Is Miguel Cabrera the greatest Venezuelan MLB player ever? Ranking Top 5 baseball players from the South American nation

Miguel Cabrera is not only one of the greatest Venezuelan MLB players of all time but is one of the greatest in MLB history. One of the best pure hitters of his generation, Cabrera has enjoyed an incredibly successful major league career. His storied baseball career is set to come to a close following this season.

"Team Venezuela is undefeated through three games of #WorldBaseballClassic pool play! Eugenio Suárez discussed the team's win over Nicaragua and how special it's been to share a locker room with Miguel Cabrera," MLB Network tweeted.

While fans around the world know about Miggy's success, they may not know of the numerous success stories that came from his home country. When asked about which country produces the greatest baseball players, Venezuela may not be the first nation mentioned.

However, the country has produced an impressive number of high-profile Venezuelan MLB stars, including Miguel Cabrera. While modern players such as Jose Altuve and Ronald Acuna Jr. have legitimate cases to be included in the top five, there are more accomplished players ranked ahead of them.

Here is a deeper look at the top five Venezuelan MLB players of all time.

#5, "King" Felix Hernandez

A legend of the Seattle Mariners, Felix Hernandez was one of the most feared starting pitchers in the MLB during his career. During his prime, Hernandez threw a perfect game in 2012, two years after winning the 2010 Cy Young.

"Adrian Beltre vs Felix Hernandez was always a joy to watch. Two beloved Seattle Mariners," George Jarjour tweeted.

It's tough to find a Mariners pitching record that doesn't belong to Hernandez. The six-time All-Star finished with a 169-136 career record with a 3.42 ERA and 2,524 strikeouts.

#4, Johan Santana

Johan Santana may very well be the best pitcher ever produced by the South American country. Arguments could be made for Felix Hernandez and Francisco Rodriguez, however, during Santana's prime, he was the best pitcher in the MLB.

"Crazy to think Johan Santana is just 44 years old. There was a time where he was the most dominant pitcher in the game. Twins fans too young to remember: Every single outing you knew without a shadow of a doubt not only would the Twins be in good hands, but it’d be dominant," Ex Twins News tweeted.

A four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana threw the first no-hitter in New York Mets history in 2012. While injuries eventually derailed his career, his impact on the MLB during his time with the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets will be etched in history.

#3, Omar Vizquel

Few shortstops were as elite on defense as Omar Vizquel. He is not only the MLB's all-time leader in games played at shortstop but also the leader in double plays turned. Vizquel’s fielding percentage at shortstop is also tied for the best in MLB history.

While he was never one of the most feared hitters in the MLB, he collected 2,877 hits over his 24 seasons. Vizquel won 11 Gold Gloves, including a stretch of nine in a row that spanned most of the 1990s with the Cleveland Indians, making him the best defensive shortstop of his generation and one of the best Venezuelan MLB players to ever play the game.

#2, Luis Aparicio

This may be a controversial choice given the fact that Luis Aparicio is the only Venezuelan MLB player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. However, this will not be the case for long, as Miguel Cabrera will potentially enter the Hall of Fame unanimously.

"#OTD in 1960, the A.L. reigning champion #WhiteSox added player's names to jerseys. It became the trend of the times and was quickly standardized. FYI, that is not Luis Aparicio's #," Custom Baseball tweeted.

A World Series champion with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, "Little Louie" was one of the best shortstops of his generation. Aparicio finished his career with 13 All-Star selections and nine Gold Glove Awards.

Over his 18-year career, Aparicio recorded 2,677 hits, 83 home runs, 791 RBIs, and 506 stolen bases. He is widely regarded as one of the best and most important Venezuelan MLB players of all time.

#1, Miguel Cabrera

While some fans may prefer Aparicio, it's difficult to argue that Miguel Cabrera is not the greatest Venezuelan MLB player ever. Throughout his 20-year career with the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers, Cabrera has 3,088 hits, 507 home runs, 1,847 RBIs and a career .308 batting average.

"Miguel Cabrera gets an ovation from the fans after being lifted for a pinch-runner," Talkin' Baseball tweeted.

The Detroit Tigers legend has not only cemented himself as the greatest Venezuelan MLB player ever but one of the best of his generation. Cabrera ranks near the top of nearly every Tigers offensive record. He will find himself in the Hall of Fame the moment he is eligible.