins batted .291 with 37 doubles, 30 home runs, 59 Runs-Batted-In, and 30 stolen bases.
His success has continued in 2022 while helping to turn around the Orioles’ struggles while competing for one of the AL Wild Card spots for most of the second half of the 2022 MLB schedule.
Current Team: Baltimore Orioles
Previous Team: N/A
4. Josh Bell – San Diego Padres
The newly acquired San Diego Padres first baseman and designated hitter is playing for his third team before 30.
Bell, an All-Star during the 2019 MLB season, is now a key component in a Padres offense loaded with power, including Juan Soto, who was traded to the Padres with him before the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
Throughout his seven-year career, Bell has hit at least 26 home runs in three of the seven seasons while picking up at least 88 Runs-Batted-In each season.
Current Team: San Diego Padres
Former Team: Pittsburgh Pirates & Washington Nationals
3. Byron Buxton – Minnesota Twins
Once a former top prospect in all of baseball Byron Buxton is slowly turning into a star for the Minnesota Twins.
Buxton was highly rated coming out of high school and was the second overall draft pick during the 2012 MLB draft.
Needing just two full seasons, Buxton made his MLB debut during the 2015 MLB season. Since then, the Twins outfielder has made one AL All-Star team, won one Gold Glove award, and one Platinum Glove award.
After hitting 19 home runs over 61 games last season, Buxton is putting together the best season of his young career, having picked up 28 home runs and 51 Runs-Batted-In while only appearing in 92 contests through mid-September.
Current Team: Minnesota Twins
Former Team: N/A
2. Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Mookie Betts ranks among one of the best overall baseball players in Major League Baseball and has been since the 2016 MLB schedule.
Betts, who started his career with the Boston Red Sox, is just 29 years old, racking up over 210 home runs for his career.
Over his career, the talented outfielder has racked up a long list of accolades, including the 2018 AL MVP award, four Silver Slugger awards, five Gold Glove awards, two World Series rings, one AL Batting Championship, and two Wilson Defensive Player of the Year awards.
His production on the field includes a career batting average mark above .290 and six All-Star appearances.
Current Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Former Team: Boston Red Sox
1. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees
The New York Yankees All-Star power-hitting outfielder Aaron Judge is possible the best player in all of baseball right now and the best black baseball players today, winning his first AL MVP award in 2022.
Since arriving in the majors in Mid-August of 2016, Judge has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Yankees lineup.
His production at the plate and in the field has earned him the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year award, four spots on the AL All-Star team, two Silver Slugger awards, and the 2019 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award.
Judge joined an exclusive list of All-Star when he connected on his 50-home run of the season in 2022 while making it the second time in his career.
Current Team: New York Yankees
Former Team: N/A
