Baseball has always had its fair share of pot-stirrers—players who lived to ruffle feathers, start drama, or keep things spicy on and off the field. Whether it was chirping from the dugout, flipping bats with flair, or beefing with opponents (and sometimes their teammates), these guys thrived on tension.
From notorious trash talkers to guys who just loved being the villain, this list is all about the players who were never content to play ball quietly. Stirring the pot was practically part of their pregame routine, and we loved (or loved to hate) them for it.
18. Yasiel Puig

Puig played baseball like a wrecking ball with a flair for chaos. Whether he was flipping bats, starting benches-clearing scuffles, or licking his bat mid-game, he never did things quietly.
17. Bryce Harper

Harper’s been making headlines since high school and has always embraced the spotlight—and the drama that comes with it. He never backed down from a confrontation and was always ready with a quote that made headlines.
16. Manny Machado

Machado had a knack for ticking people off, whether it was questionable slides, staring down pitchers, or jawing at fans. He always kept things interesting—and occasionally dangerous.
15. Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon brought closer-level intensity to every interaction, including a famous dugout fight with his teammate. If there was a situation to escalate, he was sprinting toward it.
14. Trevor Bauer

Bauer was a walking controversy, from throwing baseballs over the center field fence to picking fights online. He stirred the pot on and off the field—and didn’t seem to mind the backlash.
13. A.J. Pierzynski

Pierzynski had a reputation as the guy nobody liked playing against—and sometimes even teammates weren’t fans. He had a knack for getting under people’s skin in a way that somehow worked for him.
12. Nyjer Morgan

Morgan (aka “Tony Plush”) was as unpredictable as he was entertaining. His alter ego, wild antics, and frequent altercations made him one of the league’s most chaotic characters.
11. Carlos Gómez

Gómez brought high energy and high drama, often celebrating in ways that sent opposing teams into a frenzy. The man loved a bat flip almost as much as he loved a good on-field scuffle.
10. Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly became a folk hero for throwing at Astros players post-scandal and pouting his way into a meme. He’s never passed up a chance to throw a little gasoline on the fire.
9. Reggie Jackson

“Mr. October” didn’t just deliver in the clutch—he also delivered plenty of drama. From clashing with managers to declaring his greatness, Reggie always found a way to stir it up.
8. Billy Martin

Yes, we’re including a manager—because no one stirred the pot like Billy Martin. Between his battles with players, umpires, and especially George Steinbrenner, he was a walking soap opera.
7. Carlos Zambrano

Zambrano was a volcano waiting to erupt—often on his team. Whether he was smashing water coolers or starting fights, he brought fire (and drama) every time he pitched.
6. José Bautista

One bat flip turned him into a baseball icon and a villain, depending on who you asked. Bautista’s swagger and his infamous brawl with Rougned Odor kept him firmly in pot-stirrer territory.
5. Johnny Cueto

Cueto always played with a bit of an edge, and it sometimes boiled over, especially in that infamous Reds-Cardinals brawl. He didn’t just pitch; he provoked.
4. Roger Clemens

Clemens was never afraid to pitch inside or chuck a broken bat at someone. He brought a bulldog mentality and enough drama to fill a 30-for-30.
3. Pedro Martínez

Pedro was electric on the mound and electric in the drama department, too. He didn’t shy away from throwing at hitters or throwing Don Zimmer to the ground.
Read More: 20 MLB Stars Who Were All Vibes, No Accountability
2. Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod always found a way to be at the center of the storm, whether it was slapping gloves, yelling during pop-ups, or getting wrapped up in scandals. Drama seemed to follow him like a shadow.
Read More: 15 Baseball Divas Who Were Always the Center of Attention
1. Barry Bonds

Love him or hate him, Bonds stirred every pot imaginable. His icy relationship with the media, beefs with teammates, and sky-high ego made him one of the most polarizing players in baseball history.
Stay in the Game With the Latest Scores, Highlights, and Stories — Follow GamerKoala on MSN.