Last Updated: September 10th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
Fans can be tough on players. It's a tough relationship at times. There are a couple of ways to look at it.
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Fans are saying that they pay their hard-earned money to watch their favorite players perform, so when they don't, it feels like money has been wasted. For the players, they may be getting paid millions, but they will say that this game is hard enough that they don't need their own fans to make it harder.
Any way you look at it, let's go over some modern-day players who would hear it from fans, whether it be at home, on the road, or both.
30. Carlos Correa
We will start with the prime example. I don't think I have to go too far into this, as the Houston Astros of 2017 are well documented in the ways that they cheated to a World Series title. Many of the stars from that team have heard cascading boos throughout their careers since that season.
Carlos Correa was actually one of the star shortstops in baseball at the time. Now he has had to battle injuries, and his performance has not been able to reach that same height.
| Carlos Correa — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1285 |
| AB | 4838 |
| H | 1332 |
| HR | 203 |
| RBI | 740 |
| SB | 34 |
| AVG | .275 |
| OBP | .352 |
| SLG | .463 |
| OPS | .815 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
29. Alex Bregman
We stick with the Astros and go to their star third baseman Alex Bregman. He has actually had to deal with fans for multiple reasons. The Astros' participation in that sign-stealing in 2017 is obviously one of the reasons.
Then, he has this situation where he was tabbed to be one of the pillars of the Boston Red Sox. However, when it came time to sign a long-term contract, Bregman chose to go elsewhere. So there are a couple of reasons for the tough fans in Boston to go after this All-Star third baseman.
| Alex Bregman — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1341 |
| AB | 5052 |
| H | 1365 |
| HR | 221 |
| RBI | 778 |
| SB | 46 |
| AVG | .270 |
| OBP | .363 |
| SLG | .471 |
| OPS | .834 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 1 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
28. José Altuve
We will finally end our first Houston portion of the list (yes, they'll come up again) with the star who claims he was never cheating in the first place. Jose Altuve had his best season in 2017, but still has been able to keep up a Hall of Fame career since then.
It will be interesting to see how the voters treat him after he retires. How much of the scandal will be associated with him will determine if he gets a first-ballot nod or not.
| Jose Altuve — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2071 |
| AB | 8249 |
| H | 2477 |
| HR | 268 |
| RBI | 924 |
| SB | 327 |
| AVG | .300 |
| OBP | .358 |
| SLG | .463 |
| OPS | .821 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 9 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 7 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
27. Manny Machado
Machado has always been one of the most respected third basemen in this era. He has also been one of the more disliked third basemen in this era. I know I already went over one in Alex Bregman, but Machado has had so many of his antics scrutinized; his personality has been almost dissected by so many fans and media members.
Machado has been under a microscope, it seems, and every rough slide and every confrontation has a ton of eyes on the things he does.
| Manny Machado — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2011 |
| AB | 7855 |
| H | 2160 |
| HR | 392 |
| RBI | 1214 |
| SB | 115 |
| AVG | .275 |
| OBP | .335 |
| SLG | .482 |
| OPS | .817 |
| All-Star selections | 7 |
| Gold Gloves | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 3 |
26. Odubel Herrera
With Odubel Herrera, there's a very serious reason as to why fans have turned on him. His domestic violence arrest in 2019 led to a suspension from MLB activities. The Phillies did give him a second chance in 2021.
He sincerely apologized and was accepted by his teammates. Fans in Philadelphia were understandably angry with the decision to bring him back, and he never had the same welcome as he did when he was first brought up.
25. Trevor Bauer
This one has always been confusing. I think one of the reasons why Trevor Bauer still has his own following after being ostracized from the MLB is because he has been so adamant about his innocence. The pictures have been clear, and he doesn't deny it, but it's about whether the victim asked for it or not. This has been his argument throughout.
Bauer was a Cy Young Award winner and on a stratospheric trajectory, but it came crashing down so suddenly that it's still weird to think about.
| Trevor Bauer — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 83 |
| L | 69 |
| ERA | 3.79 |
| G | 222 |
| IP | 1297.2 |
| SO | 1416 |
| WHIP | 1.24 |
| SV | 1 |
| Cy Young | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
24. Rougned Odor
On-field altercations have always had an excitement to them in baseball. Of course, they brought more excitement when the game was slower. So now, I don't know if it has the same gusto as it once did. Rougned Odor was a solid utility player for the Texas Rangers who had bad memories of Jose Bautista tossing his bat aside in one of the most iconic home runs in recent history during the 2015 playoffs.
Odor saw his window and took a shot. It may have stoked the flames of an already burning rivalry, but Toronto fans took exception to Odor's swing at their star.
| Rougned Odor — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1154 |
| AB | 4044 |
| H | 930 |
| HR | 178 |
| RBI | 568 |
| SB | 70 |
| AVG | .230 |
| OBP | .288 |
| SLG | .422 |
| OPS | .710 |
23. Aroldis Chapman
This is also another very serious reason for fans to turn on a player. In the case of Aroldis Chapman, it seems like his career has gone on long enough that this domestic violence suspension is a thing of the past.
Now, I completely understand that it should not be simply forgotten. I sincerely hope that he has changed his ways in his personal life. From what I see, the perception of Chapman has cooled off from what it once was in 2016.
| Aroldis Chapman — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 62 |
| L | 52 |
| ERA | 2.50 |
| G | 904 |
| IP | 861.0 |
| SO | 1381 |
| WHIP | 1.08 |
| SV | 394 |
| All-Star selections | 9 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
22. Julio Urías
Urias is yet another very serious case. The young upstart who seemed to be on a meteoric rise had his career stopped dead in its tracks after he was arrested for domestic battery.
It's very respectable that I've seen Dodger fans voice their opinions that he should never be invited back into the clubhouse. He hasn't been seen in the MLB since.
| Julio Urías — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 60 |
| L | 25 |
| ERA | 3.11 |
| G | 158 |
| IP | 717.0 |
| SO | 710 |
| WHIP | 1.10 |
| SV | 4 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
21. Bryce Harper
Now, let's go back to more trivial reasons. In the case of Bryce Harper, I actually have a connection to the hatred. One of my good friends, who is a big baseball fan, utterly despises Bryce Harper. He has always talked to me about how Harper's 2021 MVP season was completely overrated. In fact, he thinks Harper is overrated in his whole career.
I wonder if it's just the arrogance that Harper seems to carry himself with on a daily basis that just rubs fans the wrong way. This will be one I won't ever completely understand.
| Bryce Harper — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1905 |
| AB | 6857 |
| H | 1908 |
| HR | 388 |
| RBI | 1122 |
| SB | 159 |
| AVG | .278 |
| OBP | .385 |
| SLG | .518 |
| OPS | .903 |
| MVP | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 9 |
| Silver Sluggers | 4 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
20. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson played the game with a brash style. He played hard and with a fiery passion, but it also led to some heated arguments in the dugout. He had a polarizing perception from the media that never seemed to die down.
The 2015 MVP certainly made his contributions to the sport, but I'm not sure if his attitude was appreciated by the general public.
| Josh Donaldson — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1384 |
| AB | 5022 |
| H | 1310 |
| HR | 279 |
| RBI | 816 |
| SB | 40 |
| AVG | .261 |
| OBP | .358 |
| SLG | .489 |
| OPS | .847 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| Silver Sluggers | 2 |
19. Alex Verdugo
This is one where I almost feel bad for the guy. Mookie Betts was one of the best players in baseball when he got traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a way, the rest is history, but we're here to focus on the other side of that deal. Alex Verdugo was the centerpiece of the Dodgers' package going to Boston.
The Red Sox fans never really embraced him, as he was a polar opposite to what they had in Mookie. Verdugo had a bit of an attitude that didn't exactly help his mediocre play, while Mookie was one of the nicest guys in the sport and playing at an elite level. It wasn't Verdugo's decision to go to Boston, but it was Boston's decision to let Verdugo know of their unhappiness.
| Alex Verdugo — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 856 |
| AB | 3083 |
| H | 831 |
| HR | 70 |
| RBI | 328 |
| SB | 23 |
| AVG | .270 |
| OBP | .326 |
| SLG | .406 |
| OPS | .732 |
18. Amir Garrett
Garrett had so much promise as a young reliever who had a live arm. The only thing is that he also had a fiery personality to go along with it. That temperament caused some on-field confrontations and a dugout-clearing kerfuffle with the Pirates.
I'm sure his performance out of the bullpen wasn't that great in the following years, but I do think that if he were a bit nicer, he would still have a prominent role on a great team right now.
| Amir Garrett — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 13 |
| L | 19 |
| ERA | 4.95 |
| G | 328 |
| IP | 330.2 |
| SO | 387 |
| WHIP | 1.44 |
| SV | 8 |
17. Robinson Canó
Sure, Robinson Canó has always been a polarizing superstar. He had such a meteoric rise from the get-go with the Yankees, slugging on a level that many of us had never seen before from the second base position. Yeah, I know Jeff Kent wasn't too long before, but Canó was doing it at a rate that was ready to be sustained to pass a guy like Kent.
Then came the suspensions. I know he had been in the league for a while, but I'm almost certain that the legacy of Robinson Canó would have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer had he not had two PED suspensions that pretty much marred his on-field excellence.
| Robinson Canó — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2267 |
| AB | 8773 |
| H | 2639 |
| HR | 335 |
| RBI | 1306 |
| SB | 51 |
| AVG | .301 |
| OBP | .351 |
| SLG | .488 |
| OPS | .839 |
| All-Star selections | 8 |
| Gold Gloves | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 5 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
16. Marcus Stroman
The two-time All-Star had a good run for a bit, but saw his performance slow down as opposing hitters started to catch on to his pitching style. He probably felt the pressure a bit too much as he started to engage with videos on social media.
He would respond to comments like the one that was made on an Arizona Diamondbacks broadcast, where he wouldn't necessarily be on the wrong side; it's just that he didn't need to be giving attention to things like that when he was trying to get his mojo back.
| Marcus Stroman — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 90 |
| L | 87 |
| ERA | 3.79 |
| G | 270 |
| IP | 1497.1 |
| SO | 1230 |
| WHIP | 1.28 |
| SV | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
15. Johnny Cueto
Sometimes, a quirky style in some eyes can be disrespectful in others. I personally always thought Johnny Cueto had an entertaining wind-up that would occasionally include a little shimmy.
I do know of some "purists" who say he was disrespecting the sacred game of baseball. So many different upbringings in the world can bring so many different viewpoints to small things in this game.
| Johnny Cueto — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 144 |
| L | 113 |
| ERA | 3.52 |
| G | 370 |
| IP | 2256.1 |
| SO | 1857 |
| WHIP | 1.21 |
| SV | 0 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
14. Justin Verlander
Arguably the greatest pitcher of his generation, Justin Verlander has been the gold standard on the mound in baseball throughout his career. For the most part, he has been generally well regarded. However, he was on that 2017 Astros team, of course not needing to participate in the cheating.
And some people have said that he can be a bit abrasive. I don't know how true that is, but we're just here to list some reasons why.
| Justin Verlander — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 266 |
| L | 159 |
| ERA | 3.33 |
| G | 556 |
| IP | 3571.1 |
| SO | 3554 |
| WHIP | 1.14 |
| SV | 0 |
| MVP | 1 |
| Cy Young | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 10 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
13. Matt Joyce
In the 21st century, acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has grown, and derogatory language is more frowned upon. For Matt Joyce, he directed an anti-gay slur at a fan back in 2017 which prompted a short suspension.
That incident seems to be in the past, but I'm sure there are still a group of fans who understandably won't forget.
| Matt Joyce — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1400 |
| AB | 3718 |
| H | 898 |
| HR | 149 |
| RBI | 503 |
| SB | 35 |
| AVG | .242 |
| OBP | .342 |
| SLG | .425 |
| OPS | .767 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
12. Ronald Acuña Jr.
It's safe to say Ronald Acuña Jr. has been one of the most entertaining superstars in baseball during this generation. Of course, that's one way to put it.
Other "old school" fans might say that he's been one of the most disrespectful players the game has seen in a while. His flashy play and eccentric celebrations have put Acuña in a polarizing position among fans. Regardless, the immense talent has been evident.
| Ronald Acuña Jr. — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 884 |
| AB | 3407 |
| H | 974 |
| HR | 198 |
| RBI | 488 |
| SB | 220 |
| AVG | .286 |
| OBP | .381 |
| SLG | .517 |
| OPS | .898 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 5 |
| Silver Sluggers | 3 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
11. Jorge Polanco
Polanco was barely getting his career off the ground when he got hit with an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test. Minnesota fans who had heard of his potential immediately doubted him on his return.
Then, he delivered with an All-Star season in 2019 and silenced all of his critics. That positive test will always be in his past, but he has made a good future for himself since.
| Jorge Polanco — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1121 |
| AB | 4165 |
| H | 1080 |
| HR | 156 |
| RBI | 575 |
| SB | 61 |
| AVG | .259 |
| OBP | .326 |
| SLG | .436 |
| OPS | .762 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
10. Anthony Rendon
This is one of the most curious cases in MLB history. I say that because of the amount of money involved. Anthony Rendon was fresh off his World Series championship with the Washington Nationals, winning a Silver Slugger in the process, when he made the decision to sign a seven-year, $245 million contract to become a Los Angeles Angels player.
That contract has basically become a robbery, as Rendon hasn't played a full season throughout it. Injuries and motivation have sent fans into complete frustration, as I doubt he's even really welcome inside Angel Stadium if he wants to play again.
| Anthony Rendon — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1173 |
| AB | 4350 |
| H | 1218 |
| HR | 158 |
| RBI | 671 |
| SB | 55 |
| AVG | .280 |
| OBP | .364 |
| SLG | .464 |
| OPS | .828 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 2 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
9. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
There has been a pretty big push to make Jazz Chisholm Jr. one of the faces of baseball. He was a video game cover athlete on MLB The Show; he now plays in the biggest market in the country, and he is just about entering his prime.
The fans, however, have mostly rejected him as a true superstar. His flashy style and flair for the dramatic play have come across to many as being lazy or too cool. We'll have to give this one time to see how it pans out eventually.
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 688 |
| AB | 2493 |
| H | 605 |
| HR | 125 |
| RBI | 355 |
| SB | 160 |
| AVG | .243 |
| OBP | .313 |
| SLG | .445 |
| OPS | .758 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 1 |
8. Tim Anderson
There was one magical night in 2021 when Tim Anderson became immortal, sending a home run into a field of corn at the first Field of Dreams game. That's where we thought all of the negatives that involved an abrasive attitude and combative presence would be forgotten.
Instead, those negatives got bigger, and the positives from 2021 were left behind. Playing for the struggling franchise of the Chicago White Sox probably didn't make things better either.
| Tim Anderson — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 991 |
| AB | 3939 |
| H | 1088 |
| HR | 98 |
| RBI | 350 |
| SB | 122 |
| AVG | .276 |
| OBP | .307 |
| SLG | .407 |
| OPS | .714 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 1 |
7. Patrick Corbin
Corbin was one of the most promising pitchers of the 2010s. A two-time All-Star with a big six-year, $140 million contract given by the Nationals, he started out great, as he was a major part of Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
The years that followed were a struggle, unfortunately. He's accumulated a 5.41 ERA from 2020 to 2025, and the fans have lost their belief in the once-beloved World Series hero.
| Patrick Corbin — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 113 |
| L | 146 |
| ERA | 4.54 |
| G | 392 |
| IP | 2127.2 |
| SO | 1923 |
| WHIP | 1.38 |
| SV | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
6. Wilson Contreras
Contreras has built up a reputation that has followed him wherever he goes. Nobody is safe. Whether it's the opponent, the umpire, or even his teammates, Contreras has never hesitated to express his anger.
Like many we've seen in history, the player is great, but the person is another story. His talent has carved out a long future, so we'll see how many more fans will tolerate his attitude.
5. Ryan Braun
Personally, as a fan of Matt Kemp, I will always have a negative outlook on Ryan Braun's career. His MVP season has been marred by a positive PED test, discrediting his efforts.
The perception of Braun has never been the same since. Especially when he came up to bat in Dodger Stadium, a roaring wave of negativity would come hurtling towards him from the crowd.
| Ryan Braun — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1766 |
| AB | 6622 |
| H | 1963 |
| HR | 352 |
| RBI | 1154 |
| SB | 216 |
| AVG | .296 |
| OBP | .358 |
| SLG | .532 |
| OPS | .890 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 6 |
| Silver Sluggers | 5 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
4. Javier Báez
Báez has been a great example of a love-hate player. There have been many fans who have had an undying belief in his abilities. Others can't stand to watch him. His aggressive style of play has reflected those opinions, as he would get all-or-nothing results on a consistent basis.
The most consistent thing about Báez throughout his career has been his inconsistency.
| Javier Báez — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1380 |
| AB | 4908 |
| H | 1238 |
| HR | 195 |
| RBI | 699 |
| SB | 116 |
| AVG | .252 |
| OBP | .292 |
| SLG | .433 |
| OPS | .725 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 1 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
3. José Ureña
Speaking of all-or-nothing, José Ureña had an approach to pitching that was similar. The hard-throwing reliever had some great moments, but also some times when his fastball got away from him.
In 2018, Ureña had a pitch that went straight to Ronald Acuña Jr. to leadoff the game. The benches cleared, and Ureña received a six-game suspension for that pitch. His career wasn't able to truly reach the potential that he started with since that game.
| José Ureña — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 44 |
| L | 78 |
| ERA | 4.75 |
| G | 251 |
| IP | 1003.1 |
| SO | 669 |
| WHIP | 1.40 |
| SV | 6 |
2. Mike Fiers
I know that this list has had a lot of 2017 Astros, but the scandal was so monumental that we just had to have as much of a complete story as possible. This entry pretty much gets to the other side of the hatred.
Fiers is basically credited with exposing the sign-stealing and has been looked upon as a traitor of sorts. Even though he technically did the right thing, he did not have his teammates' backs, and that has brought about a lot of distrust around the league when it comes to him.
| Mike Fiers — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 75 |
| L | 64 |
| ERA | 4.07 |
| G | 218 |
| IP | 1151.0 |
| SO | 995 |
| WHIP | 1.27 |
| SV | 0 |
1. Blake Snell
The 2020 season shone a bright light on the personalities that we have in sports. When fans and athletes alike have time on their hands, opinions are shared. Blake Snell shared an outspoken opinion that brought the Rays' fanbase some discomfort. He was concerned about the COVID-19 virus (rightfully so) to the point where he didn't want to play on a reduced salary and risk contracting the virus.
That got interpreted as him only being in it for the money and not actually wanting to play for the city of Tampa Bay. He eventually played out the season and actually was a focal point in the World Series when he was taken out early instead of working through some trouble, and the bullpen immediately gave up the lead and their World Series chances.
| Blake Snell — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 81 |
| L | 63 |
| ERA | 3.17 |
| G | 223 |
| IP | 1161.0 |
| SO | 1445 |
| WHIP | 1.22 |
| SV | 0 |
| Cy Young | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
