Baseball might be a game of failure, but don’t tell that to these guys. Some players don’t just thrive on motivation—they actively hunt for real or imagined slights like it’s their offseason job.
These stars scroll Twitter to see if someone said something sideways. The ones who circle dates, memorize quotes, and then go nuclear when it’s time to prove a point.
20. Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson plays like every pitcher personally questioned his baseball credentials. He brings the energy of a man still mad about a middle school batting order.
19. Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke may look calm, but he stores slights like a squirrel stores acorns. You never know when he will casually mention that time you doubted him in 2009.
18. Marcus Stroman
Stroman is always watching, always listening, and always ready to respond with a shutout and a postgame quote. He pitches like he’s fighting to win a debate you didn’t know you were in.
17. Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper doesn’t just play with a chip on his shoulder—he plays like the whole bag of chips spilled on him. He remembers every whisper and then hits moonshots to erase them.
16. Max Scherzer
Scherzer stares down hitters like they just insulted his family. Every batter is an opportunity for revenge, and he takes it personally if you even think about crowding the plate.
15. Carlos Correa
Correa has the memory of an elephant and the flair of a Broadway actor. If you doubt him, he will find you, beat you, and let you know precisely why you were wrong.
14. Joey Votto
Votto is polite, Canadian, and quietly vengeful. He doesn’t need to shout—he’ll embarrass you with a perfect at-bat and a subtle smirk.
13. Madison Bumgarner
MadBum’s default setting is “how dare you.” Whether it’s a bat flip or a glance that lasts too long, he’s perpetually ready to throw hands and stare daggers.
12. Trevor Bauer
Bauer might be the unofficial king of perceived disrespect. He operates like the baseball version of a Reddit thread titled “Actually…”
11. Yadier Molina
Try taking an extra base on him or questioning his framing skills, and you’ll unlock the fury of a catcher who has seen it all and will make sure you regret your decision.
10. Alex Bregman
Bregman never forgets a slight, especially if it comes with a headline or a hot take. He’s got a black belt in holding grudges and turning them into doubles.
9. Justin Verlander
Verlander has been great for so long, partly because he takes every critique personally. He’ll strike out 12 to remind you that you picked the wrong time to doubt him.
8. Manny Machado
Manny doesn’t just remember disrespect—he catalogues it. And if you make the list, he’ll style on you with a throw from foul territory or a 430-foot homer.
7. Jose Altuve
After the scandal, Altuve became a walking vendetta. Boo him all you want—he’s using that as jet fuel to hit .330 in your home stadium.
6. Shohei Ohtani
He’s calm on the outside, but inside? Ohtani plays like every scout who doubted his two-way dreams is still watching, and he’s been proving them wrong since Day 1.
5. Pete Alonso
Alonso has a linebacker’s intensity and the memory of a jilted ex. He’ll blast a home run and celebrate like he’s avenging whenever someone calls him “just a slugger.”
4. Aaron Judge
Judge is composed, but you can tell he files away every “overrated” or “too tall for baseball” comment. Then he drops 60 bombs just to shut everyone up.
3. Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tatis plays with joy, but that joy turns into pure vengeance if you imply he shouldn’t celebrate. Every bat flip is a love letter to those who doubted him.
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2. Nolan Arenado
Arenado plays third base like it personally offended him. Every glove flash and rocket throw is him saying, “Don’t ever forget who you’re dealing with.”
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Ruthless Third Basemen in Baseball History
1. Juan Soto
Soto’s stare is legendary for a reason—he wants you to know he sees you, hears you, and is about to ruin your ERA. He treats slights like seasoning and feasts on them nightly.
Read More: 20 MLB Players Who Took Everything Personally
