Baseball is played worldwide, from the United States to Puerto Rico, China to Mexico, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. While other countries also play baseball, the countries mentioned play baseball at a much higher level as one of their top 2-3 sports.
One country that continues to produce talented baseball players is the Dominican Republic, which has some of the best baseball players in the world. So, who are the best Dominican Baseball Players? Headlining the list is Vladimir Guerrero Jr, son of MLB Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr, who also dominated the game of baseball during his playing days.
Other players from the Dominican Republic include Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres, Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres, and Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins.
Here is a look at the 15 Best Dominican Baseball Players:
15 Best Dominican Baseball Players
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr – Toronto Blue Jays (First Baseman)
Our top 4 on this list are all well deserving of the #1 spot. However, only one MLB Dominican player can land at the top, and Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr takes home that spot.
Guerrero Jr, who will be just 24 years old at the start of the 2023 MLB season, has put together a solid start to his career, including being named to two AL All-Star teams and leading all of Major League Baseball in home runs during 2021.
In 504 career games, Guerrero Jr has posted a .284 batting average, with 103 doubles, 104 home runs, and 310 runs batted in.
2. Juan Soto – San Diego Padres (Right Fielder)
Another young star dominating Major League Baseball is the San Diego Padres right fielder Juan Soto. Soto, traded from the Washington Nationals to the Padres during the 2022 MLB season, was part of one of the all-time biggest MLB blockbuster trades.
While we have seen players traded in the past, it is hard to say a player who was just 23 years old was worth trading. Nonetheless, Soto is now a part of a very young talented roster of stars, including fellow Dominican baseball players Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado.
Soto is coming off an impressive season in 2022, finishing with 25 doubles, 27 home runs, 62 runs batted in, and 135 walks.
3. Jose Ramirez – Cleveland Guardians (Third Baseman)
Since arriving in the big leagues full-time in 2016, the Cleveland Guardians every day third baseman has been one of the most consistent players year in and year out.
While often overlooked by other players in both the American League and National League, Jose Ramirez is worth mentioning as one of the best players in baseball. Ramirez has hit at least 23 home runs in five of the last six seasons and missing 20 by just three in the shortened MLB Covid season.
Last season Ramirez finished the year batting .280 with 44 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, 126 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases.
4. Manny Machado – San Diego Padres (Third Baseman)
While Manny Machado was born in Miami and often looked past as a player from the Dominican Republic, he still warrants mention as he is of Dominican descent.
Machado is one of the older MLB players to land on the list, and it doesn’t take away how great a baseball player he has been since arriving with the Baltimore Orioles. Since arriving in the Majors, Machado has posted 283 career home runs, made six MLB All-Star teams, and won two Gold Glove awards and a Platinum Glove Award.
The Padres’ third baseman is coming off a .298 batting average with 32 home runs and 102 runs batted in over 150 games last season.
5. Sandy Alcantara – Miami Marlins (Staring Pitcher)
Another young baseball talent is Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara who lands at number five on the best Dominican baseball Players list.
Alcantara, who turned 27 years old in September, took home his first Cy Young award during the 2022 MLB season while making his second NL All-Star team. Over 32 starts last season, Alcantara turned in a 14-9 overall record, along with a 2.28 earned run average, .98 WHIP, and 207 strikeouts.
His performance on the mound landed him among the best pitchers in all of Major League baseball.
6. Fernando Tatis Jr – San Diego Padres (Shortstop)
While Fernando Tatis Jr missed all of the 2022 MLB season due to an injury and eventually a suspension, he remains one of the best Dominican Baseball players in all of baseball and one of the best players in the game. The San Diego Padres third baseman turned 24 on January 1st, 2023, and will look to return to his old form during the upcoming season.
Despite missing all of last season, Tatis Jr has racked up 81 home runs and 195 runs batted in over 1,036 career games played while leading the NL in home runs in 2021 and earning two selections on the NL All-Star team.
7. Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox (Third Baseman)
Over the years, the Boston Red Sox continue churning out talented baseball players, including Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. Another name to add to the list is the talented Dominican Republic baseball player Rafael Devers who is the face of the organization and will remain the face well into the future.
Devers, who recently signed a new 11-year deal with the Red Sox, is coming off another strong season both at the plate and in the field.
Over 141 games last season, the Red Sox third baseman posted 42 doubles, 27 home runs and drove in 80 runs while posting a .879 OPS mark.
8. Emmanuel Clase – Cleveland Guardians (Closer)
One team loaded with young talent is the Cleveland Guardians, who have one of the best young closers in all of baseball in Emmanuel Clase.
Clase, who earned his first All-Star team selection last year, finished the season as the MLB saves leader while also taking home the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award.
Clase finished the 2022 MLB season with a 3-4 overall record to go along with 42 saves, 77 strikeouts and a 1.36 earned run average.
9. Teoscar Hernandez – Seattle Mariners (Right Fielder)
After spending the past six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Teoscar Hernandez will join the Seattle Mariners for the upcoming 2023 MLB season. Hernandez has been a solid outfielder over the past five seasons while hitting at least 22 home runs in three of the five while missing the mark of 20 in 2020 by four home runs.
In 2022 the former Blue Jays outfielder posted a .267 batting average to go along with 25 home runs, 77 runs batted in, 35 doubles, and a .807 OPS mark while helping the Blue Jays reach the MLB postseason.
10. Starling Marte – New York Mets (Right Fielder)
Landing at number 10 on the 15 Best Dominican Baseball Players list is the New York Mets right fielder Starling Marte. Marte, one of the older players on the list, continues to produce year in and year out, including last season.
Marte is coming off a .292 batting average across 118 games last season, picking up 24 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, and 63 runs batted in.
Over his career, Marte is a career .289 hitter in 4,808 career at-bats while hitting 257 doubles, 142 home runs, and driving in 565 runs.
11. Willy Adames – Milwaukee Brewers (Shortstop)
The Dominican Republic continues to produce talented MLB players, with Willy Adames joining the list of the best in MLB 2022. Adames, who turned 27 in September, put together his first full season with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Adames posted a .238 batting average while driving in 98 runs, with 31 home runs and 31 doubles. In 570 career games, Adames has posted 110 doubles, with 94 home runs and 280 career runs batted in.
12. Jorge Polanco – Minnesota Twins (Second Baseman)
Jorge Polanco enters the 2023 MLB season at just 29 years old while being a vital member of the Minnesota Twins organization since making his MLB debut back during the 2014 MLB season. Polanco, who the Twins signed as an international free agent in 2009, is one of the top baseball players from the Dominican Republic.
Polanco, who appeared in just 104 games last season, finished the season with a .235 batting average, along with 16 doubles, 16 home runs, 56 runs batted in, and 64 total walks.
13. Wander Franco – Tampa Bay Rays (Shortstop)
As Starling Marte lands on the list of the best Dominican baseball players as one of the oldest, Wander Franco joins as one of the youngest after appearing in 83 games last season at just 21 years of age.
While injuries limited Franco to just 83 games, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop showcased his abilities and potential over that stretch. In 314 at-bats last season Franco picked up 87 hits, including 20 doubles, three triples, and six home runs, while also adding 33 runs batted in and 26 walks.
In addition, Franco played terrific defense at the shortstop position during his time on the field.
14. Nelson Cruz – Washington Nationals (Designated Hitter)
How can you not include Nelson Cruz among the best of the best from the Dominican Republic? While he is just one of a few players over 40 who played last season, Cruz still produced.
In 124 games last season with the Nationals, Cruz posted 16 doubles with 10 home runs and 64 runs batted in.
His performance at the plate pushed his career home run total to 459 while his runs batted in mark climbed to 1,302 for his career over 2014 games played.
15. Ketel Marte – Arizona Diamondbacks (Second Baseman)
Rounding out the 15 Best Dominican Baseball Players is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ second baseman, Ketel Marte. Marte, who started his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2015, was later acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2017 MLB season.
Marte has been a solid field infielder throughout his career while showing, at times, his ability to hit for power and for average.
Last season, Marte struggled, batting just .240 at the plate but still managed to post a .321 on-base percentage to go along with 42 doubles, 12 home runs, 52 runs batted in, and 55 walks.
