# Who is the best MLB player born in 1987?

> Ring-collecting catchers, imports from Cuba and Korea and late-blooming sluggers make up a class that peaked in the 2010s. Few of them were stars at 23, and that shows in the mix.

*By YPB Team · Published November 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mlb-player-born-in-1987*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Buster Posey** — score 1000/1000
   San Francisco Giants catcher who won the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, the 2012 NL MVP and batting title, and three World Series titles.
2. **Jason Kipnis** — score 1000/1000
   Second baseman who spent nine seasons in Cleveland and made All-Star teams in 2013 and 2015.
3. **Paul Goldschmidt** — score 877/1000
   First baseman who won the 2022 NL MVP with St. Louis, made seven All-Star teams and won four Gold Gloves.
4. **Zack Britton** — score 800/1000
   Baltimore Orioles closer who posted a 0.54 ERA with an AL-leading 47 saves in 2016 and made two All-Star teams.
5. **Josh Harrison** — score 799/1000
   Pittsburgh Pirates utility player who made All-Star teams in 2014 and 2017.
6. **J.D. Martinez** — score 709/1000
   Slugger who hit 331 career home runs, led the AL with 130 RBI in 2018 and won that year's World Series with Boston.
7. **Justin Upton** — score 709/1000
   Outfielder who hit 325 career home runs, made four All-Star teams and finished fourth in the 2011 NL MVP vote with Arizona.
8. **Carlos Carrasco** — score 709/1000
   Venezuelan right-hander who shared the AL lead with 18 wins for Cleveland in 2017 and received the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award.
9. **AJ Pollock** — score 709/1000
   Center fielder who made the 2015 All-Star team and won a Gold Glove with Arizona, then won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers.
10. **Alex Avila** — score 600/1000
   Detroit Tigers catcher who made the 2011 All-Star team and won the AL Silver Slugger at catcher that season.
11. **Lance Lynn** — score 600/1000
   Right-hander who won 143 games, made All-Star teams in 2012 and 2021 and won the 2011 World Series as a Cardinals rookie.
12. **Wilson Ramos** — score 600/1000
   Venezuelan catcher who made All-Star teams in 2016 and 2018 and won a Silver Slugger with Washington in 2016.
13. **José Abreu** — score 466/1000
   Cuban first baseman who won the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2020 AL MVP with the Chicago White Sox.
14. **Michael Brantley** — score 466/1000
   Outfielder with a .298 career average who made five All-Star teams and finished third in the 2014 AL MVP vote with Cleveland.
15. **Yan Gomes** — score 466/1000
   Brazilian-born catcher who won a 2014 Silver Slugger with Cleveland and the 2019 World Series with Washington.
16. **Kenley Jansen** — score 0/1000
   Curaçao-born closer who led the NL in saves in 2017 and 2022, made four All-Star teams and won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers.
17. **Kyle Seager** — score 0/1000
   Seattle Mariners third baseman from 2011 to 2021 who hit 242 home runs and made the All-Star team and won a Gold Glove in 2014.
18. **Jay Bruce** — score 0/1000
   Outfielder who hit 319 career home runs, made three All-Star teams and won two Silver Sluggers with Cincinnati.
19. **Khris Davis** — score 0/1000
   Oakland Athletics slugger who led the AL with 48 home runs in 2018 and hit 221 career homers.
20. **Kirby Yates** — score 0/1000
   Reliever who led the NL with 41 saves for San Diego in 2019 and made All-Star teams in 2019 and 2024.
21. **Brandon Crawford** — score 0/1000
   San Francisco Giants shortstop who won four Gold Gloves and was part of the 2012 and 2014 World Series champions.
22. **Hyun Jin Ryu** — score 0/1000
   South Korean left-hander who led the NL with a 2.32 ERA for the Dodgers in 2019 and finished second in that year's Cy Young vote.
23. **Brian Dozier** — score 0/1000
   Second baseman who hit 192 home runs, won a 2017 Gold Glove with Minnesota and won the 2019 World Series with Washington.

Tags: 2020s, baseball, players, mlb, 2010s
