Baseball may be America’s pastime, but that doesn’t mean everyone in the game is beloved. Over the last two decades, certain players, managers, and even entire teams have embraced the role of the villain—whether through cheating scandals, controversial antics, or just being too good at beating your favorite team.
From steroid users to trash talkers, here are the 20 biggest MLB villains of the last 20 years.
20. Carlos Gómez
Gómez had a flair for the dramatic, often celebrating home runs with bat flips that infuriated opponents. His fiery personality and love for talking trash made him one of the most polarizing players of his time.
19. José Bautista
Bautista’s iconic bat flip in the 2015 ALDS was one of the greatest moments in recent history—unless you were a Texas Rangers fan. His swagger and attitude rubbed plenty of people the wrong way, leading to a memorable punch to the face from Rougned Odor.
18. Brian McCann
McCann took it upon himself to be baseball’s unofficial fun police, often confronting players who dared to celebrate a little too much. Whether he was blocking home plate to lecture opponents or getting into dugout arguments, he was a constant source of controversy.
17. Bryce Harper
Harper’s brash confidence and cocky attitude rubbed plenty of fans and players the wrong way early in his career. Whether it was blowing kisses to pitchers or sparking a bench-clearing brawl with Hunter Strickland, he embraced the villain role for years.
16. A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez)
Before his media redemption arc, A-Rod was one of the most hated players in baseball. Between his steroid scandal, controversial antics (like yelling “HA!” to distract fielders), and icy demeanor, he was a villain Yankees fans loved and everyone else loathed.
15. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson has never been afraid to stir the pot, whether it’s feuding with pitchers, jawing at opponents, or making questionable comments. His arrogance and willingness to embrace controversy have made him one of baseball’s more notorious figures.
14. Jonathan Papelbon
Papelbon was as intense as they come, often rubbing teammates and opponents the wrong way. His infamous dugout chokehold on Bryce Harper only solidified his villain status.
13. Yadier Molina
Molina is one of the greatest catchers of all time, but his fiery temper and ability to escalate conflicts have made him a target of rival fan bases. Whether it was his legendary brawl with Brandon Phillips or his constant chirping behind the plate, he always kept things heated.
12. Carlos Correa
Correa was one of the most vocal defenders of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, and his smug attitude after getting caught made things even worse. He thrived in the villain role, often taunting opposing fans and players who dared to call out Houston.
11. Ryan Braun
Braun was once a fan favorite before his steroid scandal and failed drug test cover-up turned him into one of baseball’s biggest frauds. His insistence on lying about it for years only made the backlash worse when the truth finally came out.
10. Manny Machado
Machado’s combination of talent and recklessness has made him a love-him-or-hate-him player. From questionable slides to bat-throwing incidents, he’s never been afraid to stir up drama.
9. Chase Utley
Utley was a great player, but his infamous dirty slide that broke Ruben Tejada’s leg in the 2015 NLDS cemented his villain status. Mets fans will never forgive him, and honestly, neither will Tejada.
8. Tony La Russa
La Russa’s old-school attitude and willingness to throw his own players under the bus made him an easy target for criticism. His controversial managerial decisions and public feuds with younger stars didn’t help his case.
7. Barry Bonds
Bonds is one of the greatest hitters of all time, but his connection to steroids and prickly personality made him one of the most hated players of his era. His home run records come with an asterisk in the minds of many baseball purists.
6. Justin Turner
Turner became a villain overnight when he celebrated on the field with COVID after the 2020 World Series, despite knowing he had tested positive. The reckless decision had players and fans alike shaking their heads.
5. Chris Sale
Sale has had multiple outbursts, including cutting up his own team’s jerseys and destroying a clubhouse TV. His short temper and fiery personality have made him one of baseball’s most unpredictable figures.
4. Jose Altuve
Altuve went from beloved MVP to public enemy number one after the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. The infamous buzzer allegations and his refusal to fully acknowledge the cheating only fueled the hate.
3. Trevor Bauer
Bauer’s constant social media feuds, trolling, and controversial off-field issues made him one of baseball’s most disliked figures. Even before his legal troubles, his aggressive attitude and history of provoking opponents made him a villain in the eyes of many.
2. Rob Manfred
Okay, so he’s not a player, but no one has angered baseball fans more than Manfred. Between his mishandling of scandals, unpopular rule changes, and calling the World Series trophy a piece of metal, he’s managed to unite every fan base against him.
1. The Entire 2017 Houston Astros Team
No single group of players has been hated more than the 2017 Astros after their infamous sign-stealing scandal. The lack of punishment, smug responses, and the way they doubled down on their innocence only made baseball fans despise them even more.
