# Who is the best MLB player born in 1979?

> Gold Glove work at third base, a pair of Cy Youngs and several World Series rings all trace back to one birth year, alongside cult heroes who had a single unforgettable summer.

*By YPB Team · Published November 8, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mlb-player-born-in-1979*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Adrián Beltré** — score 1000/1000
   Hall of Fame third baseman (inducted 2024) with 3,166 hits, 477 home runs and five Gold Gloves for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers.
2. **Johan Santana** — score 894/1000
   Venezuelan left-hander who won AL Cy Young Awards with the Twins in 2004 and 2006 and threw the first no-hitter in Mets history in 2012.
3. **Jack Cust** — score 663/1000
   Athletics designated hitter who hit 33 home runs and led the AL with 111 walks in 2008.
4. **Michael Cuddyer** — score 663/1000
   Two-time All-Star who spent eleven seasons with the Twins and won the 2013 NL batting title with the Rockies.
5. **Brad Hawpe** — score 663/1000
   Rockies right fielder on the 2007 NL pennant team and a 2009 All-Star.
6. **Ryan Theriot** — score 663/1000
   Cubs shortstop who hit .307 in 2008 and later won World Series rings with the 2011 Cardinals and 2012 Giants.
7. **Brad Ziegler** — score 609/1000
   Submarine reliever who began his career with 39 straight scoreless innings for Oakland in 2008, a major league record.
8. **Jeremy Guthrie** — score 609/1000
   Starter for the Orioles and Royals who won a World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015.
9. **Kevin Youkilis** — score 609/1000
   Three-time All-Star corner infielder who won World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007.
10. **Jeremy Affeldt** — score 546/1000
   Left-handed reliever who won three World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
11. **Ryan Howard** — score 546/1000
   Phillies first baseman who was 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, hit 58 home runs to win the 2006 NL MVP and won the 2008 World Series.
12. **Bill Hall** — score 546/1000
   Brewers infielder who hit 35 home runs while playing mostly shortstop in 2006.
13. **David DeJesus** — score 473/1000
   Outfielder who spent his first eight seasons with the Royals before playing for the Cubs, Rays and others.
14. **Carlos Silva** — score 473/1000
   Venezuelan sinkerballer who walked only nine batters in more than 188 innings for the 2005 Twins.
15. **Josh Willingham** — score 387/1000
   Outfielder who hit 35 home runs and won a Silver Slugger for the Twins in 2012.
16. **Rafael Soriano** — score 387/1000
   Dominican closer who led the AL with 45 saves for the Rays in 2010 and saved 42 games for the Yankees in 2012.
17. **Jayson Werth** — score 387/1000
   Outfielder who won the 2008 World Series with the Phillies and then spent seven seasons with the Washington Nationals.
18. **Akinori Iwamura** — score 387/1000
   Japanese infielder who joined the Rays in 2007 and recorded the final out of the 2008 ALCS.
19. **Aaron Cook** — score 387/1000
   Sinkerballer who spent most of his career in the Rockies rotation and was a 2008 All-Star.
20. **Adam Dunn** — score 284/1000
   Power-hitting slugger who hit 462 career home runs, most of them for the Cincinnati Reds.
21. **Adam LaRoche** — score 284/1000
   First baseman who won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger with the Nationals in 2012 after hitting 33 home runs.
22. **Khalil Greene** — score 284/1000
   Padres shortstop who finished second in 2004 NL Rookie of the Year voting and hit 27 home runs in 2007.
23. **Jason Bartlett** — score 284/1000
   Shortstop who started for the 2008 AL champion Rays and hit .320 as a 2009 All-Star.
24. **Juan Uribe** — score 284/1000
   Dominican infielder who won the World Series with the 2005 White Sox and the 2010 Giants.
25. **Jon Garland** — score 284/1000
   Right-hander who won 18 games as a 2005 All-Star for the World Series champion White Sox.
26. **Chris Young** — score 284/1000
   Six-foot-ten right-hander who was a 2007 All-Star with the Padres and won the 2015 World Series with the Royals.
27. **Wandy Rodríguez** — score 284/1000
   Dominican left-hander known for his curveball who started for the Astros from 2005 to 2012.
28. **Brandon Webb** — score 284/1000
   Diamondbacks sinkerballer who won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award before a shoulder injury ended his career.
29. **Garrett Atkins** — score 284/1000
   Rockies third baseman who hit .329 with 29 home runs and 120 RBIs in 2006.
30. **Rick Ankiel** — score 284/1000
   Cardinals left-hander who lost his command as a pitcher and returned in 2007 as an outfielder, hitting 25 home runs in 2008.
31. **Carlos Ruiz** — score 0/1000
   Panamanian catcher who won the 2008 World Series with the Phillies and caught four no-hitters.
32. **Coco Crisp** — score 0/1000
   Switch-hitting center fielder who won the 2007 World Series with Boston and shared the AL stolen-base lead with Oakland in 2011.
33. **Érik Bédard** — score 0/1000
   Canadian left-hander who struck out 221 batters for the Orioles in 2007 before a trade to Seattle.
34. **Mark Buehrle** — score 0/1000
   White Sox left-hander who won 214 games, threw a perfect game in 2009 and won the 2005 World Series.

Tags: sports, baseball, players, mlb, 1979