Favorite MLB Players of the Last 25 Years

There's a saying that time flies when you're having fun. The same can be said when it comes to the 2025 MLB season. There have been outstanding moments, and we're eager to find out wait on who will become World Series Champions. A few months ago, I wrote and published about my favorite World Series games of the last 25 years. If you would like to read that entire story, you can click the link down below and share your favorites.

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In this story, however, I'll be sharing some of my favorite players that stood out to me between the years 2000-2024. Every player who played between those years won't be featured, but a select few. Players who were nearing the end of their careers will also be considered for this list. Once you're done with reading this story and didn't see your favorite players on here, feel free to share them down in the comments section.

Buster Posey

The first player on this list is arguably one of the best catchers who has ever played in Major League Baseball. Gerald Dempsey Posey III was born on March 27, 1987 in Leesburg, Georgia, but he's better known by his nickname Buster. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants as the fifth pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. A year later, he made his Major League Baseball Debut. Posey spent all of his 12 seasons with the Giants, retiring at the conclusion of the 2021 season. His accolades include becoming a seven-time All-Star, NL Rookie of the Year in 2010, and a three-time World Series champion. The now 38-year-old is the President of Baseball Operations for the Giants, a role he has held since 2024.

Randy Johnson

One pitcher that belongs in the upper echelon of best pitchers in baseball, you'll most likely see Randy Johnson among that group. Born in September 1963, Johnson played 22 seasons in MLB, from 1988 to 2009. He played for seven different teams and won first and only World Series title in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. Nicknamed 'The Big Unit", his stellar pitching and presence on the mound was always a treat to watch. Johnson's accolades include becoming a 10-time All-Star, won the Cy Young Award five times, 2001 World Series MVP, and the Triple Crown in pitching in 2002. His number 51 was retired by the Arizona Diamondbacks and has been inducted to the Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. Keep in mind that this was also Ichiro's number, which was retired in August 2025 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame the month prior. For the 2026 MLB season, his number will be retired by the Mariners. Johnson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. In the years since his retirement, the now 62-year-old is now a photographer. He studied photography at University of Southern California (USC) and has done photography work for the NFL and other events.

Iván Rodríguez

The third former player on this list is among one of my favorites, because of one of the teams he played for. Iván Rodríguez Torres, better known by his nickname Pudge, was born on November 27, 1971 in Puerto Rico. Asked how he got his nickname, he stated that one of his coaches described him as short and stocky, thus the nickname Pudge was born. He made his Major League Baseball debut in June 1991 at the age of 19, which made him the youngest catcher to catch in a big league season. Pudge played for six different teams in 21 seasons, including the Rangers. As someone who's been a die-hard Rangers fan for nearly 25 years, he's highly respected and loved by fans. He'll always be a Texas Ranger to me. His accolades include becoming a 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Gove Award Winner, NLCS MVP in 2003, and a World Series title he won with the then Florida Marlins in 2003. His number 7 was retired by the Rangers in 2017 and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. He's also been inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Washington Nationals Ring of Honor. In 2013, Rodríguez joined the Rangers front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager and the now 53-year-old currently retains that role as of 2025.

Aroldis Chapman

If you like seeing a pitcher throwing record-breaking fastballs, chances are you're thinking about Aroldis Chapman. He was born Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz on February 28, 1988 in Cuba. He made his MLB debut in August 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds. Nicknamed "The Cuban Missile", Chapman has been on six different teams, including the Yankees, Rangers, and Kansas City Royals. As of 2025, he currently plays for the Boston Red Sox. Chapman is an eight-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion. We're looking forward to seeing more of him in 2026.

Jake Peavy

If you're keeping count, the following player is the third former pitcher I'm featuring on this list. I wanted to put Trevor Hoffman on this list, but Jake Peavy receives the nod for this story. Born on May 31, 1981 in Mobile, Alabama, Jacob Edward Peavy played from 2002 until his retirement in 2016. His accolades include becoming a three-time All-Star, won the Triple Crown in pitching in 2007, and a two-time World Series champion. In 2023, he was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame. Peavy, now 44, has been an on-air analyst for MLB Network and on a few of their shows since 2022. As of 2025, he is the Special Assistant to the Padres CEO Erik Greupner.

Miguel Cabrera

The final player on my list is a fan favorite among Detroit Tigers fans and baseball fans in general. Affectionately known as Miggy, Miguel Cabrera was the life of the party every time he was on the field. Born José Miguel Cabrera Torres on April 18, 1983, in Maracay, Venezuela, he played for two teams in his 21 MLB seasons: the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. Cabrera's accolades include becoming a 12-time All-Star, the Triple Crown in 2012, a two-time AL MVP, and a World Series title in 2003. It's worth noting that he won that World Series title alongside Pudge Rodríguez. On August 8, 2023, Cabrera played his final game of his career. The now 42-year-old has been part of the Tigers organization since his retirement as the Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations, Scott Harris. We might see him on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot and possible inducted into Cooperstown someday.