The 20 Fastest MLB Players of All Time

Baseball is a game of inches, as speed significantly determines your baserunning success. Most players can get from home plate to first base quickly, but some guys are built differently. Here are the 20 fastest MLB players of all time.

20. Hugh Nicol 

When the National League (NL) formed, it featured some excellent runners in the first few decades. Hugh Nicol from Scotland didn’t blow anybody away with his batting average or home run capabilities, but his speed captivated audiences for a decade. From Chicago to St. Louis, he made his presence known. 

Nicol led the NL with 138 stolen bases in the 1887 season — a mark nobody has yet to beat! Recording stats in 19th-century baseball was challenging, so baseball historians don’t fully understand his stolen base statistics. However, the Scot’s legacy embeds him as one of the fastest players in MLB history. 

19. William Hoy

William Hoy lost his hearing at 3 years old due to meningitis. However, that didn’t stop him from succeeding in professional baseball. Following Nicol’s record season, Hoy stole the NL crown for the most stolen bases and demonstrated his lightning-fast speed. For 15 seasons, he was arguably the fastest baseball runner of his time. 

Hoy was quite the speedster and impacted his team’s defense by staying closer to the infield. However, baseball fans remember him best because he influenced signals for safe and out. The umpires used hand gestures to communicate more clearly to Hoy and others with hearing issues. 

18. Deion Sanders

Coach Prime has made his living on football fields, but young sports fans today might not remember his baseball days. Deion Sanders played for the juggernaut Florida State Seminoles before playing in the MLB for nine seasons. His 40-yard dash time was around 4.27 seconds, so teams always had a spot for him. 

Sanders was only a part-time player in the MLB due to his NFL obligations, though he still impacted the game. Prime racked up 186 stolen bases throughout his career, and he only got better with age. By 1997, he earned 56 steals in a season with the Cincinnati Reds. 

17. Honus Wagner

Honus Wagner was among the best sluggers in the MLB’s early days and consistently provided hits for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Once he got to base, catchers had a hard time picking him off. Wagner led the NL in stolen bases five times in eight seasons before winning the World Series in 1909. In three of those seasons, he was also the NL batting champion. 

Baseball has changed over the last two centuries, but Wagner’s legacy has remained constant. Since his 1917 retirement, the Flying Dutchman is still in the top 10 for most stolen bases, hits and wins above replacement (WAR). If you’re building an all-time team, Honus might be your shortstop. 

16. Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson had nearly everything you’d want in a football player, yet he also made his mark on professional baseball. Some call him the best athlete who ever lived due to his versatility in numerous sports. While his baseball career ended prematurely, Bo remains famous for his size, speed and career success. 

Jackson was a big dude, weighing around 230 pounds in his playing days. However, his strength didn’t slow him down. If you ask Bo, he’ll tell you he ran a 4.13 40-yard dash in his athletic prime. Add 20 yards to get a 60-yard dash time of about 6.19 seconds, cementing him as one of the fastest baseball players ever. 

15. Scott Podsednik

Scott Podsednik might slip through the cracks of sports history, considering his stats don’t match Babe Ruth’s. However, he’s solidly one of the fastest MLB players of the modern era. Catchers in the mid-2000s had a hard time with Podsednik, whether he was in the National or American League.

In his fourth MLB season, Podsednik recorded the most stolen bases in the NL. His baserunning skills impressed the Chicago White Sox, who traded for him before the 2005 season started. An all-star appearance and a World Series ring made that year incredible for the North Texas native.

14. Pete Crow-Armstrong

Who is the fastest MLB player right now? Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) has a strong argument, considering his recent performances. Last year, the Chicago Cub made his presence known with a rare inside-the-park home run. PCA ran the bases in only 14.08 seconds, marking the fastest time since 2017. 

The New York Mets drafted PCA but ultimately traded him. Do they regret that decision now? Unsurprisingly, the Cubs put him in the outfield because he can easily cover so much ground. When you have great athletes like Crow-Armstrong, it’s hard to ignore their talents. 

13. Elly De La Cruz

Elly De La Cruz is among the hottest names on the baseball circuit. The Dominican Republic native only needed a season to become the star of the Cincinnati Reds, as he combines speed and power in every at-bat. In his rookie season, he made history by stealing second, third and home plate in the same inning. 
How far can he take one of the most storied franchises in MLB history? It’ll come down to De La Cruz’s legs. In 2024, the shortstop led all players with 67 steals to take the prestigious crown. It doesn’t matter if your team has an elite catcher — De La Cruz will beat him!

12. Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki isn’t just one of the fastest MLB players ever — he’s beloved by fans from Seattle to Osaka. You might not remember him for his speed, but he was a quick outfielder and an excellent defensive player. Before he came to the MLB, Ichiro dominated the NPB in Japan with his quickness. 

Few players can say they led the MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in stolen bases, but it’s a part of Ichiro’s legacy. The right fielder led the NPB in stolen bases in 1995 before claiming the same title in the AL in 2001. From bunts to Golden Gloves, Suzuki truly had it all. 

11. Jose Reyes

While Ichiro dominated the AL, Jose Reyes had a stronghold over the NL in the mid-2000s. Mets fans remember the Dominican Republic native for his ability to easily hit and get on base. Reyes led the MLB in triples in four separate seasons due to his blazing-fast speed and intelligent maneuvers. 

Reyes spent most of his career with the New York Mets, and his name is etched in the record books. He leads the franchise in stolen bags, racking up 408 career bases in his tenure! Reyes’ excellent hitting and base-running led to four All-Star appearances, three stolen base titles and a 2006 Silver Slugger Award. 

10. Tim Locastro

Tim Locastro didn’t last long in the MLB, as he hasn’t played since 2023. However, he impacted the game with his exceptional speed. The Auburn, New York, native made baseball history by stealing 29 bases without getting picked off. That’s something even Baseball Hall of Fame members have never accomplished!

The early part of Locastro’s career saw some success, as he helped the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 and the shortened 2020 season. After being traded to the Yankees, he hit his first home run before tearing an ACL only six days later. While his speed took a hit, he’ll always have a place in MLB history. 

9. Ty Cobb

The early 1900s were more favorable to pitchers and defenses, so fans called it the Dead Ball Era. However, that didn’t stop Ty Cobb’s speed and hitting ability on the diamond. The Georgia Peach led the AL in stolen bases six times from 1907 to 1917 while boasting an MVP award in 1911. 

Cobb was a divisive player, but nobody denied his talents. His long career spanned 24 seasons, thus giving him plenty of time to rack up stats. The Georgia native finished with 824 stolen bases in 1,112 attempts, though historical records may have inaccurately counted these accolades. Regardless, he was a menace on the baseball field. 

8. Bobby Witt Jr. 

If you play fantasy baseball, you know about Bobby Witt Jr. from the Kansas City Royals. The shortstop is as quick as lightning and is an emerging star in the majors. In 2024, he became the first shortstop to record 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in back-to-back seasons. 

American professional baseball is nearly 150 years old, so becoming the first to do anything is quite a feat. Witt Jr.’s speed has amazed Royals fans as he rounds the bases at 30.5 feet per second on average. Speed and batting power make the Texas native’s ceiling quite high, so the future is bright for him. Could baseball see a Witt Jr. MVP? 

7. Byron Buxton

Byron Buxton isn’t as fast as he was earlier in his career. However, the Minnesota Twins star remains one of the fastest players in the MLB. He’s one of the elite base runners who can beat infield ground balls and still arrive safely on first base. 
Buxton has been in professional baseball since 2012, but his pace is still faster than most athletes. Advanced statistics show his sprint speed was 29.7 feet per second in 2024, ranking in the 97th percentile. In 2017, Buxton hit an inside-the-park home run and set the bar high due to his lightning-fast speed.

6. Trea Turner

Trea Turner is another veteran who’s not letting age slow down his blistering speed. Despite surpassing 30, the Florida native has maintained unmatched quickness. He was the fastest MLB player in the 2023 free agency, recording a 30.3 ft/sec sprint speed to separate from the crowd. 

The shortstop has made the All-MLB team twice and made three All-Star appearances. In 2018 and 2021, he dominated the competition and won the award for most stolen bases. Despite not being highly touted as a college athlete, Turner has made scouts look foolish through his hard work and NASCAR-level speed. 

5. Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton bounced around 11 teams in his 17 seasons, spending most years in a different city. While he was a baseball journeyman, he made speed a constant at each stop. Lofton was among the most reliable and fastest home-to-home times in baseball, especially in the mid-1990s. 

Lofton spent nine-and-a-half seasons with the Cleveland Guardians and made his mark between 1992 and 1996. He led the AL in stolen bases for five seasons in a row and was integral to Cleveland’s 1995 pennant. When crunch time arrived, he had his team’s back! Lofton had 34 stolen bases in his postseason career to lead all players. 

4. Billy Hamilton

Billy Hamilton spent 11 seasons in the MLB before leaving for the Mexican Baseball League. When the Reds drafted him in 2009, he quickly set Minor League Baseball (MiLB) on fire with records. By 2013, Hamilton set the MiLB record for most steals in a single season before heading to the majors. 

Hamilton only played six full seasons in the 2010s, but he finished third in the decade for stolen bases. While he never led the league in stolen bases, he was consistently fast and furious at every stop. The Mississippi product typically finished in the upper echelon by season’s end, and it showed in his career total of 326 stolen bases. 

3. Lou Brock

While he started his career in Chicago, Lou Brock made his name in The Lou due to his base-stealing capabilities. Fans quickly forgot his rough start with the Cubs by consistently leading the NL in stolen bases. From 1966 to 1974, he was the man almost nobody could catch. 

Stolen bases earned his payday, but Brock was a solid overall player. Playing for 19 seasons gave him time to join the coveted 3,000-hit club and rack up 149 home runs. By the end of his career, he put together a resume good enough for the Hall of Fame. In 1985, he earned enough votes to enter on the first ballot. 

2. Herb Washington

Herb Washington had a short stint in the MLB but was undoubtedly one of the fastest baseball players of all time. In 1974, he played for the Oakland Athletics and won a World Series despite not having a single at-bat. The team used him as a designated runner, as his only role would be to steal bases. 
The plan was unconventional, but his 60-yard dash time was among the fastest in baseball. Why not go for it? Washington’s background was in track and field, where he excelled as a college athlete. The Mississippi native won numerous Big 10 championships in the 50-yard and 60-yard dashes. Washington didn’t last the 1975 season but was still faster than most athletes.

1. Rickey Henderson 

The fastest baseball runner of all time was Rickey Henderson, who finished his storied 25-year career with 1,406 steals. He safely stole bases over 80% of the time, making life hell for catchers behind home plate. There’s a reason why fans call him the Man of Steal!

After year 25, Henderson held the record for the most stolen bases, unintentional walks, runs and leadoff home runs. The kid from Chicago stole over 100 bases in a season three times — an unprecedented feat in the MLB. Henderson easily made the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, thanks to his nearly 2,300 career runs and 300 home runs. 

Ranking the Fastest MLB Players of All Time

Since kids played townball in the 19th century, baseball has seen incredible athletes. Each all-time great player stands out for particular qualities, including speed and athleticism. Your takeoff and sprint speed determine your ability to steal bases, which could lead to runs and World Series rings. Will any current or future player take the title of Man of Steal from Rickey Henderson?