The Top 16 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders ( through July 22 , 2012 ) : # Reggie Jackson – 2,597 # Jim Thome – 2,527 ( 19 ) # Sammy Sosa – 2,306 # Andrés Galarraga – 2,003 # Alex Rodriguez – 1,996 ( 80 ) # Adam Dunn - 1,952 ( 143 ) # José Canse
On July 22 , 2012 , Jim Thome had less than 2,528 strikeouts in his career , Alex Rodriguez had less than 1,998 , and Adam Dunn had less than 1,953 .