Pitchers are supposed to be the villains. They’re the ones trying to ruin your team’s fun, and sometimes, they do it with such arrogance or dominance that fans just can’t stand them. And then there are the ones who stir the pot, flip the bird (sometimes literally), or simply embrace being the bad guy.
From headhunters and trash-talkers to postseason villains and smug mound-dwellers, these 25 pitchers built reputations as the guys fans loved to boo. Whether it was their attitude, antics, or just how often they shut your team down, here are the most hated pitchers by opposing fanbases.
25. Brian Wilson
The beard was iconic, but the theatrics got old fast for opposing fans. He looked like a pro wrestler cosplaying as a closer.
24. Marcus Stroman
He’s confident and never shy about letting hitters know when he gets them out. But to fans on the other side, it comes off as straight-up cocky.
23. John Rocker
There’s being hated for dominance, and then there’s being hated for literally everything else. Rocker earned his spot through offensive comments, not strikeouts.
22. Jonathan Papelbon
The celebrations were aggressive, and the attitude was worse. Nobody outside of Boston (or Philly, briefly) enjoyed his vibe.
21. Matt Garza
He was fiery, confrontational, and never afraid to stir the pot. Fans always felt like he was one bad pitch away from a full-on meltdown.
20. Roger Clemens
One of the greatest ever, but also one of the most disliked. From beanball wars to PED controversies, fans had plenty of reasons to boo.
19. Ryan Dempster
Normally a likable guy, until he decided to go headhunting against A-Rod. That one moment was enough to make Yankee fans lifelong haters.
18. Jose Valverde
The stomping, the yelling, the animated antics—it was all too much for anyone not rooting for his team. He treated every save like Game 7 of the World Series.
17. Max Scherzer
Insanely intense and hyper-competitive, Scherzer’s mound stare alone could annoy a fanbase. Especially when he’s striking out 12 of your guys while doing it.
16. Zack Greinke
Socially awkward and brutally honest, Greinke doesn’t care if fans like him. And that attitude makes him an easy villain for opposing crowds.
15. Yordano Ventura
Gone too soon, but not before building a reputation as a firestarter. His on-field feuds turned him into a public enemy on more than one team’s radar.
14. Pedro Martinez
Dominant, yes. But between throwing Don Zimmer and drilling hitters with zero remorse, Pedro played the villain role well.
13. Josh Beckett
Cocky, intense, and unapologetic. If he wasn’t dominating your team in October, he was staring someone down or chirping from the dugout.
12. Johnny Cueto
Between his funky delivery and on-field antics, Cueto could get under anyone’s skin. Just ask Pirates fans after that 2015 Wild Card game.
11. Trevor Bauer
Whether it was drones, YouTube vlogs, or Twitter beefs, Bauer made sure fans knew exactly who he was—and many hated every second of it. He gave villain energy before it was trendy.
10. Chris Carpenter
Always barking, always glaring, and always right on the edge of boiling over. Opposing fans knew a Carpenter start came with drama.
9. Randy Johnson
The intimidation was off the charts, and he barely acknowledged opponents. He didn’t trash talk, he just made you look dumb—and fans resented how easily he did it.
8. Michael Kopech
He throws hard and isn’t afraid to show emotion, but it often feels forced. Combine that with some inconsistent results, and you’ve got a guy fans love to jeer.
7. Ken Giles
Punching himself in the face kind of summed up the chaos. Whether he was blowing saves or yelling at teammates, he never made himself easy to root for.
6. Aroldis Chapman
The off-field issues already put fans on edge, and his mound demeanor doesn’t help. He’s got the stuff but not the goodwill.
5. Rob Dibble
Old-school rage guy who always looked like he was one strike away from losing it. Fans didn’t just dislike him—they worried what he’d do next.
4. Carlos Zambrano
He argued with umps, teammates, managers—basically everyone. He brought reality TV energy to every start.
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3. John Lackey
Never smiled, always looked like he hated life, and somehow blamed everyone else. Fans couldn’t stand how often he acted like it was never his fault.
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2. Madison Bumgarner
He’s a throwback pitcher with a serious chip on his shoulder. Fans got tired of his tough-guy act and his constant jawing over harmless bat flips.
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1. Curt Schilling
Elite talent, postseason legend, and the king of giving fans secondhand embarrassment off the field. Even before his post-career controversies, Schilling’s attitude and self-importance rubbed plenty of fans the wrong way.
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