Left fielders are asked to hit for power inMLB The Show 23and not much else. The player doesn’t have to have a strong arm, cover a lot of area, steal bases, or hit for average. With so few actual requirements, players are free to focus on slamming home runs.
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Of course, speed, defense, arm strength, and contact hitting are all still positives. Left fielders inMLB The Show 23who choose to do more than just belt homers can carry their teams to greater heights if they find themselves playing for a team primed to take advantage of their services.
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78
72
79
86
83
96
73
94
84
67
82
Right Fielder
The Cardinals are a very complete team. They could perhaps useanother starting pitcher to join the rosterand maybe a second baseman as well, but they only have one real issue on the squad. Their left fielder has a terrible 67 rating.
After replacing that player, the whole team is 70+ and all but two players will be 78 or more. St. Louis has always been a great team, they just need one superstar player to make them a lock to win the World Series.
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76
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89
In addition to left field, the Mets are one of manyteams that need a better catcher. However, most teams have a rotation at catcher, so that is fine for now. Their bigger issue is their below-average left fielder. After replacing him, all but one player is 75 or better.
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The Mets are first in contact and second in pitching. Their most problematic area is power, where they are below average. If the player’s character steps into left field and features some pop in his bat, New York is going to win the title with ease.
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93
Left fielders who want to win immediately should make Atlanta their first stop. This isn’t just one ofthe best teams in baseball, it’s the top-ranked team in the entire game, first in both power and pitching, the two most important modern metrics.
Only two players are below 79; this team might win the World Series without any help at all. But with the player’s help, it won’t even be close. The Braves lost their superstar and won a recent championship anyhow. Imagine the results should they gain a superstar.
99
77
70
The Rangers don’t have many needs. They just went out and got a 99-rated starting pitcher. Theteam could use an upgrade at third baseand center field but their only urgent need is at left field. After filling this gap, only two of their players are under 75.
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Among hitters, they need a true superstar. They have many good players in general but no batter is ranked above 87. If a player wants to get into the cleanup position and stay there, Texas is likely the best location to do that.
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74
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Up to this point, the teams have been elite. Unfortunately, teams that have a spot open at left field usually have other issues too because power is a critical component of the modern game. The Athletics are ateam in need of help at second, third, center, starting pitcher, and closer. This is the second-worst-rated team in the game and has no player higher than a 77.
Many gamers enjoy playing on teams like the Athletics because they want to be the star that makes a difference. With pitching so poor, left fielders in Oakland will get caught in many high-scoring affairs as the wheels come off. The rebuild will take time, but a career here means the player gets to be the cog that the team builds around.
66
The Royals are another team in the middle of a rebuild. Unlike Oakland, this team doesn’t have fires at virtually every position, just a few that need some improvement. If players step in as a star, this creates hope and makes Kansas City more attractive to great free agents.
Nobody on the team is higher than an 83, so once again, this is a place where gamers can immediately become the focal point of the team, hitting cleanup and not competing for prime at-bats at the plate.
MLB The Show 23is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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