The 15 Best Players In MLB The Show 21 To Get On Your Team

Baseball fans are always excited for a new MLB The Show. That’s especially true with the 2021 version as it’s the first baseball game to come to the PlayStation 5. This creates the expectation that there will be big changes to the series, due to the power of the console. However, casting this aside, it is also exciting to see which players are worth acquiring when using the game.

This is especially the case when it comes to Franchise Mode, as it allows the player to try to win the World Series through a team of their own vision. It is important that this team is full of solid pieces, as the slightest of weak points can result in a team having a bad simulation. Thus, there needs a perfect balance on the roster to see success. This is where knowing which players to acquire is especially important. There a ton of options to go with, but some are just leagues ahead.

Updated on June 26th, 2021 by Kevin Pantoja: The game of baseball can be a fickle one as players who shined one season might struggle mightily in the next. That makes picking the right ones for your team even more difficult. Thankfully, along with the original players selected as being the best to acquire, a few others have stood out for their consistent production and dominance over the years.

15 Freddie Freeman

It’s difficult to talk about the best players in the world and not include the guy who won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2020. Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman finally reached that next level but he’s actually been a great player for quite some time.

For his career, Freeman is a .293 hitter, has led the league in doubles, hits, and runs at different points, and he’s as consistent as they come. He also has a Gold Glove to his name, meaning his defense is on par with his offense. At 31, he might not be a long-term answer for your franchise but he’ll help immediately in your quest for a World Series.

14 Shane Bieber

Speaking of players who took home prestigious awards in 2020, there’s Shane Bieber. The Cleveland Indians have put out some great pitchers over the years including CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Corey Kluber, and now Bieber. They all have Cy Young Award wins in common, with Bieber taking it home recently.

The former All-Star Game MVP won pitching’s triple crown in 2020, leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. The beauty of it all is that Bieber is only 26-years-old. If you get him on your team, it would be wise to lock him up as he could anchor your rotation as a top-level pitcher for at least a decade.

13 Anthony Rendon

When fans think of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, their minds tend to go to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. One is the best player in the world and the other is a two-way sensation on both the mound and at the plate. Flying under the radar is the quiet superstar that is third baseman, Anthony Rendon.

Though he has struggled a bit with Anaheim, his time with the Washington Nationals beforehand was stellar. In 2019, Rendon led the NL in RBI (126) and doubles (44) while batting .319. He also led the Nationals to a World Series win with some of the most clutch home runs in MLB history.

12 Ronald Acuña Jr.

It can be tough to pinpoint who the best young player in baseball is but Ronald Acuña Jr. has as good a claim to that title as anyone. He is pretty much the definition of a five-tool player. Acuña Jr. hits for average, has prodigious power, plays good defense, has a strong arm, and is a great base stealer.

In fact, many fans believe that Acuña Jr. could one day join the exclusive 40 homer/40 steal club. The former Rookie of the Year winner is also only 23-years-old, meaning that he’s exactly the kind of chip to build your franchise around for years to come.

11 Jacob deGrom

The only thing that holds Jacob deGrom back from other players to build around is that he’s already 33-years-old. Still, if he keeps pitching at the level he has in recent years, you’re bound to get some terrific outings from him for at least a few more seasons. He also has the highest rating of anyone on the MLB The Show 21 rosters at 99.

deGrom has a Rookie of the Year award and two Cy Youngs to his name already while working on a possible third. He’s basically unhittable, with a high strikeout rate and a minuscule ERA. Plus, deGrom recently began delivering with the bat, racking up RBIs at the plate.

10 Mike Trout

Mike Trout is a no-brainer when it comes to players to use in MLB The Show 21. Baseball fans often regard him as being the best player in the entire league and possibly of all time. It is difficult to argue against this fact when looking at all he provides.

He is a five-tool player while being elite in every aspect of the game. When using him in previous games from the series, he is essentially a cheat code because of his great mix of power and contact, too.

9 Fernando Tatis Jr.

The cover athlete of the game, it is apparent that Fernando Tatis Jr. is absolutely worth using in it. He is only 22-years-old and already showing that he is the type of player to build a franchise around with the San Diego Padres.

Power-hitting shortstops are not necessarily the most common of occurrences, so Tatis Jr. needs to be treasured. Given the fact that he also possesses decent speed and strong fielding, he is absolutely somebody who can dominate in this game. He’s easily one of the best players in MLB The Show 21.

8 Mookie Betts

The Boston Red Sox are kicking themselves for not bringing back elite talent, Mookie Betts. After being traded to Los Angeles Dodgers before last season, he helped lead the team to their first World Series win since 1988.

Given the fact that he is an excellent all-around player and has a lengthy 13-year contract, he definitely is worth using for years to come in MLB The Show. He will easily be able to hit home runs, while simultaneously being one of the best fielders, too.

7 Francisco Lindor

The New York Mets are definitely going to be happy having Francisco Lindor on their roster. He is a perennial all-star, while also still being only 27-years-old. Thus, he certainly is somebody the player can build around in Franchise Mode.

There was a question mark around him as he was set to become a free agent after the 2021 season. That could’ve led to him walking away from your team soon. However, the Mets inked him to a contract lasting over a decade, so he’s locked up for a long time.

6 Juan Soto

Juan Soto is only 22-years-old, but he already has accomplished a ton in his career thus far. He is not only an excellent power hitter, but he also hits for contact especially well. In fact, in the shortened 2020 season, he hit .351, which is just remarkable.

Soto also led the Washington Nationals to a World Series win in 2019, providing huge hits along the way. It will be fascinating to see how much he develops in MLB The Show 21 over the years, but given how he played this past season, he should be excellent. In Franchise Mode, he is another great player to build the team around.

5 Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is now with the St. Louis Cardinals after years with the Colorado Rockies. He is an appealing choice to use in MLB The Show 21, as he is one of the best fielders in the entire league.

However, besides his remarkable fielding, he has the ability to a lot of home runs, while also getting on base often. He is also still 29-years-old, so he does have a handful of years left in his prime, too.

4 Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson is becoming a top player in the MLB, as he is adept when it comes to getting on base. He had the best batting average in 2019, while also winning the Silver Slugger Award last season.

In a way, he still seems to be underrated outside of White Sox fandom. However, when seeing as how he is a constant threat to hit over .300, while also being a solid shortstop, he really is an excellent piece to build a team around.

3 Christian Yelich

The 2020 campaign was a very difficult one for Yelich, as it became clear that lingering injuries were impacting his performance. However, he definitely is set for a rebound, as his two previous seasons displayed just how much of a top player he is capable of being.

His rough season should not impact his overall too significantly, as he will be able to turn it around. When on his game, he is able to not only hit a plethora of round-trippers but provide elite defense in the process.

2 Trevor Story

Trevor Story is a huge name in the MLB world right now, as it is clear that the Rockies are looking to move him. They are in the midst of a complete rebuild, and a player of Story’s talent will slow that down.

Story is only 28-years-old and is a consistent All-Star in this league. This translates well over to these games too, as he is a constant home run threat, which meshes well with his ability to maintain a respectable batting average.

1 Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger had a bit of a difficulty hitting for contact this past season, but this will be only temporary. At the young age of 25, he already has an MVP award and a World Series ring, so that level of skill just does not vanish.

He also is a star when it comes to this video game series, as his power-hitting meshes well with his excellent fielding. He makes choosing the Dodgers an easy decision for the player, as he will be among the best in the game for years in Franchise Mode.

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