# Who is the best MLB player born in 1983?

> Cooperstown locks, October heroes and steady everyday catchers all share a birth year here. The gap between first and fifth is a real argument.

*By YPB Team · Published November 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mlb-player-born-in-1983*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Miguel Cabrera** — score 1000/1000
   Venezuelan slugger who won the 2012 AL Triple Crown, AL MVP awards in 2012 and 2013, and finished with 3,174 hits and 511 home runs.
2. **José Reyes** — score 789/1000
   New York Mets shortstop who led the NL in steals each year from 2005 to 2007, won the 2011 NL batting title and stole 517 career bases.
3. **Justin Verlander** — score 752/1000
   Right-hander who won the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, the 2011 AL MVP, three AL Cy Young Awards and World Series titles with Houston in 2017 and 2022.
4. **Jim Johnson** — score 546/1000
   Baltimore Orioles closer who led the AL with 51 saves in 2012 and 50 saves in 2013.
5. **Zack Greinke** — score 546/1000
   Right-hander who won the 2009 AL Cy Young with Kansas City, led the NL with a 1.66 ERA in 2015 and won 225 career games.
6. **Howie Kendrick** — score 546/1000
   Second baseman with a .294 career average who was named 2019 NLCS MVP and hit a go-ahead home run for Washington in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
7. **Joey Votto** — score 473/1000
   Cincinnati Reds first baseman from 2007 to 2023 who won the 2010 NL MVP and finished with 356 home runs and a .294 average.
8. **Brett Gardner** — score 473/1000
   New York Yankees outfielder from 2008 to 2021 who won the 2009 World Series, led the AL with 49 steals in 2011 and won a Gold Glove in 2016.
9. **Charlie Morton** — score 473/1000
   Right-hander who won 147 games, made All-Star teams in 2018 and 2019 and won World Series titles with Houston in 2017 and Atlanta in 2021.
10. **Dustin Pedroia** — score 473/1000
   Boston Red Sox second baseman who won the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year, the 2008 AL MVP and four Gold Gloves.
11. **Kurt Suzuki** — score 473/1000
   Catcher who played 16 MLB seasons, made the 2014 All-Star team with Minnesota and won the 2019 World Series with Washington.
12. **Nick Markakis** — score 473/1000
   Right fielder with 2,388 career hits for the Orioles and Braves who won three Gold Gloves and made the 2018 All-Star team.
13. **Kendrys Morales** — score 473/1000
   Cuban switch-hitter who hit 213 career home runs and won a Silver Slugger as designated hitter for the 2015 World Series champion Royals.
14. **Hunter Pence** — score 473/1000
   Outfielder who made four All-Star teams and won the World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and 2014.
15. **Francisco Liriano** — score 473/1000
   Left-hander who made the 2006 AL All-Star team as a Twins rookie, threw a no-hitter in 2011 and won the 2017 World Series with Houston.
16. **Cole Hamels** — score 473/1000
   Left-hander who won 163 games and was named MVP of both the NLCS and the World Series when the Phillies won the 2008 title.
17. **Geovany Soto** — score 387/1000
   Chicago Cubs catcher who won the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team that same season.
18. **Ryan Braun** — score 387/1000
   Milwaukee Brewers outfielder who won the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year and the 2011 NL MVP and hit 352 home runs, all for Milwaukee.
19. **Huston Street** — score 387/1000
   Closer who won the 2005 AL Rookie of the Year with Oakland and finished with 324 career saves.
20. **Russell Martin** — score 387/1000
   Canadian catcher who made four All-Star teams and won both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger with the Dodgers in 2007.
21. **Hanley Ramírez** — score 387/1000
   Shortstop who won the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year with the Marlins and the 2009 NL batting title with a .342 average.
22. **Sergio Romo** — score 387/1000
   Reliever who won World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and made the 2013 All-Star team.
23. **Joe Mauer** — score 284/1000
   Minnesota Twins catcher and first baseman who won three AL batting titles and the 2009 AL MVP and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024.
24. **Edwin Encarnación** — score 284/1000
   Dominican slugger who hit 424 career home runs and led the AL with 127 RBI for Toronto in 2016.
25. **Jacoby Ellsbury** — score 284/1000
   Red Sox center fielder who led the AL in steals three times, won World Series titles in 2007 and 2013 and finished second in the 2011 AL MVP vote.
26. **Miguel Montero** — score 284/1000
   Catcher who made two All-Star teams with Arizona and won the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs.
27. **David Freese** — score 0/1000
   St. Louis Cardinals third baseman who was named both NLCS MVP and World Series MVP in 2011 and hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 of that World Series.
28. **Martín Prado** — score 0/1000
   Venezuelan infielder who made the 2010 NL All-Star team with Atlanta and hit .287 over 14 MLB seasons.
29. **Edinson Vólquez** — score 0/1000
   Dominican right-hander who made the 2008 NL All-Star team with Cincinnati and won the 2015 World Series with Kansas City.

Tags: 2000s, baseball, players, mlb, 2010s