Who Is MLB's Greatest Utility Player of All Time?

Updated March 16, 2019 3.6k votes 584 voters 14.0k views

List RulesWhether you take WAR into account or just think they're the best all-around players, vote up baseball's best utility guys of all time.

While it may not be the most sought-after recognition or accomplishment, going down as the best utility player of all time is no easy feat. For most MLB players, they get to grow and improve at a single position—becoming all the more comfortable season after season. For utility players, however, they could be playing second base one game and move to the outfield in the next, depending on where they're needed. Regardless of where they're thrown, though, the top utility players always perform. Some may even be considered the best players in baseball right now.

When you're talking the best utility player in all of baseball, it's not just those players who platoon at third. These guys can fill in just about anywhere, whether someone needs a rest or just got sent to the DL. These are players like today's Kike Hernandez and Ben Zobrist, along with the greatest utility players of old such as Rance Mulliniks and Bill Spiers. So, who are the best MLB utility players of all time?

Check out the list of noteworthy utility players below and vote up those who you think were or are baseball's best. You can also feel free to add players that may be missing from the list.

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Rance Mulliniks
Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays
Position: Infielder
Birthplace: Tulare, California, United States of America
Steven Rance Mulliniks (born January 15, 1956) is a former Major League Baseball... more
2
161
84
Ben Zobrist
Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Position: Right fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Eureka, Illinois
Bats: Ambidexterity
Benjamin Thomas Zobrist (; born May 26, 1981), nicknamed Zorilla, is an American professional... more
More Ben Zobrist
#51 of 150 The Best Chicago Cubs Of All Time#4 of 78 The Best Tampa Bay Rays of All Time
3
42
16
Michael Young
Texas Rangers
Position: Designated hitter, Infielder, First baseman, Second baseman, Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Covina, California
Bats: Right-handed
Michael Brian Young (born October 19, 1976), is an American former professional baseball... more
4
44
23
Julio Franco
Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Designated hitter, First baseman, Second baseman, Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Hato Mayor Province, Dominican Republic
Julio César Franco Robles (born August 23, 1958), is a Dominican former professional baseball... more
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40
20
Tony Phillips
Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers
Position: Left fielder, Infielder, Second baseman, Third baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Keith Anthony Phillips (April 25, 1959 – February 17, 2016) was an American professional... more
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47
34
Juan Castro
Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins
Position: Infielder, Shortstop
Birthplace: Los Mochis, Mexico
Juan Gabriel Castro (born June 20, 1972), is a Mexican former professional baseball infielder,... more
7
59
50
Howard Kendrick
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Position: Left fielder, First baseman, Second baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
Bats: Right-handed
Howard Joseph Kendrick III (born July 12, 1983) is an American professional baseball second... more
8
30
17
Matt Carpenter
St. Louis Cardinals
Position: First baseman, Third baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Galveston, Texas
Bats: Left-handed
Matthew Martin Lee Carpenter (born November 26, 1985) is an American professional baseball... more
More Matt Carpenter
#424 of 708 The Best Hitters in Baseball History#411 of 582 The Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time
9
82
77
José Oquendo
St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets
Position: Outfielder, Infielder
Nationality: Puerto Rico
Birthplace: Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
José Manuel Roberto Guillermo Oquendo Contreras (born July 4, 1963), nicknamed The Secret... more
10
61
55
Marwin González
Houston Astros
Position: Utility
Nationality: Venezuela
Birthplace: Puerto Ordaz and San Felix, Venezuela
Bats: Switch
Marwin Javier González (born March 14, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility... more
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59
53
Chris Taylor
Christopher Armand Taylor Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder/infielder for... more
More Chris Taylor
#104 of 273 The Top Current Baseball Players#8 of 56 The Most Attractive MLB Players Today
12
21
9
Martín Prado
Atlanta Braves
Position: Left fielder, Infielder, Second baseman
Nationality: Venezuela
Birthplace: Maracay, Venezuela
Bats: Right-handed
Martín Manuel Prado Bustamante (born October 27, 1983) is a Venezuelan professional baseball... more
13
26
15
B. J. Surhoff
Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves
Position: Outfielder, Left fielder, Infielder, Catcher, First baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: New York City, New York
William James "B. J." Surhoff (born August 4, 1964) is a former catcher, outfielder, first... more

14
28
18
Plácido Polanco
Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers
Position: Second baseman, Third baseman
Nationality: Dominican Republic
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right-handed
Plácido Enrique Polanco (; born October 10, 1975) is a Dominican-American former professional... more
15
32
24
Juan Uribe
Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies
Position: Infielder, Second baseman, Shortstop, Third baseman
Birthplace: Baní, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right-handed
Juan Cespedes Uribe Tena (born March 22, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball... more
16
48
44
Brock Holt
Brock Wyatt Holt (born June 11, 1988), nicknamed The Brock Star, is an American professional... more
17
21
10
Josh Harrison
Joshua Isaiah Harrison (born July 8, 1987) is an American professional baseball infielder who... more
18
28
19
Mariano Duncan
Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Second baseman, Shortstop
Birthplace: San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Mariano Duncan Nalasco (born March 13, 1963 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a... more
19
35
29
Chone Figgins
Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Position: Outfielder, Infielder, Second baseman, Center fielder, Third baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Leary, Georgia
Bats: Ambidexterity
Desmond DeChone Figgins (; born January 22, 1978) is an American former professional baseball... more
20
64
65
Kike Hernandez
Enrique Javier Hernández is a Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player for the Los... more
21
40
38
Willie Bloomquist
Seattle Mariners
Position: Outfielder, Infielder, Second baseman, Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Port Orchard, Washington
Bats: Right-handed
William Paul Bloomquist (; born November 27, 1977) is an American former professional baseball... more
More Willie Bloomquist
#58 of 188 The Best Seattle Mariners of All Time#20 of 28 28 Famous Athletes Who Are Catholic
22
16
9
Jed Lowrie
Boston Red Sox
Position: Infielder, Second baseman, Shortstop, Third baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Salem, Oregon
Bats: Ambidexterity
Jed Carlson Lowrie (born April 17, 1984) is an American professional baseball infielder for... more
23
18
13
Mark Loretta
Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres
Position: Infielder, Second baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
Bats: Right-handed
Mark David Loretta (born August 14, 1971) is an American former professional baseball... more

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Eduardo Núñez
Eduardo Michelle Núñez Méndez (born June 15, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball... more
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37
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Bill Spiers
Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros
Position: Utility infielder, Shortstop, Third baseman
Birthplace: Orangeburg, South Carolina
William James Spiers III (born June 5, 1966) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball... more

José Oquendo

Mariano Duncan

Bill Spiers