There is a saying that something unexpected “comes out of left field.” It’s a way of saying that it was unexpected, unseen, and noticed prior to the event. Some players in MLB The Show 22 may take offense to the colloquialism because their position becomes synonymous with “nowhere.”
But there are other MLB The Show 22 players that embrace this idea. They enjoy being that unexpected pop at the plate. And who says the right and center fielders get to have all of the fun in the outfield? Don’t sleep on the arm of a left fielder or prepare to get gunned down on the basepath.
13 Tommy Pham - 82 OVR
The most shocking thing about Tommy Pham is how quickly he will steal a base. His rating in this category is 85. Those who want to improve in Road to the Show rapidly should learn from him and swipe a few bags just to keep their OVR high.
This year, Pham has changed his game quite a bit. He’s rounded out power and contact and hits lefties and righties with more equality. His discipline is a shocking 97, that’s up there with most small-balls second basemen.
12 Austin Meadows - 82 OVR
If there is possible to be great for being well-rounded, then Austin Meadows is a star. No attribute for Meadows is over an 87 OVR, which may make gamers feel his OVR is way too high for what it is. But his lowest rating on offense or defense, outside of bunting, is a 54.
Most importantly, Meadows has red zones across the board against righties and lefties alike. No pitch is safe, regardless of its location. When he guesses the pitch location correctly, he can make solid contact.
11 Andrew Benintendi - 82 OVR
It’s arguable that Andrew Benintendi is much, much too low on this list. He made the All-Star game this year among all outfielders, not just left fielders, and he’s been a bright spot on a Royal team that is often in the dark.
Not all of his ratings are subpar. On defense, he’s got a 65+ across the board. Most noteworthy, his 99 contact against righties gives him some rare batting average at the position. He’s good for a few extra-base knocks over his rivals.
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7 Kris Bryant - 84 OVR
The Chicago Cubs might have felt like former MVP Kris Bryant had no more juice left. The Colorado Rockies took advantage of their misjudgment. Despite a disappointing season for the team, Bryant is playing some of his strongest ball.
Bunting aside, all of his hitting attributes are at least a 59. His defense, while nothing shocking, is still well-rounded, especially compared to others in his position. The Rockies will hope the rest of his huge contract is as productive as this first half of a season.
6 Andrew Vaughn - 84 OVR
This list didn’t have Andrew Vaughn to start the year. Many had high hopes for the young player but figured it was going to be a matter of time before he settled in at the MLB level. It appears that 2022 is that year, much earlier than would be expected.
Most folks just breaking out can’t bost a high average, but Vaughn is sitting at an 82 against righties and a perfect 99 against lefties. If he’s truly hitting his stride, baseball clubs are going to be on notice for a while to come.
5 Ian Happ - 85 OVR
Ian Happ could find himself on many top ten lifts as he also plays the other outfield positions and a few infield ones as well. His defense is above-average, no matter where he gets plugged in. He’s a primary left fielder that has the talent to change positions when needed.
He’s not the usual power guy that most left fielders are expected to be. His perfect 99 contact against lefties is very useful. It’s perhaps his 96 discipline that is the most striking as left fielders tend to be easy to strike out. Happ is a happy (pun intended) exception to this rule.
4 Tyler O’Neill - 86 OVR
It’s hard to remember this, but there was a time with the Cardinals weren’t sure if Tyler O’Neill would work out after getting called up quickly. He was plagued by injuries in the first few years. Thankfully, he spent the last two years healthy and the patience of the organization paid off.
One might expect that the gold glover for the last two years has high defensive stats and O’Neill’s card does not disappoint. He has a 76+ in each of these attributes. His hitting is above average and his speed is at a solid 95, so no balls are gonna sneak by him in the corner.
3 Austin Hays - 87 OVR
The Orioles are now one of the hottest teams in baseball and the second half of the season could be theirs for the taking. They are led by Austin Hays, who has found consistency in his big league game. He hit for the cycle in June, showcasing some rare speed in the process.
Austin Hays gets a perfect accuracy rating of 99 and the rest of his defensive attributes are at least an 82. Left fielders aren’t often considered threats to throw somebody out, but that’s an area that Hays excels at. Opposing baserunners keep underestimating him to their own peril.
2 J.D. Martinez - 87 OVR
Fans of baseball will remember J.D. Martinez for at least two big moments. He won the World Series and hit four home runs in one game. But these moments are mere highlights in what is an amazing career, littered with All-Star nods and Silver Slugger titles.
When throwing on some equipment, maybe ask to borrow his. Especially when it comes to contact hitting as he commands a 92 against righties and a perfect 99 against lefties. It’s been a rough year for left fielders. Martinez has the same OVR as when he started the season yet he’s gone from barely making the top ten to second.
1 Yordan Alvarez - 93 OVR
Some felt that Yordan Alvarez may have been a bit overrated as he tied for the lead among left fielder rankings going into the year. Yet he has climbed while others have fallen back. This is one the ratings adjusters nailed; he’s going to the 2022 All-Star game
As a prototypical left fielder, his speed is in the gutter and fielding is just a notch above average. But check out his stats against lefties; he has a perfect 99 in both contact and power. His zone is a nice bright red against pitchers of any handedness.
MLB The Show 22 is available now for Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5.
