[Top 15] MLB The Show 24 Best Players

Updated:

29 Feb 2024

For most, individual players are the most important commodity in MLB The Show. Whether you are trading for a player in franchise mode, or (more likely) scouting for which player you would like to unlock in Diamond Dynasty, it never fails to know who’s best. But such a task can be hard with the wealth of statistics and quirks present in the game. After all, we’ve used that 95 OVR to really find out he’s more like an 80 OVR. To help you sift through this, here are my top 15 rated players in MLB the Show 24 Live roster, in ascending order.

PLEASE NOTE: All player ratings are taken from the latest update from MLB The Show 23 Player Database (https://showzone.gg/players) so as to provide the most accurate analysis per the writing of this article.

15) Pete Alonso (86 OVR)

Pete Alonso Full Home Run Derby Highlights (Home Run Derby Champ!)

Pete Alonso may not have quite risen to the stardom that he did several years back, but he is still very much the same player. Although he isn’t the most perfect first baseman in every aspect, the jury is clear on him. He’s good where it counts – on and off the diamond.

As is likely not surprising to any of you, Alonso is a power hitter pure and simple. He’s not really good at much else – his speed, fielding, and contact stats are mediocre at best. But power is one of the most relevant stats in MLB The Show gameplay, and he is squarely at the front of the pack in this regard. Averaging a whopping 112 for overall power, he is immensely gifted there respectively. Additionally, he has excellent durability, so don’t worry too much about him getting injured. Look to Alonso for a cheap but still elite power threat.

Pete Alonso STRENGTHS:

One of the the most powerful hitters in the Live roster
Cheaper than most hitters at his power level
Excellent durability

https://www.mlb.com/player/pete-alonso-624413

14) Jacob deGrom (95 OVR)

Jacob deGrom does it on the mound AND at the plate! (15 K shutout with 2 hits!)

Starting pitchers are one of those interesting commodities in The Show. Although they often have ratings that are as high as batters, in the reality (or the so-called “meta”) of the game their rating falls drastically. This is because they are only used in around one-fifth of the games that they play; so, statistically they are worth quite a bit less than their listed value. However, I’d like to honor them more in the spirit of baseball and the continued evolution of The Show towards a more authentic depiction of the game. And the best Overall-rated pitcher in the game is a good step.

As it goes without being said, deGrom is a world-class starting pitcher. A former Cy-Young Winner and unhittable phenom, there is no better bet on the Live Roster for a starter. DeGrom’s biggest pitching strength is his amazing combination of speed and control on his pitches. He has Outlier on his 4 Seam FB which adds an additional 3 mph to the pitch. On top of all of this, his pitching attributes per 9 are almost all above 90. Together, these lead to the best pitcher you could want starting a matchup.

Jacob deGrom STRENGTHS:

The highest rated pitcher in the Live roster
Incredibly good fastball pitches
Former Cy-Young winner
Look for a less injury-plagued season in 2024

https://www.mlb.com/player/jacob-degrom-594798

13) Yandy Diaz (88 OVR)

Yandy Díaz is DOMINATING! He hit five homers and had fourteen RBI in the month of May!

In his breakout campaign, Yandy Diaz established himself as one of the best pure hitting first baseman in the league, second only to Freddie Freeman. With a stellar average of .330, this guy is one of the best at making contact and making it count. He’s always showcased an ability to do it and was finally able to capitalize.

A relative newcomer to the elite hitting scene, Diaz is nonetheless no slouch. Rather than being a power-oriented first baseman, he takes a different approach as a primarily contact hitter. And this he does extremely well. Averaging 105 overall for contact, Diaz is an absolute nightmare to face anytime you need to set the table up or get a late-inning bloop. To add further to that, he has a 109 Clutch stat, which is simply unbelievable when paired together. He also boasts excellent power (92 PWR L) versus lefties. In order words, if you’re facing a left-handed pitcher in clutch situations, you couldn’t ask for a better hitter.

Yandy Diaz STRENGTHS:

One of the best contact hitters in the league
With a breakout year in 2023, look for him to only get better
Superb clutch performer
Dominates lefties

https://www.mlb.com/player/yandy-diaz-650490

12) Austin Riley (88 OVR)

Austin Riley hits a late-game go-ahead HOMER for the Atlanta Braves in NLDS Game 2!

A major part of the Braves’ insane 2023 offensive lineup, Austin Riley is currently the highest rated third baseman in The Show. Don’t let the fact that this guy played second fiddle to several other players on this list fool you. He is well equipped to stand on his own in any matchup.

The best offensive third baseman in The Show, Riley’s strength is in his great overall hitting stats. Contact-wise he averages an excellent 90 overall, which he balances with even better power. Although, in this case, he leans slightly towards lefties in which he holds a superb 113 power rating. To add, he has superb durability and solid fielding– always important for the hot corner. Lastly, he’s 26; so he’s only likely to get better.

Austin Riley STRENGTHS:

Best-hitting third baseman on the live roster
Excellent overall hitting stats
Impressive power versus lefties
Young player that on a talented squad that is only getting better

https://www.mlb.com/player/austin-riley-663586

11) Mike Trout (91 OVR)

The Legend! | Mike Trout Full 2023 Highlights

Although his glory days are likely over, it’s going to take a whole heck of a lot for Mike Trout to disappear just like that. A perennial favorite over many iterations of The Show, he still remains one of the best outfielders that you can slot into your lineup. Many gamers point to his swing as one of the easiest to time perfectly.

I’m sure you know that Trout has lost a lot of his base-stealing stats due to injuries and age, but gladly his other categories are very much intact. His contact and power stats across the board are as amazing as ever, especially with 115 power towards righties. He also still has excellent discipline and clutch attributes to boot. And, although his fielding doesn’t quite reach these levels, he still has fantastic speed (90 SPD) and great durability (90 DUR). Let’s hope those injuries don’t plague him as much this year and he continues to establish his place as one of the best all-around players ever.

Mike Trout STRENGTHS:

Superb overall hitting stats
Still possesses excellent speed and durability
Elite power towards righties
One of the most-loved swing timings in The Show’s history
He’s freaking Mike Trout

https://www.mlb.com/player/mike-trout-545361

10) Matt Olson (91 OVR)

Matt The Bat! Watch all 50 of Matt Olson's homers this season!

There is no way that I could let the league leader in home runs skip out on this list. Leading the league with a whopping 54 dingers, Olson is to be respected in whatever lineup he is in. The fact that he is on a team with six other Diamond players is just even more amazing.

As he should be, Olson is one of the best power hitters in the Live series roster. His average power is 102 and he has a mind-blowing (120 PWR R) vs righties. Keep in mind that most pitchers in the game are righties and you have yourself an amazing weapon. To go along with this, Olson has some of the best discipline and clutch stats in the game, at 98 and 95 respectively. It’s a huge blessing to have a hitter that swings really hard but doesn’t just swing at everything.

Matt Olson STRENGTHS:

Incredibly powerful hitter with 120 power versus righties
Combines these with elite discipline and clutch stats
Another young player that will continue to grow

https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-olson-621566

9) Freddie Freeman (91 OVR)

Freddie's best season?! | Freddie Freeman Full 2023 Highlights

A guy that always tops the league in best hitters and likely will for a long time, Freeman is the first player to break the top 10 on this list. The best pure-hitting baseman in the league, Freeman is consistently able to maintain an elite contact and power stroke at the plate. The fact that he is always on some of the best teams in the league is no coincidence.

Looking at his stats, Freeman is the definition of a great pure hitter. He has amazingly consistent contact that averages at 106 overall, which ranks first on the entire Live roster. Power-wise, he isn’t going to blow you away, but versus righties a solid 90 overall will cement you some nice blasts. Perhaps the best facet of his stats, however, is his clutch ability. Freeman is such a clutch hitter that he possesses an almost perfect 115 CLU. One can only imagine what these stats will look like in the 2024 season with Ohtani in the lineup.

Freddie Freeman STRENGTHS:

Consistently one of the best pure-hitters in the league
The best overall contact hitter on the Live Roster
Still possesses excellent power versus righties
One of the top clutch hitters with a ranking of 115 Clutch

https://www.mlb.com/player/freddie-freeman-518692

8) Mookie Betts (94 OVR)

MAGIC MOOKIE! | Mookie Betts Full 2023 Highlights!

A guy that always seems to have the most fun out there, Mookie Betts is next on our list of best players. Having a great comeback year after some previous subpar seasons, Betts made a very convincing run for the NL MVP race in the latter half of the season. He didn’t win but, man, was he good.

Betts can also be thought of as another great overall hitter in the mold of Austin Riley– except he’s quite a bit better. With even more power vs lefties (113 PWR L) and excellent plate discipline (95 DISC), you couldn’t ask for a better guy to put the bat on the ball. In late game situations, he also stands out with an elite (109 CLU). The last thing that makes Betts so good is his versatility. The man can play well anywhere in the outfield in addition to second base and shortstop. With many game modes requiring shifting lineups, an elite utility player like this is an extremely valuable commodity.

Mookie Betts STRENGTHS:

Elite overall hitter with awesome power versus lefties
Great plate discipline and even better in the clutch
Fielding versatility that is unmatched anywhere on this list

https://www.mlb.com/player/mookie-betts-605141

7) Adolis Garcia (95 OVR)

Adolis García OWNED OCTOBER with a postseason for the record books! | Postseason Highlights

Adolis Garcia is the pinnacle of a situational hitter. He hits for rather pedestrian averages but somehow drives in more runs than you could ever imagine. He cooled off in the latter half of last season, but followed it up with a return to form in the postseason. An interesting and capable player for sure.

True to form, Garcia is not the greatest contact hitter, especially for one this high on the list. However, with a 102 overall power stat, he is not someone you want batting against you. Importantly, his amazing power leans toward righties (115 PWR R) so you will have plenty of opportunities to put it to use. He balances his hitting out with an excellent (104 CLU) so you can have good faith those runs will be driven in. Most importantly, though, Garcia has earned a spot this high up because of his fielding, which is stellar. He’s got a cannon for an arm with some of the best accuracy in the game. His defense might save a run or two in that late-inning debacle.

Adolis Garcia STRENGTHS:

Awesome power hitter with fantastic power versus righties
One of the best situational hitters in the game
Impressive fielder with an elite arm

https://www.mlb.com/player/adolis-garcia-666969

6) Ronald Acuna Jr. (97 OVR)

HISTORY! Ronald Acuña Jr. becomes the first member of the 40/70 club!

The winner of the NL MVP and destroyer of your late-inning Diamond Dynasty matchups, Acuna really could be much higher on this list. The reason why he isn’t is more due to the meta preferences than anything. The fact that he stole 70 bases and hit 40 home runs should make him an automatic addition to your lineup if available.

Unsurprisingly, Acuna is the man that can do anything – not just well, but at an elite level. His contact stats average an incredible 105 versus both hands, but literally every other hitting stat is at a Diamond level– incredible. His most valuable asset, though, is his stealing ability with a perfect 99 Steal and 99 Baserunning Aggressiveness. Also, did I mention his arm strength is 99? Ya, there's a good reason he’s got the highest overall rating in the game. Yet there are still 5 more players left that make it count even more.

Ronald Acuna STRENGTHS:

Literally can do anything offensively
Almost the best contact hitter in the league, coupled with great power
Perfect base-stealing stats
Arm Strength is also perfect
He’s young and could possibly get even BETTER

https://www.mlb.com/player/ronald-acuna-jr-660670

5) Shohei Ohtani (96 OVR)

Shohei Ohtani's AMAZING year earns him his SECOND MVP! | 2023 AL MVP Highlights

Surprisingly, the meta has Shohei outside of the top 15 players. I wasn’t going to let that happen. The only two-way player in the league deserves respect and you know as well as I do that he slays in online play.

Having a two-way threat is a unique strategic advantage that you would be wise to consider– hence the reason Ohtani is so high on this list. As a hitter alone he might have been included on this list. But, as everyone well knows, he can pitch well too. It doesn’t hurt that his power and discipline stats are all above 100. And as far as pitching, he has a higher H/9 than deGrom and a ridiculous 106 clutch rating. As if wonders never cease, he can also steal bases at a respectable rate…. Just crazy.

Shohei Ohtani STRENGTHS:

The only two-way player in the league
Batting stats alone are elite: elite power and great contact
Awesome discipline and clutch ability at the plate
Even better at pitching in the clutch
Look for his hitting ability to improve as he will bat exclusively in 2024 season

https://www.mlb.com/player/shohei-ohtani-660271

4) Bryce Harper (91 OVR)

Bryce Harper's best moments of the 2023 Postseason!

The next player on the list may be quite surprising to some of you, but the Phillies playoff run was that in a nutshell. Like it or not, Harper always delivers when it matters most. And his stats, while quite low for a top 5 player, are elite in all the right places.

So what places are those? Because if one looks at last seasons stats, Harper has some impressive ratings, but they don’t correlate quite as easily as other players. Once again, it comes to the intangibles or, in MLB The Show, quirks. Harper has a whopping 10 quirks as opposed to other players, like Acuna, who has a measly 3. Yep, they really do make a huge difference. After all, if you’re constantly getting bonuses from quirks all the time, does it really matter that much what your baseline stats are?

Bryce Harper STRENGTHS:

Elite contact ability with good power
Superb clutch ability and world-class plate discipline
An eye-popping 10 different quirks: Road Warrior, First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, Breaking Ball Hitter, Unfazed, Fighter, Rally Monkey, Situational Hitter, Night Player, and Table Setter

https://www.mlb.com/player/bryce-harper-547180

3) Yordan Alvarez (93 OVR)

BLAST OFF! | Yordan Alvarez Full 2023 Highlights

The first player in the top 3, the bronze metal if you will, is Yordan Alvarez. Although Freeman might be the best pure-hitter in the game, he just can’t top the sheer power and overall talent of Alvarez. If you want to hit dingers FAR, you want this guy.

The up and coming star Alvarez is so high on this list because he combines insane contact ratings (only beaten by the likes of Freeman) with close to the best power in the league, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. He’s a little bit off versus lefties (90 PWR L) but that doesn’t matter if you have (120 PWR R) the rest of the time. The best part of his game though is none of this; it’s his clutch ability. With a PERFECT clutch stat of 125, there is no better hitter in the game when the game is on the line. Just don’t bunt with him and you should be good.

Yordan Alvarez STRENGTHS:

Best combination of power and contact hitting in the game
Insane 120 power versus righties
Young player that is poised for a breakout season in 2024
A PERFECT clutch stat, the only one on this list

https://www.mlb.com/player/yordan-alvarez-670541

2) Felix Bautista (92 OVR)

Every Félix Bautista Strikeout from 2023 | AL Reliever of the Year | Baltimore Orioles

The runner-up for best player in The Show is a reliever known as “The Mountain”. His player model in the game does him such justice but so do his pitching stats. This is your Live roster version of Diamond Dynasty Kenley Jansen.

Bautista is actually pretty bad at allowing walks and home runs. But that doesn’t matter when you see all of his other stats. He’s almost completely maxed out on H/9, K/9, Velocity, and Clutch. No, this isn’t some Diamond Dynasty player, it’s a Live series one. I’m also hoping that San Diego Studios duplicates his incredible splitter better next year. Have you seen it? You should really look at it… work of art.

Felix Bautista STRENGTHS:

Best closing pitcher in the Live roster
Almost maxed out on several of his pitching stats
Strikes out almost everyone
Only in his SECOND season
A Splitter that is second to none

https://www.mlb.com/player/felix-bautista-642585

1) Aaron Judge (95 OVR)

ALL RISE! | Aaron Judge Full 2023 Highlights

Last but certainly not least, the best player to play as in MLB The Show 24 is Aaron Judge. Judge ranks close to best as far as pure stats, but, like many at the top, he has it where it counts. There’s a reason his card might become the next Mike Trout – every year seems to be better than the last. He is consistently valued as one of the highest Live series cards on the market and I’d expect that pattern to continue for a LONG time if he stays healthy.

Listen to this; Aaron Judge averages 122.5 in overall power. No, that’s not just an outlier for one handedness. He has a (120 PWR L) and a perfect (125 PWR R). To go with this, he has an incredible (109 DISC). Not only do you not have to worry about swinging at bad pitches, but when you do make contact, they’ll go farther than any other player in the game. You know well enough that stats like these are enough to completely annihilate even the most composed of opposing pitchers. Coupled with an elite defensive arm, he’ll save you from some bloop singles too. And, THAT, my friends, is why Judge tops my list of best players to play as. Let’s hope he stays healthy.

Aaron Judge STRENGTHS: