Baseball is a game of skill, strategy, and, apparently, a lot of whining. Whether it’s complaining about umpires, beefing with teammates, throwing tantrums in the dugout, or just refusing to take accountability, some MLB players have turned crying into an art form.
So, let’s rank the biggest crybabies in MLB history—from the occasionally whiny to the full-blown tantrum specialists.
15. David Ortiz – The Umpires Were Always Out to Get Him
Big Papi was one of the most clutch hitters ever, but wow, did he love to go off on umpires. Every called strike that didn’t go his way? Instant ejection risk. Smashing dugout phones? That too. If Ortiz didn’t like the call, everyone knew about it.
14. Trevor Bauer – When Trash Talk Backfires
Bauer was always ready to talk smack—until it came back at him. From constantly chirping at the Astros (deserved), to beefing with random fans online, to tossing a literal baseball over the center field fence when Terry Francona pulled him from a game, Bauer had some serious crybaby tendencies.
13. Bryce Harper – The Ultimate Helmet Thrower
Harper plays with passion, but let’s be real—he has a long history of losing his cool. From throwing his helmet in a fight (and completely missing), to breaking bats over his leg, to chirping at umps all the time, Harper’s emotions have gotten the best of him plenty of times.
12. Ryan Braun – Blamed Everyone but Himself
When Braun got busted for PEDs, he doubled down on his innocence, accused the testing guy of tampering, and convinced people he was being framed. Then… he admitted he did it. He cried, denied, blamed, and then expected forgiveness. Classic crybaby behavior.
11. Josh Donaldson – Always Ready for Drama
Donaldson has been one of the most disliked players in baseball for a reason—he constantly starts unnecessary drama. From taunting pitchers, to instigating fights, to crying about minor things like a tag being too hard, he’s always in the middle of something.
10. Carlos Zambrano – Tantrum King
Zambrano was an elite pitcher when he wasn’t smashing water coolers and fighting his own teammates. If something didn’t go his way, you knew a meltdown was coming. One bad inning? Bat, helmet, and probably a Gatorade cooler were getting obliterated.
9. Alex Rodriguez – The Master of Excuses
A-Rod’s talent was undeniable, but his ability to play the victim? Legendary. Whether it was getting caught with steroids (twice), beefing with Derek Jeter, or centering himself in every possible controversy, A-Rod always found a way to make things all about him.
8. Manny Machado – When Running Hard Is Just Too Much
Machado is an incredible talent, but if there’s one thing he hates, it’s being held accountable. Whether it’s refusing to run out ground balls, crying about being thrown at (while also being dirty himself), or blaming others when things go wrong, Machado has had plenty of poor me moments.
7. Chris Sale – Can’t Handle the Heat (Or His Jersey)
Chris Sale has a habit of throwing actual tantrums when things don’t go his way. His most legendary meltdown? Cutting up his own team’s jerseys because he didn’t like them. Also, let’s not forget the time he destroyed a minor league clubhouse with a baseball bat.
6. Yasiel Puig – The Dugout Drama King
Puig brought so much energy to baseball, but sometimes it was… too much. Benched? Tantrum. Bad call? Meltdown. A pitch inside? Full-scale fight mode. Puig’s time in MLB was just as much about his emotions as it was his actual play.
5. Roger Clemens – The “It’s Never My Fault” Guy
Clemens had the talent, but wow, did he love to blame everyone else for his problems. From throwing a bat at Mike Piazza (totally not on purpose, right?), to crying about PED accusations, to constantly playing the victim, Clemens never learned how to take responsibility.
4. Paul O’Neill – The King of Dugout Tantrums
If there was a Hall of Fame for dugout meltdowns, Paul O’Neill would be a first-ballot inductee. The man raged over every bad at-bat, slammed his helmet like it owed him money, and basically turned tantrums into a part of his game.
3. Milton Bradley – Always One Step Away from a Breakdown
Bradley wasn’t just a crybaby—he was a walking explosion. He had issues with teammates, coaches, umpires, and even fans. If there was a situation that could be blown up way out of proportion, Bradley was going to do it.
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2. Barry Bonds – The Biggest Ego in Baseball
Bonds was one of the best hitters ever, but his attitude? Brutal. Whether he was treating teammates like they didn’t exist, whining about the media (while also demanding attention), or playing the victim every time his PED use was mentioned, Bonds had zero ability to handle criticism.
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1. Kevin Brown – The Ultimate Clubhouse Nightmare
If there was ever an MLB player who took crybaby to another level, it was Kevin Brown. The dude once punched a wall and broke his own hand because he had a bad game. He constantly fought with teammates, hated the media, and just made everything miserable for everyone around him. Brown wasn’t just a crybaby—he was the crybaby.
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