Greatest Baseball Players From the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has produced some of the game's biggest MLB stars.

The Dominican Republic has produced more Major League Baseball players than any country besides the United States. Since 1956, when Ozzie Virgil Sr. debuted for the New York Giants, over 700 Dominican players have played in the majors.

The tiny Caribbean nation, which has a population just under 11 million, hit a milestone in the 2019 season with 102 Dominican players on Opening Day rosters. It was the first time a foreign country or territory has exceeded 100 players on Opening Day rosters and a big jump from the 84 Dominican players that opened the 2018 season.

Some of the the game’s greatest talents and biggest stars — from World Series champions to Hall of Famers — hail from the Dominican Republic.

These are the best Dominican baseball players of all time.

25. Tony Peña, Catcher

St. Louis Cardinal catcher Tony Peña, right, during the 1987 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. Rob Kozloff / AP Photo

Born: June 4, 1957, in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

Experience: 18 years (1980-97)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox

World Series titles: None

Tony Peña had a solid 18-year major league career with six teams.

Known most for his defense, he compiled a .991 fielding percentage, while leading the league in putouts five times and twice in fielding percentage, assists, range factor and in baserunners caught stealing. His 156 career double plays ranks fifth all-time among major league catchers.

Peña had one of his best seasons in 1983, posting career highs with a .301 batting average and 15 home runs. He also led National League catchers with 976 putouts and finished with a .992 fielding percentage to earn his first Gold Glove Awards.

A five-time All-Star, he won four Gold Gloves overall, and his 1,950 games played as a catcher rank him sixth on the all-time list.

24. George Bell, Left Field

Toronto Blue Jays left fielder George Bell slides safely into second base against the Kansas City Royals Frank White during an American League playoff game in 1985. Mark Duncan / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 21, 1959, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 12 years (1981, 1983-93)

Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs

World Series titles: None

George Bell was a major league beast in the 1980s. In 1984, George Bell teamed with Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield to form a successful outfield for the Blue Jays that was instrumental in leading Toronto to its first-ever American League East division title, in 1985.

Bell’s best season came in 1987, when won the AL MVP — finishing with a .308 batting average, .352 on-base percentage, .608 slugging percentage, 111 runs, 47 home runs and an AL-leading 134 RBI — although the Blue Jays fell two games short of the Detroit Tigers in the division race.

Bell is enshrined in the upper deck of the Rogers Centre’s Level of Excellence. In 2004, he was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

23. José Bautista, Right Field/Third Base

Toronto Blue Jays slugger José Bautista celebrates after scoring against the Oakland A’s in 2009. Ben Margot / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 19, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Experience: 15 years (2004-18)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies

World Series titles: None

José Bautista was a late bloomer, but boy did he bloom. From 2010 to 2017, Bautista hit at least 20 home runs each year, and in four of those seasons, he hit at least 35 home runs, scored and drove in at least 100 runs, and drew at least 100 bases on balls, including twice leading the American League.

On Sept. 17, 2010, Bautista set the new Blue Jays single-season home run record with his 48th home run, breaking the record set by George Bell. On Sept. 23, Bautista became the 26th player in MLB history and first Blue Jay to hit 50 home runs in one season. His 52nd home run set a new MLB record for the largest single-season increase in home runs, eclipsing Davey Johnson’s 38 home run increase from 1972 to 1973.

Bautista finished the 2010 season with an MLB-leading 54 home runs, the highest total since Alex Rodriguez hit 54 in 2007. Bautista won the AL Hank Aaron and a Silver Slugger Awards for his offensive performance.and finished fourth in the AL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) voting, behind Josh Hamilton, Miguel Cabrera and Robinson Canó.

22. Johnny Cueto, Pitcher

Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto pitches against the Chicago Cubs in 2008. David Kohl / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 15, 1986, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (2008-present)

Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins

World Series titles: 1 (2015)

Johnny Cueto struggled with inconsistency in his first three seasons before emerging as the Reds’ ace in 2011 and finishing the season with a career-best 2.31 ERA.

In 2012, he posted a 19-9 record and a 2.78 ERA, good enough for fourth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award. In 2014, he won 20 games with a 2.25 ERA and tied for the NL lead in strikeouts with 242, finishing as the runner-up for the Cy Young. In 2016, he won 18 games with the San Francisco Giants while posting a 2.79 ERA, helping lead them reach the postseason and achieving another top 10 finish in the Cy Young voting.

From 2011 to 2017, Cueto posted the second-lowest ERA of all pitchers with at least 750 innings pitched (behind Clayton Kershaw), while managing a 2.94 ERA alongside a 90–51 (.638) record in 1,256 1⁄3 innings.

In 2015, Cueto started Game 2 of the World Series and pitched a dominant complete game, giving up just two hits and one run against the New York Mets to give Kansas City a 7–1 win and 2-0 series lead.

Cueto became the first AL pitcher to throw a complete game in the World Series since Minnesota’s Jack Morris in 1991, and the Royals went on to win the World Series in five games for Cueto’s first championship ring.

21. José Reyes, Shortstop

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, right, follows through on a triple against the Houston Astros in 2004. Frank Franklin II / AP Photo

Born: June 11, 1983, in Villa González, Santiago, Dominican Republic

Position: Shortstop

Experience: 16 years (2003-18)

Teams: New York Mets, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies

MLB debut: June 10, 2003, for Mets

Stats: .283 BA, .427 SLG, 2,138 H, 145 HR, 719 RBI, .761 OPS

World Series titles: None

Hall of Fame: Not eligible yet

A four-time MLB All-Star, José Reyes led the majors in triples in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011. He also led the National League in stolen bases in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and is also the New York Mets’ all-time leader in triples and stolen bases.

Reyes finished the 2006 regular season with an average of .300, 19 home runs, 81 RBIs, 122 runs, and 64 stolen bases in 153 games, helping lead the Mets to the NL Championship Series, which the Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2011, Reyes became the first Met to win the NL batting title, ending the season with a .337 average — two points better than Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.

Reyes also competed with the Dominican Republic team three times in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), losing in 2006 and 2009, before helping the team win the title in 2013, batting .314 with a home run and 11 hits.

20. Tony Fernández, Infield

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Tony Fernandez in a 1987 game against the New York Yankees. G. Paul Burnett / AP Photo

Born: June 30, 1962, in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic

Experience: 17 years (1983-99, 2001)

Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers

World Series titles: 1 (1993)

Most noted for his defensive skills, Tony Fernández is ranked in the top 20 for career fielding percentage as a shortstop (No. 17 at .9795) and is ranked No. 10 for a season with a .9919 percentage in 1989.

His tenures in Toronto (1983-90, 1993, 1998-99, and 2001) were his best years in the majors. His franchise records still hold to this day.

Along with his elite defensive skills at shortstop, Fernández also was a premier switch-hitter with a career .288 batting average and a threat on the bases with 246 career steals.

He won four straight Golden Gloves from 1986 to 1989, and won a World Series Ring with the Blue Jays in 1993.

19. César Cedeño, First Base/Center Field

Houston Astros outfielder Cesar Cedeño batting against the Atlanta Braves in 1972. AP Photo

Born: Feb. 25, 1951, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Experience: 17 years (1970-86)

Teams: Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series titles: None

Ranked as the 21st-best center fielder of all time by baseball historian and sabermetrician Bill James, Cesar Cedeño at one point in his career won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1972-76) and was a contender for the National League MVP in 1972.

His 550 career stolen bases rank him 27th on the all-time list, and his 487 steals with the Astros are first in franchise history.

A four-time All-Star, Cedeño became the second player in major league history (after Lou Brock in 1967) to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, accomplishing the feat three years in a row (1972–74). And he hit for the cycle twice, in 1972 and 1976.

18. Julio Franco, Infield

Cleveland Indians Julio Franco slaps a single against the Kansas City Royals in 1996. Phil Long / AP Photo

Born: Aug. 23, 1958, in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic

Experience: 23 years (1982-94, 1996-97, 1999, 2001-07)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets,

World Series titles: None

Look up ballplayer in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of Julio Franco. Over a period of 30-plus years,\ Franco played for eight major league teams and Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines, Mexico’s Mexico City Tigers, Korea’s Samsung Lions, Indy league Fort Worth Cats and Japan’s Indy league Ishikawa Million Stars.

At the age of 48, he became MLB’s oldest regularly playing position player. He also is the oldest player to hit a pinch-hit homer (age 47), club two home runs in one game (46), hit a regular-season home run (48) and smash a grand slam (46).

An ageless wonder, he entered the major leagues in 1982 and last appeared in 2007, when he was the oldest active MLB player. In 1991, Franco had his only 200-hit season and won the American League batting title with a .341 average, nine points higher than that of future Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs.

17. Felipe Alou, Outfield/First Base

San Francisco Giants outfielder Felipe Alou is unable to grab a home run hit by Milwaukee Braves slugger Hank Aaron in 1961. AP Photo

Born: May 12, 1935, in Haina, Dominican Republic

Experience: 17 years (1958-74)

Teams: San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Oakland A’s, New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, Milwaukee Brewers

World Series titles: None

Felipe Alou comes from a baseball family. He was the oldest of the baseball-playing Alou brothers from the Dominican Republic that included Matty and Jesús, who were both outfielders. Felipe’s son Moisés was also an outfielder. All but Jesús were All-Stars at least twice.

In 1966, Felipe finished fifth in National League MVP voting after batting .327 with a league-leading 218 hits and 122 runs, along with 31 home runs and 32 doubles.

During his 17-year career, Alou played all three outfield positions regularly (736 games in right field, 483 in center, 433 in left), and led the NL in hits twice and runs once. Batting regularly in the leadoff spot, he hit a home run to begin a game on 20 occasions.

After his playing days, he became the most successful manager in Expos history.

16. Alfonso Soriano, Outfield/Second Base

New York Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano watches his game-winning home run against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in 2001. Winslow Townson / AP Photo

Born: Jan. 7, 1976, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (1999-2014)

Teams: New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs

World Series titles: None

Alfonso Soriano looked like a potential Hall of Famer to open his career.

In his 2001 rookie year, he hit 18 home runs with 73 RBI and 43 stolen bases in 158 games. His numbers got better from there. Soriano led the American League in hits (209) and stolen bases (41) in 2002, to go along with 39 home runs and 102 RBI, as he finished third in MVP voting.

The 2002 season was the first of seven straight All-Star seasons for Soriano (who won the All-Star MVP in 2004), and he also captured four Silver Sluggers during that stretch — averaging 35 home runs, 93 RBI and 29 stolen bases per 162 games.

The second half of Soriano’s career was not as productive as the first, but he still is one of only 55 major league players to hit 400 or more career home runs and was seventh among active players in home runs at the time of his retirement.

15. Miguel Tejada, Shortstop/Third Base

Oakland Athletics shortstop Miguel Tejada after winning a playoff game against the Boston Red Sox in 2003. Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Born: May 25, 1974, in Baní, Peravia, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (1997-2011, 2013)

Teams: Oakland A’s, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals

World Series titles: None

Miguel Tejada spent his first seven seasons in the majors with the Athletics, where he began a streak of 1,152 consecutive games that began in 2000 and ended with the Orioles on June 22, 2007.

He was a key player on the early 2000’s Moneyball A’s that made four straight posteasons. A six-time All-Star (including the All-Star MVP in 2005) and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, he won the American League MVP Award in 2002 after batting .308 with 34 home runs, 131 RBI, and 204 hits — and was in the MVP conversation eight times.

Tejada’s reputation took a knock when he was named in the Mitchell Report, pled guilty to lying to Congress about major league drug use in 2009, and served a 105-game suspension for amphetamine use, the third longest non-lifetime suspension in major league history.

14. Rico Carty, Utility/Designated Hitter

Home plate umpire Ron Luciano lets all of Cleveland Stadium know that Rico Carty is safe at home against the Boston Red Sox in 1976. G Paul Burnett / AP Photo

Born: Sept. 1, 1939, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 15 years (1963-67, 1969-70, 1972-79)

Teams: Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays,

World Series titles: None

Rico Carty made an impressive major league debut in 1964, finishing second to Roberto Clemente in the National League batting race with a .330 batting average and runner-up to Dick Allen in NL rookie of the year voting. Carty never looked back after that.

In his 14 full seasons in the big leagues, he hit over .300 eight times. In 1970, Carty won the NL batting crown with a batting average of .366, the highest average in the major leagues since Ted Williams recorded a .388 batting average in 1957. During that 1970 season, Carty posted a .454 OBP and had 25 homers and 101 RBI.

Carty also compiled a 31-game hitting streak in 1970 (the longest by a Braves hitter in Atlanta franchise history until Dan Uggla surpassed it with a 33-game streak in 2011). But Carty’s career was marked by battles with injuries, illnesses (tuberculosis) and teammates, including fights with Hank Aaron that led to his trade to the Texas Rangers following the 1972 season.

13. Pedro Guerrero, Infield/Outfield

Los Angeles Dodgers batter Pedro Guerrero follows through after getting a hit against the New York Yankees in a 1981 World Series game. AP Photo

Born: June 28, 1956, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 15 years (1978-92)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals

World Series titles: 1 (1981)

A career .300 hitter, Pedro Guerrero became a baseball legend in 1981.

That year, he shared World Series MVP honors with Dodgers teammates Ron Cey and Steve Yeager after factoring into three straight World Series wins. Guerrero’s shining moment was a 3-for-5 performance (single, triple, homer, 5 RBI) in Game 6, a one-man show that capped a 9-2 victory and gave the Dodgers their first World Series title in 16 years.

The next season, Guerrero became the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season, and he did it again in 1983. In 1985, he tied a major league record with 15 home runs in June, and also tied the Dodgers’ season record of 33. He reached base 14 consecutive times that season, two short of the record set by Ted Williams, and led the NL in slugging, on-base and home run percentage.

After missing most of the 1986 campaign due to a ruptured tendon in his knee, he batted .338 — the highest batting average by any Dodger since Tommy Davis hit .346 in 1962 — and won the UPI’s Comeback Player of the Year award in 1987.

12. Edwin Encarnación, Infield/Designated Hitter

Cincinnati Red Edwin Encarnacion slides at home against the Atlanta Braves in 2005. David Kohl / AP Photo

Born: Jan. 7, 1983, in La Romana, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (2005-present)

Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox

World Series titles: None

Edwin Encarnación is the only active player in the major leagues with seven seasons of at least 30 home runs since 2012, followed by Nelson Cruz (five) and Mike Trout (five). Encarnación also surpassed 100 RBI for the fourth consecutive season in 2018, joining Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rizzo as the only major leaguers with at least 100 RBI in every season since 2015.

Since 2012, Encarnación leads the majors in home runs and RBI. Entering the 2019 season, he has totaled 263 home runs since 2012, ranking ahead of Cruz (254), Giancarlo Stanton (249), Chris Davis (239) and Trout (235). Since 2012, his 764 RBI ranks ahead of Cruz (688), Paul Goldschmidt (684), Albert Pujols (653) and Miguel Cabrera (651).

Encarnación is a three-time All-Star, most recently in 2016 with Toronto, when his 127 RBI tied with David Ortiz for the American League lead.

11. Bartolo Colón, Pitcher

Cleveland Indians pitcher Bartolo Colon delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1998 American League Championship Series in Cleveland. Beth A. Keiser / AP Photo

Born: May 24, 1973, in Altamira, Dominican Republic

Experience: 21 years (1997-2009, 2011-18)

Teams: Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers

World Series titles: None

Bartolo Colón has played for 11 teams in the majors and owns a trademark on his “Big Sexy” nickname.

During his 21-year career, the 285-pound right-hander has been an All-Star four times: for the Indians (1998), Angels (2005), Athletics (2013), and Mets (2016). He won the American League Cy Young with the Angels in 2005, when he led the league in wins with a record of 21-8, becoming the first Angels pitcher to win the award since Dean Chance in 1964.

Early in the 2016 season, Colón was 42 when he became the oldest MLB player to hit his first career home run. At age 45 during the 2018 season, Colón was the oldest active MLB player and the last active major leaguer who played for the Montreal Expos.

On June 9, 2015, Colón set a new Mets franchise record of most consecutive decisions as a starting pitcher, achieving 26 decisions in 26 consecutive starts. This record was previously held by Dwight Gooden.

On Aug. 8, 2014, Colón recorded his 200th win in a 5–4 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the third Dominican-born pitcher to win 200 games, after Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez.

Now, Colon holds the record for most career wins by a Latin American-born pitcher.

10. Nelson Cruz, Outfield/Designated Hitter

Texas Rangers batter Nelson Cruz follows through on a grand slam against the Los Angeles Angels in 2006. Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Born: July 1, 1980, in Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic

Experience: 19 years (2005-present)

Teams: Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres

World Series titles: None

Nelson Cruz is a six-time All-Star. He was named the MVP of the 2011 American League Championship Series won by the Rangers over the Detroit Tigers. In the series, Cruz hit six home runs and recorded 13 RBI, both major league records for a single postseason series.

Cruz had his best season in 2014 with the Baltimore Orioles when he finished with an MLB-leading 40 home runs, along with a .271 batting average, 32 doubles and 108 RBI. In the first game of the 2014 AL Division Series, Cruz homered off the Detroit Tigers’ Max Scherzer, Cruz’s 15th home run in 35 career postseason games, tying him for 10th place on the all-time postseason home run list with Babe Ruth.

In the third game of the 2014 ALDS, Cruz hit his 16th postseason home run against the Tigers’ David Price, tying him for ninth place on the all-time postseason home run list with Carlos Beltrán.

Cruz also was selected to the Dominican Republic national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, 2013 World Baseball Classic (which the Dominican won) and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

9. Robinson Canó, Second Base

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, left, turns a double play against the Texas Rangers in 2005. Ed Betz / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 22, 1982, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 15 years (2005-present)

Teams: New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets

World Series titles: 1 (2009)

Robinson Canó owns a World Series ring, is a five-time Silver Slugger, and an All-Star MVP. Were it not for the PED blemish that cost him 80 games in 2018, he would be a serious Hall of Fame candidate.

He helped lead the Yankees to a World Series championship in 2009 and the Dominican Republic to the World Baseball Classic title in 2013. He was named captain of the Dominican Republic team in 2017.

In 2019, Cano became the 101st player in MLB history to record 2,500 career hits and only the third active player, join Albert Pujols (3,106) and Miguel Cabrera (2,712). Cano also is just the sixth Dominican-born player to have 2,500 hits with Pujols, Adrian Beltre, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Manny Ramirez and Julio Franco.

Another interesting nugget is that Cano is just the third player to reach 2,500 career hits after making his debut with the Yankees. The other two? Derek Jeter and Lou Gehrig.

8. Adrián Beltré, Third Base

Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre makes a running, off-balance throw against the San Diego Padres in 2006. Lenny Ignelzi / AP Photo

Born: April 7, 1979, in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

Experience: 21 years (1998-2018)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers,

World Series titles: None

The four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman retired in 2018 after playing 21 seasons with four different teams.

One of the most all-around accomplished players in history, Adrián Beltré ranks 13th in defensive Wins Above Replacement and was the fourth third baseman to reach 400 home runs and 1,500 runs batted in.

Beltré played 2,759 games at third base (only Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson had more).

He also led the National League in home runs with 48 in 2004 when he finished second in the NL MVP.

On July 30, 2017, he became the 31st player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits, and the first from the Dominican Republic.

When he retired, Beltré ranked in the top 10 all-time at his position in games played, assists, putouts and double plays.

7. Manny Ramírez, Outfield

Manny Ramirez hit 29 home runs in 493 plate appearances during 111 career playoff games — the most home runs in major league postseason history. Winslow Townson / AP Photo

Born: May 30, 1972, in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

Experience: 19 years (1993-2011)

Teams: Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox

World Series titles: 2 (2004, 2007)

Born in Santo Domingo and raised in New York, Manny Ramírez became one of the greatest hitters of his generation. He went to 12 All-Star Games and won a batting title, a home run title, an RBI title and a World Series title in 2004 when he was a teammate with Pedro Martínez in Boston.

From 1995 through 2010, a span of 16 seasons, Ramírez hit .315/.414/.591 (157 OPS+) while averaging 34 home runs and 110 RBIs per season, winning nine Silver Sluggers, finishing in the top six in the MVP voting seven times and helping his team to the playoffs in 11 of those seasons.

His 165 RBIs in 1999 remain the most ever by a Dominican-born player. His 29 postseason home runs are the most by a player of any nationality.

Ramírez was one of the best hitters in baseball during one of its most hitter-friendly eras. But positive performance-enhancing drug tests ended his career ahead of schedule and could keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

6. Vladimir Guerrero, Right Field

Montreal Expo Vladimir Guerrero connects for a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1998. Todd Ponath / AP Photo

Born: Feb. 9, 1975, in Nizao, Peravia, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (1996-2011)

Teams: Montreal Expos, Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles

World Series titles: None

Considered a five-tool wonder early in his career, Vladimir Guerrero was one of the most feared power hitters in the game due to his ferocious swing.

In 2018, he joined Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez as the only Dominican-born players inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In his seven full seasons with the Expos, Guerrero averaged 33 home runs, 100 RBI and 173 hits, coming within one home run in 2002 of reaching the 40/40 mark in home runs and stolen bases.

He signed with the Angels as a free agent following the 2003 season, and in 2004 won the American League Most Valuable Player Award after hitting 39 home runs, driving in 126 runs and leading the AL in runs scored (124) and total bases (366).

He had three other top-four finishes in the MVP voting, made nine All-Star games, and won eight Silver Sluggers. His 2,590 career hits were more than any player from the Dominican Republic until 2014. And he batted better than .300 in every season from 1997 to 2008.

His 31-game hitting streak in 1999 remains tied for 25th on the all-time list.

5. Sammy Sosa, Right Field

Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa hits against the Montreal Expos in 1997. Michael Conroy / AP Photo

Born: Nov. 12, 1968, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic

Experience: 18 years (1989-2005, 2007)

Teams: Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles

World Series titles: None

Sammy Sosa started his career with the Texas Rangers, but became one of the game’s best hitters after joining the Chicago Cubs in 1992.

Sosa hit his 400th home run in his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd at-bat, reaching this milestone quicker than any player in National League history. In an incredible stretch from 1998 to 2001, he hit 243 home runs, including 66 in 1998 when he won the NL MVP.

He is one of nine players in MLB history to hit 600 career home runs and is the only player to hit 60 or more home runs in a season three times.

In 1998, Sosa and Mark McGwire achieved national fame for their home run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris’ home run record.

A seven-time All-Star, Sosa holds numerous Cubs records. But he may never get to Cooperstown because of PED rumors, even though he denied using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.

4. Juan Marichal, Pitcher

San Francisco Giants starter pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in 1967. Sal Veder / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 20, 1937, in Laguna Verde, Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

Experience: 16 years (1960-75)

Teams: San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series titles: None

Juan Marichal is famous for one of the fullest windup deliveries in modern baseball, with a high kick of his left leg that went nearly vertical (even more so than Warren Spahn’s delivery). But more than just havin style, Marichal was one of the most intimidating pitchers of all time.

As the first Dominican player to be voted into the Hall of Fame, Marichal won more games in the 1960s (191) than any other player, exceeding Bob Gibson’s second-place 164 by a huge margin. Interestingly enough, Marichal is the only pitcher of the decade with more complete games (197) than wins.

His 2.57 ERA in the 1960s is bettered only by Sandy Koufax’s 2.36 and Hoyt Wilhelm’s 2.16, but Wilhelm pitched only 1,103 1/3 innings.

Marichal is third in innings pitched during the decade behind Don Drysdale and Jim Bunning. His 45 shutouts lead the decade by four over Gibson. His 3.66 strikeouts-to-walks ratio is topped only by Koufax’s 3.73.

The longtime Giants star was the winning pitcher in one of the greatest games ever pitched when the right-hander outdueled fellow Hall of Famer Warren Spahn on July 2, 1963, in a complete-game, 16-inning 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Braves.

Marichal pitched a complete game more than every other time he started a game, and he finished with 244 complete games.

3. David Ortiz, Designated Hitter/First Base

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz watches the flight of his home run against the Chicago White Sox in 2004. Steven Senne / AP Photo

Born: Nov. 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

Experience: 21 years (1997-2016)

Teams: Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox

World Series titles: 3 (2004, 2013, 2017)

A designated hitter/first baseman with the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002) and the Boston Red Sox (2003-2016), “Big Papi” is perhaps the greatest designated hitter of all time.

During his 14 seasons with the Red Sox, he was a 10-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. Ortiz also holds the Red Sox’s single-season record for home runs with 54, which he set during the 2006 season.

He was a key member of the Boston Red Sox for more than a decade. He had a knack for the big hit and played a key role on three World Series-winning teams, helping end Boston’s 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004, as well as being a force during successful championship runs in 2007 and 2013 (when he was named World Series MVP).

Among designated hitters, he is the all-time leader in MLB history for home runs (485), RBI (1,569) and hits (2,192). Regarded as one of the best clutch hitters of all time, Ortiz had 11 career walk-off home runs during the regular season and two during the postseason.

2. Pedro Martínez, Pitcher

Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004. Michael Dwyer / AP Photo

Born: Oct. 25, 1971, in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic

Experience: 18 years (1992-2009)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies

World Series titles: 1 (2004)

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Pedro Martínez was one of the most dominant pitchers of all time with the highest winning percentage of any 200-game winner in the modern era. He made eight All-Star teams (All-Star MVP in 1999), and he led the AL in ERA five times and in strikeouts three times.

He also won a World Series with the 2004 Red Sox. helping Boston end an 86-year drought.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015 with 91.1 percent of the vote. The Red Sox retired his No. 45 that same year.

From 1997 to 2003, the heart of the juiced era, Martínez posted a 2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 5.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the first of those translating to an absurd 213 ERA+ over seven seasons. Martínez also struck out 11.3 batters per nine innings over that span, topping 300 strikeouts twice despite never throwing as many as 250 innings in a season.

1. Albert Pujols, First Base/Designated Hitter

Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols hits a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in 2018. Chris Carlson / AP Photo

Born: Jan. 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Experience: 19 years (2001-present)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels

World Series titles: 2 (2006, 2011)

The greatest Dominican-born player of all time is also one of the greatest hitters the game has ever seen.

Albert Pujols recently became the third player since 1920 with 2,000 career RBIs, joining Hank Aaron (2,297) and Alex Rodriguez (2,086) as the only players to reach the milestone (RBI didn’t become an official stat until 1920).

While Pujols’ game may have diminished since joining the Angels, the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger had one of the greatest decades of any player ever, starting with his Rookie of the Year season in 2001, when he hit 37 home runs with 130 RBI and a .329 batting average.

Over 11 seasons with the Cardinals, he was a three-time National League MVP (2006, 2008 and 2009) and nine-time All-Star. He never finished outside the top 10 for MVP voting and was outside the top five only once.