# Who is the best MLB player born in 1988?

> Aces dominate this class, yet batting champions, slick shortstops and lockdown closers give the mound a real fight.

*By YPB Team · Published November 6, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mlb-player-born-in-1988*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Clayton Kershaw** — score 1000/1000
   Dodgers left-hander born March 19, 1988, who won three NL Cy Young Awards and the 2014 NL MVP and retired after the 2025 season with over 3,000 strikeouts.
2. **Jacob deGrom** — score 722/1000
   Right-hander born June 19, 1988, who won back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019.
3. **James Paxton** — score 601/1000
   Canadian left-hander born November 6, 1988, who threw a no-hitter in Toronto for the Seattle Mariners in 2018.
4. **Adam Eaton** — score 601/1000
   Outfielder born December 6, 1988, who won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.
5. **Addison Reed** — score 492/1000
   Reliever born December 27, 1988, who saved 40 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2013.
6. **Masahiro Tanaka** — score 492/1000
   Japanese right-hander born November 1, 1988, who made two All-Star teams across seven seasons with the New York Yankees.
7. **Danny Duffy** — score 446/1000
   Left-hander born December 21, 1988, who spent his whole MLB career with Kansas City and won the 2015 World Series.
8. **Drew Pomeranz** — score 446/1000
   Left-hander born November 22, 1988, an All-Star in 2016 who won 17 games for Boston in 2017.
9. **Yasmani Grandal** — score 446/1000
   Cuban-born switch-hitting catcher born November 8, 1988, a two-time All-Star with the Dodgers and Brewers.
10. **Kenta Maeda** — score 394/1000
   Japanese right-hander born April 11, 1988, who finished second in 2020 AL Cy Young voting with the Minnesota Twins.
11. **Leonys Martín** — score 394/1000
   Cuban center fielder born March 6, 1988, who stole 36 bases for the Texas Rangers in 2013.
12. **Dallas Keuchel** — score 393/1000
   Left-hander born January 1, 1988, who won the 2015 AL Cy Young Award and the 2017 World Series with Houston.
13. **Jedd Gyorko** — score 393/1000
   Infielder born September 23, 1988, who hit 30 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016.
14. **Dellin Betances** — score 393/1000
   Yankees reliever born March 23, 1988, who made four straight All-Star teams from 2014 to 2017.
15. **Elvis Andrus** — score 393/1000
   Venezuelan shortstop born August 26, 1988, a two-time All-Star who played 12 seasons for the Texas Rangers.
16. **Chris Archer** — score 393/1000
   Right-hander born September 26, 1988, a two-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays.
17. **Craig Kimbrel** — score 393/1000
   Closer born May 28, 1988, who led the NL in saves four straight years with Atlanta and passed 400 career saves.
18. **Joe Kelly** — score 393/1000
   Right-hander born June 9, 1988, who won World Series titles with Boston in 2018 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
19. **Brandon Belt** — score 333/1000
   First baseman born April 20, 1988, who won World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and 2014.
20. **Rick Porcello** — score 333/1000
   Right-hander born December 27, 1988, who went 22-4 to win the 2016 AL Cy Young Award with the Boston Red Sox.
21. **Brad Peacock** — score 333/1000
   Right-hander born February 2, 1988, who went 13-2 for Houston in 2017 and won that year's World Series.
22. **Stephen Strasburg** — score 333/1000
   First overall pick in 2009, born July 20, 1988, who was named MVP of the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.
23. **Mike Moustakas** — score 333/1000
   Third baseman born September 11, 1988, a three-time All-Star who won the 2015 World Series with Kansas City.
24. **Tommy Pham** — score 333/1000
   Outfielder born March 8, 1988, who hit .306 with 23 home runs and 25 stolen bases for St. Louis in 2017.
25. **Neftalí Feliz** — score 333/1000
   Dominican closer born May 2, 1988, who won the 2010 AL Rookie of the Year with 40 saves for Texas.
26. **Blake Treinen** — score 333/1000
   Reliever born June 30, 1988, who posted a 0.78 ERA with 38 saves for Oakland in 2018.
27. **Dee Strange-Gordon** — score 262/1000
   Infielder born April 22, 1988, who won the 2015 NL batting title and led the league in stolen bases three times.
28. **Trevor Cahill** — score 262/1000
   Right-hander born March 1, 1988, who went 18-8 and made the 2010 All-Star team with the Oakland Athletics.
29. **Dustin Ackley** — score 262/1000
   Second overall pick in 2009, born February 26, 1988, who played five seasons for the Seattle Mariners.
30. **Héctor Rondón** — score 262/1000
   Venezuelan reliever born February 26, 1988, who saved 30 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2015.
31. **Aroldis Chapman** — score 262/1000
   Cuban left-handed reliever born February 28, 1988, known for record-setting fastball velocity and a 2016 World Series ring with the Cubs.
32. **Jhoulys Chacín** — score 262/1000
   Venezuelan right-hander born January 7, 1988, who won 15 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018.
33. **Ben Revere** — score 262/1000
   Speedy outfielder born May 3, 1988, who led the NL with 184 hits for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014.
34. **Álex Colomé** — score 262/1000
   Dominican closer born December 31, 1988, who led the AL with 47 saves for Tampa Bay in 2017.
35. **Garrett Richards** — score 179/1000
   Right-hander born May 27, 1988, who went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels in 2014.
36. **Pedro Báez** — score 0/1000
   Dominican right-hander born March 11, 1988, a setup man for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2014 to 2020.
37. **Starling Marte** — score 0/1000
   Dominican outfielder born October 9, 1988, a two-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star who led the majors with 47 steals in 2021.
38. **Devin Mesoraco** — score 0/1000
   Catcher born June 19, 1988, who made the 2014 All-Star team and hit 25 home runs that season for Cincinnati.
39. **DJ LeMahieu** — score 0/1000
   Infielder born July 13, 1988, who won batting titles in both leagues, with Colorado in 2016 and the Yankees in 2020.
40. **Chris Tillman** — score 0/1000
   Orioles right-hander born April 15, 1988, an All-Star in 2013 who won 16 games that season.

Tags: baseball, players, mlb, 2010s, pitchers, 1988