MLB · 3 months ago

Ranking the Top 10 Active MLB Players Already with Hall of Fame Careers

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

1. DH/SP Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani isn’t just on a Hall of Fame track—he’s building a museum wing. The two-time MVP is unlike anything the game has ever seen: a guy who hits 40+ homers and racks up 150+ strikeouts in the same season. Even with his 2025 campaign limited to hitting, Ohtani remains one of the top offensive players in baseball and became the first ever to steal 50 bases and hit 50 home runs in the same season.

His 2021 and 2023 seasons are among the most valuable in MLB history by WAR. Beyond the stats, he’s a global icon and has already changed how the sport evaluates greatness. If he stopped today, the case would already be closed. If he keeps going, we’re talking inner circle.
10. 2B José Altuve, Houston Astros
Jose Altuve has been the heartbeat of the Houston Astros’ dynasty, stacking up over 2,300 hits, an MVP, multiple batting titles, eight All-Star appearances, and some of the most clutch postseason moments in recent memory. He’s also second all-time in postseason hits and still going.

Despite his size, Altuve's power has surprised—he’s topped 240 homers—and his career slash line is quietly elite. Few second basemen in history have this level of production across all phases of the game. Another 300–400 hits, and he's an automatic lock.

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9. RHP Justin Verlander, San Francisco Giants
Justin Verlander’s greatness spans multiple generations. The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year is still dominating in his 40s, with three Cy Youngs, a World Series MVP, and over 3,400 strikeouts. He won an ERA title 11 years apart and has two World Series rings, including the long-awaited clincher in 2022.

He’s one of just a few pitchers with 260+ wins in the 21st century and sits top-15 all-time in strikeouts. The longevity, the reinvention, the dominance—it’s all there. Verlander is a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famer.

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8. OF/DH Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Bryce Harper entered the league with generational hype—and he's delivered. A two-time MVP, Rookie of the Year, and face of the game for over a decade, Harper has been a force when healthy. His postseason performances with the Philadelphia Phillies—especially his 2022 NLCS heroics—added signature moments to a résumé that already included 350 homers, a career OBP near .400, and a batting title. He’s also passed 40 WAR and still has plenty of prime left. The numbers are there, the impact is undeniable, and the narrative fits. He's not just a Hall of Famer—he's one of the defining players of his era.
7. 3B Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Arenado’s glove alone is Hall of Fame caliber—10 Gold Gloves, six Platinum Gloves, and defensive metrics that back up the eye test. But the bat isn’t far behind. He’s hit 30+ homers in seven seasons, driven in over 1,000 runs, and has posted an OPS over .870 across multiple campaigns.

Even after leaving Coors Field, he’s remained productive with the St. Louis Cardinals while maintaining his elite defense. Third base is one of the toughest Hall positions to crack, but Arenado’s blend of run production and defensive excellence puts him on a clear path to Cooperstown.
6. 1B Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Freddie Freeman may not be as flashy as some of his peers, but his consistency is historic. He’s batting over .300 for his career, has an MVP award, a World Series ring, and shows no signs of slowing down. He’s also closing in on 2,400 hits, 360 homers, and 1,300 RBI—all while playing Gold Glove defense at first base.

His elite approach at the plate and ability to hit for both average and power have kept him at an All-Star level well into his mid-30s. Quietly, Freeman is building one of the best first base résumés of the past 50 years.
5. RHP Max Scherzer, Toronto Blue Jays
No one competes like Mad Max Scherzer. The fiery right-hander has three Cy Youngs, 3,300+ strikeouts, over 210 wins, and a World Series ring—all while posting a career ERA in the low 3.00s. Scherzer has punched out 200+ batters in 10 different seasons, including a stretch of eight straight from 2012–2019.

He’s also got two no-hitters and a 20-strikeout game on the ledger. Whether it’s the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, or Texas Rangers, Scherzer has delivered Hall-level dominance wherever he’s gone. Lock him in.
4. OF Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mookie Betts does everything—and does it well above average. A two-time World Series champ, AL MVP, and six-time Gold Glover, Betts has been an elite contributor on both coasts. With a career OPS near .900 and WAR well into the 60s, he’s one of the most well-rounded outfielders in modern memory.

He's also closing in on 300 homers while playing Gold Glove defense at multiple positions. Mookie blends flash, substance, and winning pedigree, and has been a top-five player in baseball for nearly a decade. At just 32, he’s still building on what’s already a Hall-worthy résumé.
3. LHP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
One of the most dominant left-handers of all time, Clayton Kershaw built a Hall of Fame case long before he even turned 30. A three-time Cy Young winner and former NL MVP for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kershaw boasts a career ERA south of 2.50 from 2011–2017 and still owns one of the lowest WHIPs in league history.

He’s also passed 215 career wins and 3,000 strikeouts, and finally shed the “October struggles” narrative with a World Series win in 2020. He may not be the same fireballer he once was, but the résumé is bulletproof.

First-ballot? Absolutely.
2. OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Even with injuries casting a shadow over the back half of his prime, Mike Trout remains the gold standard of modern baseball greatness. He racked up three MVP awards with the Los Angeles Angels before turning 28 and made 11 All-Star teams in a 12-season span. His career 1.000+ OPS over a full decade, plus a 10-WAR season three different times, puts him in rarified air.

He's also passed the 350-homer mark and ranks top-50 all-time in WAR despite missing huge chunks of recent seasons. The postseason résumé is light, but it doesn’t matter—Trout’s already a Hall of Famer, and there’s still time to pad the numbers.
1. DH/SP Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani isn’t just on a Hall of Fame track—he’s building a museum wing. The two-time MVP is unlike anything the game has ever seen: a guy who hits 40+ homers and racks up 150+ strikeouts in the same season. Even with his 2025 campaign limited to hitting, Ohtani remains one of the top offensive players in baseball and became the first ever to steal 50 bases and hit 50 home runs in the same season.

His 2021 and 2023 seasons are among the most valuable in MLB history by WAR. Beyond the stats, he’s a global icon and has already changed how the sport evaluates greatness. If he stopped today, the case would already be closed. If he keeps going, we’re talking inner circle.
10. 2B José Altuve, Houston Astros
Jose Altuve has been the heartbeat of the Houston Astros’ dynasty, stacking up over 2,300 hits, an MVP, multiple batting titles, eight All-Star appearances, and some of the most clutch postseason moments in recent memory. He’s also second all-time in postseason hits and still going.

Despite his size, Altuve's power has surprised—he’s topped 240 homers—and his career slash line is quietly elite. Few second basemen in history have this level of production across all phases of the game. Another 300–400 hits, and he's an automatic lock.

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Ranking the Top 10 Active MLB Players Already with Hall of Fame Careers

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