Get excited baseball fans, MLB The Show is back. The baseball sim developed by San Diego Studios has been lauded for its realism, accurate player ratings, and dynamic game mechanics. This year's edition, however, is being praised for a different reason. For the first time in its history, MLB The Show 21 will release on the Xbox Series, and will also be available on Game Pass.
MLB The Show 21 offers many game modes, but year after year, Franchise mode continues to be one of the more popular, mainly because fans think they have what it takes to build a winning team. When constructing a potential World Series roster, it's important to have competent infielders. It's tempting to acquire as many power hitters as possible and simply score a bajillion runs a game, but there's a reason why the motto is "defense wins championships."
These defensive specialists take pride in their fielding abilities and could be difference-makers in the team's success.
10 Matt Olson, A's 1B: 90
Many major league teams hide potential defensive liabilities at first base, typically power hitters. It's rare to have a quality defender also be a good hitter, so in Matt Olson's case, he's truly a special player. The Oakland infielder debuted in 2016 but didn't become a starter for the team until 2018. Olson's defense immediately paid dividends, as the first baseman won back-to-back Gold Glove awards in 2018 and 2019.
Appearing in all 60 games last season, Olson committed only one error. While his arm strength (52) and accuracy (62) are terrible, those ratings aren't necessarily important at first base. What is important is his fielding (90) and reaction time (98), which are sky-high. Although Olson is only a .245 career hitter, he possesses devastating power against right-handed pitching (97).
9 Javier Báez, Cubs SS: 90
When the Chicago Cubs finally vanquished The Curse of the Billy Goat and won the 2016 World Series, Javier Báez was a major factor for the team. Although Báez didn't win any regular season awards that year, he was named NLCS MVP for his performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After being named an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, including finishing second for MVP in 2018, Báez won his first Gold Glove award in 2020.
Báez is extremely versatile and can play all over the diamond. While his main position is shortstop, the Cubs have deployed Báez at first base, second base, and in the outfield. The 26-year-old's high ratings in fielding (90), arm strength (96), and reaction time (94) attest to his versatility on the field. Báez's accuracy (50) is atrocious, so it might serve best to keep him in the infield to minimize any throwing errors.
8 Evan White, Mariners 1B: 92
For two decades, the Seattle Mariners have been one of the worst franchises in baseball. The team's last playoff appearance was in 2001 when the Mariners won an unprecedented 116 games. Of those 20 years without a playoff berth, Seattle's only had a winning record in seven seasons. The bright side of all those years of losing is the team should be ripe with young talent.
First baseman Evan White is a very good fielder (92) with one of the best reaction times (96) in the league. Behind only one error, the 24-year-old won a Gold Glove award in his rookie season last year. White's entire value is strictly on defense, as the first baseman had a .176 batting average last season.
7 Kolten Wong, Brewers 2B: 92
Making his debut in 2013 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kolten Wong spent the first eight years of his career in Missouri. The rival Milwaukee Brewers signed Wong in free agency after the 2020 season. What the Brewers got is one of the best defensive second basemen available.
Wong is coming off back-to-back Gold Glove-winning seasons and only committed two errors last year. The 30-year-old fields grounders with ease (92), has above-average accuracy (87), and a near-perfect reaction time (97).
6 Nick Ahmed, Diamondbacks SS: 92
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2011, Nick Ahmed eventually made his major league debut in 2014 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ahmed became Arizona's full-time starter at shortstop in 2015 and has been a defensive specialist ever since. Ahmed's best defensive seasons occurred in 2018 and 2019 when the shortstop won two consecutive Gold Glove awards.
While Ahmed isn't the type of player you want batting in a crucial situation, he's definitely the type of player to have out in the field. Unlike other infielders, Ahmed's overall defensive ratings are quite good. Ahmed's bread and butter is his fielding (92) and reaction time (96), though his arm strength (71) and accuracy (70) aren't to be underestimated.
5 Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Rangers 3B/SS: 93
After experiencing success in the early 2010s, the Texas Rangers have fallen a bit in recent years. Between 2010 and 2016, the Rangers made the postseason five times and won the American League in 2010 and 2011. Unfortunately, the Rangers came up short both times in the World Series, losing to the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals respectively. Isiah Kiner-Falefa made his debut with the Rangers in 2018 and has since become a swiss-army knife for the team on defense.
Over his short career, Kiner-Falefa has spent time at second base, third base, shortstop, and catcher. Although he exclusively played third base last season and won a Gold Glove in the process, the Rangers have positioned the 26-year-old only at shortstop in 2021. His defensive prowess is due to high ratings in fielding (93), arm accuracy (85), and reaction time (97).
4 Andrelton Simmons, Twins SS: 94
For a player as skilled defensively as Andrelton Simmons, it's a bit of a shock that he's been on three different teams in his 10-year career. Simmons made his debut in 2012 with the Braves and won two Gold Glove awards in his four-year tenure with the team. Atlanta signed Simmons to a massive seven-year extension after the shortstop won the defensive awards, but subsequently traded him to the Los Angeles Angels. As a member of the Angels, Simmons won two more Gold Gloves with the club before signing with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent.
Simmons has remarkable value on both offense and defense. Offensively, he's a respectable contact hitter against both right-handers (80) and left-handers (73). Defensively, though, is where Simmons shines. Coupled with an extremely high rating in fielding (94), Simmons's reaction time (99) is perfect. His throwing power (75) and accuracy (70) are average, but when combined with his other highly rated defensive attributes, Simmons is a star.
3 David Fletcher, Angels 2B: 96
Surprisingly, David Fletcher has never won a Gold Glove in his career. Making his debut in 2018, Fletcher has played every position on the field besides first base, center field, pitcher, and catcher. This season, however, the Angels have exclusively played Fletcher at second base.
In his four-year career, the 26-year-old has only committed a total of 16 errors. Committing only 16 errors in four years playing five different positions is quite a feat. Fletcher's high fielding (96) and reaction (99) allows him to adapt anywhere on the diamond. And with a career batting average of .292, Fletcher offers enormous value to any team.
2 Matt Chapman, A's 3B: 99
One of only two players with a perfect fielding (99) rating, Matt Chapman is on the express train toward stardom. Drafted by the Oakland A's in 2014, he made his debut for the team in 2017 and immediately became Oakland's starting third baseman. Chapman won back-to-back Gold Glove awards in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named an All-Star in 2019.
Other than his perfect fielding rating, Chapman is rightfully among the top infielders with high ratings in arm strength (88), accuracy (70), and reaction time (99).
1 Nolan Arenado, Cardinals 3B: 99
Not only is Nolan Arenado the highest-rated defensive infielder in MLB The Show 21, but he's also regarded as one of the best overall players in baseball. When Arenado debuted in 2013 for the Colorado Rockies, his defensive impact was felt instantly. The 30-year-old has won a Gold Glove award every single year of his career, was named an All-Star five times, and has finished in the top five of MVP voting three times.
Arenado's perfect fielding (99) and reaction time (99) combined with his high offensive ratings against left-handed pitching (96 contact, 99 power) concludes that Arenado is simply the best infielder in the game.