The 10 oldest players in baseball in 2023

You know you’re getting older, changing into an actual grown-up, once you understand you’re the identical age as Major League Baseball gamers. Then it dawns on you that gamers your age are thought-about “grizzled veterans.” And then, finally, there’s nobody your age in MLB left. Then you might be previous.

Marking your age by the way it compares to MLB gamers is a dangerous proposition; I’m nonetheless reeling from the truth that Placido Polanco — a former large leaguer who was born on Oct. 10, 1975, the identical day as me — has been retired since 2013. But life strikes on, inexorably, regardless.

The good news for wretches like us is that there nonetheless are some previous guys hanging round. Now that Spring Training video games have begun, we take our annual take a look at the ten oldest gamers in MLB.

To qualify for this record, gamers merely should be on a Major League roster. Being on the injured record or being a non-roster invitee counts so long as you’re on a spring roster. (And we previous individuals know the way it’s to all the time really feel injured.) Not included on this record are some guys nonetheless trying to find a crew, together with the unsigned-but-not-yet-retired Sergio Romo (born March 4, 1983), Aníbal Sánchez (Feb. 27, 1984), Joe Smith (March 22, 1984), Jed Lowrie (April 17, 1984), Robinson Chirinos (June 5, 1984) and Yuli Gurriel (June 9, 1984).

Note: Each participant is listed together with his age on Opening Day.

1. Rich Hill, LHP, Pirates (age 43)
Born: March 11, 1980 | 1st season: 2005
Now that Albert Pujols is retired, there’s a brand new Old Guy sheriff on the town, and what higher man to have within the saddle than previous Hill himself? He entered the Majors at 25, went by means of fairly a number of struggles and hung out as a reliever earlier than making a surprising re-emergence as top-of-the-line beginning pitchers in baseball in 2016. He’s been strong since then, too, and so long as you don’t anticipate too many innings from him, he may nonetheless be doing this when he’s 90. For what it’s value: He was at Michigan precisely one 12 months after Tom Brady.

2. Nelson Cruz, DH, Padres (age 42)
Born: July 1, 1980 | 1st season: 2005
Last season — his first stint within the National League since he was with the Brewers again in 2005 — didn’t go effectively for Cruz, who posted a .650 OPS for the Nationals. But now he’s with a San Diego membership that has critical championship aspirations. He’ll need to hit higher than he did final 12 months to maintain his lineup spot, although, on a crew with loads of DH candidates.

3. Adam Wainwright, RHP, Cardinals (age 41)
Born: Aug. 30, 1981 | 1st season: 2005
Wainwright is destined to be in a broadcast sales space when he retires — fairly presumably a nationwide one — and he has already introduced that this can be his final season. He was glorious for many of 2022 earlier than his season imploded within the remaining month, struggles Wainwright blamed on defective mechanics. The Cardinals are relying on him to carry up his spot within the rotation throughout his grand finale. Don’t miss a sport when he’s mic’d up, although.

4. Justin Verlander, RHP, Mets (age 40)
Born: Feb. 20, 1983 | 1st season: 2005
Verlander zooms up 4 spots from final 12 months, which is fairly spectacular contemplating he’s additionally, uh, the defending American League Cy Young Award winner. He’s nonetheless 2 1/2 years youthful than Roger Clemens was when he gained his remaining Cy Young on the age of 42 in 2004, however we’re certain JV will win one when he’s that age, too.

5. Miguel Cabrera, DH, Tigers (age 39)
Born: April 18, 1983 | 1st season: 2003
Believe it or not, that is Cabrera’s first season as one of many 10 oldest gamers in MLB. (He wanted Darren O’Day, Yadier Molina, Robinson Canó, Oliver Pérez and Romo to fall off the record to lastly make it). He’s certainly one of a number of clear Hall of Famers on the record, and all of us have one final season to say goodbye.

6. Jesse Chavez, RHP, Braves (age 39)
Born: Aug. 21, 1983 | 1st season: 2008
Chavez is simply in camp with Atlanta and hasn’t secured his spot on the crew. He performed for 3 groups final 12 months, and the Braves had been the one one with which he had success; he struggled with the Cubs and Angels. If this does show to be the top for Chavez, 15 years and 571 video games within the large leagues is sort of an accomplishment for a participant who was picked within the forty second spherical of the Draft.

7. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (age 39)
Born: Sept. 10, 1983 | 1st season: 2007
Despite a social media presence that will make a teen jealous, Votto is, actually, previous. He struggled mightily final 12 months, on the plate and with accidents, and that is the ultimate assured 12 months of his 10-year contract. (Cincinnati has a $20 million choice or $7 million buyout for 2024). Votto is likely one of the biggest Reds gamers of all time and a captivating Hall of Fame case. But proper now, we should always simply respect the enjoyment of getting this man round every single day, whereas we are able to.

8. Zack Greinke, RHP, Royals (age 39)
Born: Oct. 21, 1983 | 1st season: 2004
He broke into the bigs at 20 and is again, as soon as once more, together with his unique crew. There actually won’t ever be one other like Greinke, and it’s really type of tough to think about baseball with out him. He delivered an above-average ERA+ for the seventeenth consecutive season in 2022, after returning to Kansas City for the primary time since 2010.

9. Charlie Morton, RHP, Braves (age 39)
Born: Nov. 12, 1983 | 1st season: 2008
Did anybody else neglect he really broke in with the Braves again in 2008? They traded him to the Pirates for Nate McLouth, a reputation you haven’t thought of for an extended, very long time. Morton’s back-half-of-his-career resurgence has been exceptional to look at, and whereas 2022 wasn’t the most effective season for him, there’s nonetheless a spot within the Atlanta rotation ready for him. He even has a teammate in Michael Harris II, who’s 17 years youthful than him.

10. Craig Stammen, RHP, Padres (age 39)
Born: March 9, 1984 | First season: 2009
Stammen is a non-roster invitee for the Padres, although with all of the adjustments this group has made within the seven years since he joined the crew, he ought to cling round simply to elucidate to the brand new guys the place the bogs are.