The Best Current Black Baseball MLB Players for Black History Month

The game of baseball continues to rank among the most popular sports not only in the United States but around the world. In the rich tapestry of Major League Baseball’s history, Black players have left an indelible mark, breaking through barriers, and shaping the game of baseball we know today. From Jackie Robinson’s historic debut in 1947 to open the pathway for black baseball players to the current black stars of Major League Baseball, a chance to honor the contributions of each player entering the 2024 MLB season has arrived. Headlining the Top 10 MLB Best Black Players 2024 Rankings list is the New York Yankees right fielder and former AL MVP Aaron Judge.

Judge continues to rank not only as one of the top black baseball players in the game but arguably one of the best overall MLB players in the game today.

Coming off a strong 2023 MLB season including 37 home runs, Judge will look to continue his power trend of three consecutive seasons with at least 37 home runs. As Judge dominates the American League, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers sits right on his heels while dominating the National League while coming off a second place finish for the 2023 NL MVP.

Joining Betts and Judge among the best black players in baseball include Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves, Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers, and Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Best Black Players 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

LaMonte Wade Jr.

Team: San Francisco Giants

Position: First Baseman

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Best Black Baseball Players 2024 Rankings list is the 30 year old San Francisco Giants outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. Wade Jr who is from Baltimore, Maryland put together a solid third season with the Giants finishing off the season batting .256 with 17 home runs while driving in 45 runs.

In addition, the Giants first baseman added 64 runs scored, 14 doubles, 76 walks while posting a .373 on base percentage.

Coming off his first MLB season with at least 130 games played and 400 at bats, Wade Jr showed solid production leading the Giants to be optimistic about his performance entering the 2024 MLB season.

Top 10 Black MLB Players

10. Hunter Greene

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Position: Starting Pitcher

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Best Black Baseball Players 2024 Rankings list is the Cincinnati Reds former top overall prospect Hunter Greene. Greene who made his MLB debut during the 2022 MLB season has made 46 starts over the past two games while showing dynamic strikeout to inning pitched performance metrics.

This includes during the previous MLB season where Greene struck out 152 batters across just 112 innings of work while being just 23 years old at the start of the 2023 MLB schedule.

While Greene posted just a 4-7 overall record, his strong strikeout numbers, and the fact he is still under 25 years old delivers excitement for the Reds fans and organization.

9. Ke’Bryan Hayes

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Position: Third Baseman

Another young African American baseball players ranked among the best young players in baseball is the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Pirates third baseman is coming up his second Major League Baseball season with at least 120 games played while becoming a fresh young face of baseball.

Over the pat two seasons Hayes has posted back to back seasons with a 4.0 or above WAR mark. This includes a 2023 MLB season where the young third baseman set career highs in doubles (31), triples (7), home runs (15), runs batted in (61) and hits (134). 

8. Marcus Stroman

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Starting Pitcher

Entering his 11th MLB season, Marcus Stroman continues to put in the work each season while being a reliable starter. Stroman who signed this off-season with the New York Yankees after playing in each of the past two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, is looking to posting his 5th MLB season with at least 10 wins.

Stroman who has played with the Cubs, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays has posted a career 3.65 earned run average mark over 231 games played with 223 coming as a starter.

In 2023, Stroman made 25 starts while striking out 119 hitters over 136.2 innings of work while posting a 3.95 earned run average. Despite entering his 11th season, Stroman sits at just 32 years old as the 2024 MLB starts this year.

7. CJ Abrams

Team: Washington Nationals

Position: Shortstop

The former top prospect of the San Diego Padres system is coming off his first full season at the MLB level while completing it before turning 23 years old. CJ Abrams who turned 23 in October, was one of the key pieces returning the Washington Nationals within the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres.

After appearing in 46 games in 2022 and 44 games in 2022, Abrams made the full time leap last season appearing in 151 games while registering 563 at bats. Over that stretch Abrams showcased his offensive, defensive, and speed abilities while posting a strong season.

Abrams finished the season posting 28 doubles, 18 home runs, 64 runs batted in while also scoring 83 runs and stealing 47 bases. The future looks bright with Abrams at shortstop for the Nationals heading into the 2023 MLB season.

6. Josh Bell

Team: Miami Marlins

Position: First Baseman

After getting traded to the Miami Marlins last season midway through the season, Josh Bell entered the off-season with a chance to reach free agency. However, the former Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect elected to remain with the marlins while delivering the team a reliable first baseman.

After arriving with the Marlins, Bell posted 54 hits in just 200 at bats including 11 home runs while driving in 26 runs and a .270 batting average. Overall, Bell posted a combined 135 hits, 22 home runs, 28 doubles and 74 runs in 150 games played between the Cleveland Guardians and Marlins.

Over the course of his eight year career, Bell has posted four different seasons with at least 20 home runs with his best coming in 2019 including 37 home runs and 116 runs batted in.

5. Michael Harris II

Team: Atlanta Braves

Position: Center Fielder

Rounding out the Top 5 players on the Top 10 MLB Best Black Baseball Players 2024 Rankings list is the Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II. The Braves center fielder entered last season coming off a stellar rookie season landing him the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Despite seeing his numbers drop during his second full season, Harris II still found a way to produce a 3.4 WAR mark across 138 games played while also playing strong defense in the outfield for the Braves. At the plate Harris II posted 148 hits over 505 at bats including 33 doubles, three triples and 18 home runs while also adding 57 runs batted in 76 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.

As the 2024 MLB season approaches Harris II is one of the best MLB players under 25 years old after turning 23 just before the season. Harris II and the Braves will look to continue their success with a loaded young roster.

4. Cedric Mullins

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Center Fielder

The Baltimore Orioles put together a storybook 2023 MLB season while posting the best record in the American League while returning to the MLB postseason. A team loaded with young stars, one of the team’s veterans who was still just 28 was Cedric Mullins.

Mullins who has been the anchor within centerfield since arriving back during the 2018 MLB season is as solid all around center fielders in the game of baseball. Mullins is a threat at the plate with power while also having the speed to turn hits in to extra bases.

The Orioles veteran is coming off a season in which he posted 94 hits over just 404 at bats due to injuries. Nonetheless Mullins managed to post 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 74 runs batted in, and steal 19 bases. Since making his MLB debut, Mullins has been named to one AL All-Star team, won a Silver Slugger Award, joined the 30-30 club while also hitting for the Cycle during the 2023 MLB season. 

3. Marcus Semien

Team: Texas Rangers

Position: Second Baseman

One player landing on the list that has been as consistent as any other infielder in baseball since 2015 is the Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien. Semien who joined the Rangers before the 2022 MLB season on a $175 million dollar contract has passed at least 140 hits in six of his nine full seasons in the Majors.

Over 1,344 games played Semien has posted a career stat line to include 805 runs scored, 215 home runs, 665 runs batted in and 280 doubles.

Entering the 2024 MLB season, this world series champion is coming off his second 100 runs batted in season while also posting a career high 40 doubles to go along with 29 home runs. 

2. Mookie Betts

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Right Fielder

One of the top outfielders in all of baseball, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to rank among the best black baseball players to play over the last 10 plus MLB seasons.

As the 2024 MLB season approaches it is hard to look past the long list of accomplishments compiled by the Dodgers outfielder including seven All-Star team selections, one AL MVP award, five Gold Glove Awards, and three All-MLB First Team selections.

Betts didn’t disappoint during the 2023 MLB season hitting a career high 39 home runs to go along with 40 doubles, 126 runs scored and 107 runs batted in.

Over his first nine full seasons, Betts has posted six seasons with 100 runs scored, seven seasons with at least 40 doubles, four seasons with at least 30 home runs and three seasons with at least 100 runs batted in. It is easy to see why Betts ranks among the best players in Major League Baseball entering the 2023 MLB season. 

1. Aaron Judge

Team: New York Yankees

Position: Right Fielder

In at number one on the Top 10 MLB Best Black Baseball Players 2024 Rankings list is the New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge. Judge who has split time between both right field and center field is one of the top power hitters in the game of baseball.

The Yankees five time AL All-Star who also set the Al record with 62 home runs during 2022 MLB season has three straight seasons of at least 37 home runs and four over his MLB career.

Through his first six full plus seasons, Judge has posted 257 home runs and 572 runs batted in while also driving in at least 114 runs twice. Judge is looking to bounce back with a full MLB season in 2024 after appearing in just 106 games last season.

Despite missing 56 games, Judge finished the season with 16 doubles, 37 home runs and 37 runs batted in while also posting a .406 on base percentage. It is hard to look past the fact Judge is one of the games best hitters and best black baseball players today.

How would rank MLB’s Black Baseball Players of 2024? Rank below!

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