Mookie? Trout? MLB stars name their dream teammates

During Spring Training, MLB.com beat writers surveyed their clubhouses, asking players for their opinions on a range of topics. Well over 100 players participated, in exchange for anonymity. In the leadup to Opening Day, MLB.com is publishing a series of stories based on the results of that survey.

Today¡¯s topic: Who is a player you¡¯ve never had as a teammate who you would most like to play with?

Amazing skills on the diamond. Leadership in the clubhouse. Humor and kindness off the field. There are so many ways baseball players can be good teammates, and every MLB player has known their share of great ones over the years.

But which stars do MLB¡¯s best dream of playing alongside? We asked the players -- here¡¯s what they said.

1-Tie) Mookie Betts, Dodgers

¡°He's such a good athlete and a good guy.¡±

That¡¯s how one National League outfielder summed up Betts, the all-around star player known for his kindness off the field as well as his talent on it.

An incredible athlete (in basketball, golf and even bowling, as well as baseball), Betts is known as a fierce competitor who commands the respect of those around him -- teammates or opponents who, well, might want to be his teammates.

¡°Just watching him play the game, and from what I've heard, the respect he gets from everybody,¡± one NL reliever said when asked why he chose Betts as his ideal teammate.

An eight-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger and six-time Gold Glover who won the American League MVP in 2018, Betts¡¯ r¨¦sum¨¦ on the field speaks for itself. Pair that with his kindness, drive and humility, and it¡¯s not hard to see why MLB players would love to have him on their teams.

¡°That guy is like the freakin' mayor,¡± another NL outfielder said. ¡°And hearing that Mookie Betts is a fan of my game is pretty special to me. He's super gracious.¡±

1-T) Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

Everyone around MLB knows the special things Ohtani is doing on and off the field, but seeing it up close is a different story.

Most of the players who chose Ohtani as their dream teammate are simply curious: How does he do it?

¡°I would love to play with him, just to see what he does every day,¡± an AL first baseman said.

Ohtani is expected to return to two-way status this season once his rehab from right elbow surgery in November 2023 is complete. Seeing him take the mound would only be an extra incentive to share a clubhouse with him in 2025.

¡°He's this day and age's Babe Ruth,¡± one NL outfielder said of Ohtani. ¡°He's pretty special.¡±

Perhaps one other reason to choose Ohtani as an ideal teammate? Your team won¡¯t have to face him.

1-T) Mike Trout, Angels

Trout is the third and final Southern California star to land in a tie for the top spot here. Considered one of MLB¡¯s best players since his AL Rookie of the Year campaign back in 2012, the Angels outfielder is also apparently one of the Majors¡¯ most sought-after teammates.

¡°I've heard nothing but good things about him, and he's obviously a generational talent,¡± an NL first baseman said of Trout.

Of course, Trout hasn¡¯t gotten as many chances to show off that talent lately. Various injuries, including a twice-torn meniscus in his left knee in 2024, have kept him to just 266 games since 2021.

A full offseason and a position change to right field will hopefully help keep Trout on the field in 2025 -- something those who¡¯d like him as a teammate would love to see.

¡°See him healthy every day?¡± an NL outfielder said. ¡°That¡¯d be sick.¡±

4-T) Aaron Judge, Yankees

As incredible as Judge¡¯s skill set is, it¡¯s his personality outside the batter¡¯s box that stood out here.

The husband and father, dog dad and animated children¡¯s show guest star is seen as a good guy to be around and a great teammate, according to responses by many of Judge¡¯s peers.

And having around a guy who can hit homers with the best of them certainly doesn¡¯t hurt, either.

¡°He probably has some good hitting tips, and I've heard he's a great guy to have around, great teammate,¡± a fellow AL outfielder said. ¡°It would be fun to hang out and pick his brain.¡±

Like Betts and Trout, Judge has also shown the willingness to move around the diamond for the benefit of his team, primarily playing center field in 2024 but moving back to right field this season after the Yankees acquired Cody Bellinger in an offseason trade.

¡°I¡¯m excited,¡± Judge said. ¡°I¡¯ve been playing right the whole time, went over to center to help the team out any way I could to give us the best lineup.¡±

4-T) Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

It should come as no surprise that nearly all of Kershaw¡¯s votes came from pitchers who grew up watching him and would love to learn from the veteran lefty.

¡°I would love to pick his mind about pitching,¡± said one starter from an NL rival.

Kershaw, who will turn 37 later this month, re-signed with the Dodgers on another one-year deal back in February. While injuries and age mean his career is in its twilight, there are plenty of pitchers who¡¯d love to learn from him before he hangs up his cleats for good.

¡°Probably not a ton of years left, but I idolize him and would love to share a clubhouse with him,¡± an AL reliever said.

Since Kershaw has only ever worn a Dodgers uniform in the Majors, most players haven¡¯t gotten the chance to team up with him -- but they still know the impact he has left on the game.

¡°I grew up in California, he's obviously a legend, and everyone says how great he is as a person and teammate,¡± an AL starter said.

4-T) Francisco Lindor, Mets

It¡¯s easy to see how a guy nicknamed ¡°Mr. Smile¡± could be a great teammate. Lindor¡¯s grin and infectious energy have been hallmarks of his playing career, and his reputation around the league is a great one.

¡°I feel like he just seems to have a lot of joy with how he plays, and I've never heard a bad thing about him,¡± one NL reliever said.

Not only that, but Lindor is an incredible player who lifts up his teammates around him. His home run against the Braves in a final-day doubleheader and his grand slam against the Phillies in the NLDS were just two examples of how Lindor led the Mets deep into the postseason in 2024.

¡°I like his attitude and how he is on and off the field," an NL reliever said. "I'd like to see that firsthand."

Honorable mention: Willson Contreras, Cardinals

While the results of this survey are anonymous, one player went on the record to express his desire to be teammates with Contreras.

That player? His younger brother, Brewers star catcher William Contreras. The two are currently NL Central rivals, but they¡¯d love to team up together someday.

¡°We played together in the All-Star Game, but that's not the same,¡± William said.

Others receiving multiple votes: Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper, Salvador Perez, Freddie Freeman, Jacob deGrom, Nolan Arenado, Austin Hedges, Tarik Skubal, Ronald Acu?a Jr., Cody Bellinger, Carlos Correa, Josh Hader, Joc Pederson, Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez