Speed has always been one of baseball’s most electrifying tools, capable of changing games in an instant, especially for the fastest players in the MLB.
From legendary base stealers of the past to today’s Statcast-measured sprint kings, the fastest players in the MLB have thrilled fans with their quickness.
The fastest players in the MLB today all run north of 29 feet per second with some players running above 30 feet per second…
We’ll take a look at the top 10 fastest players in MLB history, according to career stolen bases, as well as the top 10 fastest players that are in the league currently according to sprint speed by MLB Statcast.
Here are the fastest players in the MLB:
| Rank | Player | Career Stolen Bases | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rickey Henderson |
1,406 stolen bases | 1979-2003 |
| 2 |  Lou Brock |
938 stolen bases | 1961-1979 |
| 3 |  Billy Hamilton |
914 stolen bases | 1888-1901 |
| 4 |  Ty Cobb |
897 stolen bases | 1905-1928 |
| 5 |  Tim Raines |
808 stolen bases | 1979-2002 |
| 6 | Vince Coleman |
752 stolen bases | 1985-1997 |
| 7 |  Arlie Latham |
742 stolen bases | 1880-1909 |
| 8 | Eddie Collins |
741 stolen bases | 1906-1930 |
| 9 |  Max Carey |
738 stolen bases | 1910-1929 |
| 10 | Honus Wagner |
723 stolen bases | 1897-1917 |
Rickey Henderson | 1,406 stolen bases | 1979-2003Rickey Henderson is widely regarded as the greatest leadoff hitter, base stealer and fastest player in MLB history.
Henderson spent most of his career with the Athletics. He stole a record (and it’s not even close) 1,406 bases in his 25 MLB seasons. The 10-time All-Star and 1990 AL MVP was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
Lou Brock | 938 stolen bases | 1961-1979Lou Brock was a Hall of Fame outfielder who played 19 MLB seasons, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he is one of the fastest players in MLB history.
Brock stole 938 bases in his career, second-most all time. He led the league in steals eight times and won the World Series twice.
Billy Hamilton | 914 stolen bases | 1888-1901Billy Hamilton led the National League five times in stolen bases as he is one of the fastest players in MLB history.
“Sliding Billy” scored an MLB-record 198 runs in 1894 and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.
Ty Cobb | 897 stolen bases | 1905-1928Ty Cobb is regarded as one of baseball’s greatest hitters and one of the fastest players in MLB history.
Cobb, who primarily played for the Detroit Tigers, recorded a career batting average of .366, which is the highest in MLB history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
Tim Raines | 808 stolen bases | 1979-2002Tim Raines is up next on the list of fastest players in MLB history. He stole 808 bases in his lengthy career which included tenures with the defunct Montreal Expos and Chicago White Sox.
Raines won two World Series titles with the New York Yankees and he was a recent inductee into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Vince Coleman | 752 stolen bases | 1985-1997Former NL Rookie of the Year Vince Coleman is included on the list of fastest players in MLB history.
Coleman led the MLB in stolen bases in six consecutive seasons. He was a two-time All-Star as well.
Arlie Latham | 742 stolen bases | 1880-1909Arlie “The Freshest Man on Earth” Latham is next up on the list of fastest players in MLB history.
Latham earned that nickname because he was a renowned prankster. On the field, he was a premier base stealer ranking seventh all-time.
Eddie Collins | 741 stolen bases | 1906-1930Eddie Collins played 25 seasons in the MLB with the Athletics and White Sox and he is one of the fastest players in MLB history.
Collins collected well over 3,000 hits and stole 741 bases in his career. He won an impressive six World Series titles and he earned the American League MVP in 1914.
Max Carey | 738 stolen bases | 1910-1929Hall of Famer Max Carey led the NL in stolen bases 10 times, making him one of the fastest players in MLB history.
Carey, the former Pittsburgh Pirate, also excelled defensively, earning him the nickname “Scoops”. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.
Honus Wagner | 723 stolen bases | 1897-1917Honus Wagner is one of baseball’s greatest shortstops and he rounds out the list of fastest players in MLB history.
Wagner recorded a career batting average of .328, stole 723 bases and recorded over 3,400 hits in his legendary career. Wagner won eight batting titles and was one of the first Hall of Famers to be inducted in 1936.
| Rank | Player | Sprint Speed | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Eli White |
30.4 ft/sec | 2020-Present |
| 2 | Trea Turner |
30.1 ft/sec | 2015-Present |
| 3 |  Chandler Simpson |
29.9 ft/sec | 2025-Present |
| 4 |  Bobby Witt Jr. |
29.9 ft/sec | 2022-Present |
| 5 |  Nasim Nunez |
29.8 ft/sec | 2024-Present |
| 6 |  Jake McCarthy |
29.8 ft/sec | 2021-Present |
| 7 | Victor Scott II |
29.6 ft/sec | 2024-Present |
| 8 |  Jose Fernandez |
29.6 ft/sec | 2026-Present |
| 9 |  Konnor Griffin |
29.5 ft/sec | 2026-Present |
| 10 |  Cam Smith |
29.4 ft/sec | 2025-Present |
Eli White | 30.4 ft/sec | 2020-PresentEli White debuted in September 2020 with the Texas Rangers and he later joined the Atlanta Braves, becoming one of the fastest players in the MLB today in the process.
White is prized for his defensive range and speed in the outfield. He has 30 career stolen bases while playing limited innings off the bench.
Trea Turner | 30.1 ft/sec | 2015-PresentTrea Turner has starred with the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies as one of the fastest players in the MLB today.
Turner is a three-time All-Star, World Series champion and he led the NL in stolen bases twice. He had an impressive 30 steals without being caught in 2023.
Chandler Simpson | 29.9 ft/sec | 2025-PresentChandler Simpson was one of the standout rookies in 2025 after making his debut for the Tampa Bay Rays in April, becoming one of the fastest players in the MLB today.
Simpson has reached base pretty consistently and he uses his speed on the basepaths and in center field. He had 44 stolen bases last year, earning consideration in the AL Rookie of the Year odds.
Bobby Witt Jr. | 29.9 ft/sec | 2022-PresentBobby Witt Jr. is the fastest player in the MLB today as his sprint speed is 29.9 feet per second according to MLB Statcast.
Witt Jr. quickly emerged as an elite all-around star for the Kansas City Royals. He’s already a two-time All-Star, won a batting title, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger
Nasim Nunez | 29.8 ft/sec | 2024-PresentSwitch-hitting infielder Nasim Nunez of the Nationals comes in at No. 5 in our list of fastest players in the MLB today.
Nunez is a premium defender with elite speed. His sprint speed is 29.8 feet per second according to MLB Statcast.
Jake McCarthy | 29.8 ft/sec | 2021-PresentA decent outfielder with impressive range, Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy has been on his horse so far this season. The 28-year-old veteran ranks sixth with a sprint speed of 29.8 through the first month of the 2026 MLB season.
McCarthy is in his first year with the Rockies, coming over via trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks in January.
Victor Scott II | 29.6 ft/sec | 2024-PresentVictor Scott II debuted with the Cardinals in 2024 and immediately became one of the fastest players in the MLB today with his blazing speed.
Scott has one of the best success rates and sprint speeds in the MLB. He covers a lot of ground for the Cardinals in centerfield.
Jose Fernandez | 29.6 ft/sec | 2026-PresentArizona Diamondbacks rookie Jose Fernandez is an anamoly on our MLB fastest players list. The 21-year-old infielder plays multiple positions, including first base. There was no other first baseman in the top-75 fastest players as of April 2026.
Fernandez has just one stolen base in his first 17 career MLB games despite his blazing speed.
Konnor Griffin | 29.5 ft/sec | 2026-PresentLike Fernandez, Konnor Griffin is in his first year in the big leagues, but has a much higher profile. The 19-year-old five-tool player signed an historic 9-year, $140 million contract extension with the Pirates in April.
Griffin has four steals early in his MLB career. He’ll likely be a mainstay on this list for years to come.
Cam Smith | 29.4 ft/sec | 2025-PresentSince debuting with the Astros in 2025, outfielder Cam Smith has risen up the ranks of the fastest players in MLB today. A former first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs, Smith is a five-tool player with great speed and athleticism.
He has 12 steals in 13 career attempts.
Eli White of the Atlanta Braves is the fastest player in the MLB right now as his sprint speed is 30.4 feet per second according to MLB Statcast. Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies has a sprint speed of 30.1 feet per second. White and Turner are the two fastest players in the MLB today.
The average speed of MLB players is approximately 27 feet per second according to MLB Statcast. The fastest players in the MLB today all run north of 29 feet per second with some players running above 30 feet per second like Eli White and Trea Turner.
It is unknown exactly how fast Rickey Henderson was during his MLB career. He has an MLB-record 1,406 stolen bases and it is estimated that his sprint speed was likely 30 feet per second, similar to other elite runners in the MLB today.
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