The launch ofMLB The Show 23gives players of the acclaimed baseball series the most authentic sports game to date. Whether it’s building your own character in Road to the Show or assembling a World Series contender in Franchise mode, MLB The Show 23 will please any baseball enthusiast.
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An underrated position that fans might not consider having much importance is right field. While many might think these players simply doze off out there, these fielders need to have strong arms to throw out attempted scorers. We examine the best players the game has to offer at the right field position.
10Joey Meneses - 84
At 30 years old, Joey Meneses is one of the oldest rookies to play the game. He appeared in 56 games in 2022, so not even a full season. But during that small sample size, Meneses demonstrated phenomenal offensive capabilities.
The Washington Nationals right fielder excels at hitting breaking balls and poorly thrown balls. He’s effective against both right-handers (85 contact, 72 power) and left-handers (97 contact, 87 power). Meneses isn’t a good fielder (48), so it remains to be seen if he can maintain a spot in Washington’s starting lineup.
9Adolis Garcia - 85
After making his brief MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018, Adolis Garcia was traded to the Texas Rangers a year later. The 30-year-old spent 2019 back in the minors before having a breakout season in 2021.
Garcia earned his first All-Star nomination behind some big offensive numbers. His power hitting (73 right, 69 left) has led to 58 home runs in 2021 and 2022, mainly feasting on the first pitch he sees. You shouldn’t overlook his defense either; Garcia has an amazing arm, both strong (94) and accurate (99).
8Hunter Renfroe - 86
Being the third-best player on a team that has Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani probably feels pretty good. That’s where Hunter Renfroe finds himself in 2023 after theLos Angeles Angels acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers.
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The 31-year-old has experienced a solid career throughout his seven years in the major leagues. He’s a dominant offensive force (82 right, 93 left) who excels at hitting fastballs and driving in baserunners. Renfroe’s power bat comes with a powerful arm (92), making him a formidable defender as well.
7Teoscar Hernandez - 87
In an attempt to upgrade the right field position, the Seattle Mariners acquired Tesocar Hernandez from the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason. The 30-year-old reached his first All-Star game in 2021 and has established himself as a dangerous hitter at the plate.
Hernandez has collected 193 RBI in the last two seasons, more than half of his total RBI for his seven-year career (380). He has a perfect power rating against left-handed pitching (99) and typically pulls his hits toward left field. Hernandez is an average fielder (54) with a solid arm (83), but his bat power is what makes him special.
6George Springer - 88
The Toronto Blue Jays made an offseason splash in 2021 by signing George Springer from the Houston Astros. Toronto was looking to upgrade its star power and Springer fit the bill after three All-Star seasons with the Astros and a World Series MVP trophy in 2017.
Springer finally managed to return to All-Star form in 2022 with 137 hits, 25 home runs, and 76 RBI. He’s a great power hitter against righties (83) and lefties (85), always trying to take advantage of fastballs. Springer is the definition of an average fielder with mid-60s ratings in each category, so don’t bank on the 33-year-old to make the defensive highlight reel.
5Kyle Tucker - 90
The new wave of great Houston Astros players is being led by right fielder Kyle Tucker. The five-year player reached his first All-Star game last season, continuing to improve offensively and defensively.
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The 26-year-old is a better contact hitter against right-handers (83) but a better power hitter against left-handers (88). Some might find that odd; others might point out the versatility of his offensive performance. Other than his reaction time (50), Tucker is a solid fielder (79) capable of playing the other outfield positions.
4Ronald Acuna Jr. - 92
Surprisingly, the Atlanta Braves managed to win the World Series in 2021 despite Ronald Acuna Jr suffering a season-ending knee injury. The right-fielder is among the best players on the team, so it’s a testament to the rest of that squad to have won a championship.
Acuna Jr. is a terrific hitter against right-handers (82 contact, 85 power) as he pulls the ball toward left field. He favors taking a swing at the first pitch he sees and hoping for a breaking ball. Besides being offensively gifted, Acuna was also gifted a bionic arm with perfect strength (99).
3Bryce Harper - 95
Even if for a brief moment, there was a period of time when Bryce Harper was considered the best player in the league. The two-time MVP finally reached the World Series in 2022 but fell to the Houston Astros in his first bid for a championship.
Although Harper has experienced a couple of down seasons since joining the Philadelphia Phillies, he’s coming off his first All-Star season with the team. At 30 years old, Harper still terrorizes right-handers (94 contact, 98 power) and has incredible discipline (99) in the clutch (95). As for his defense, people often forget that Harper has an above-average arm (80 strength, 85 accuracy) to throw out baserunners.
2Mookie Betts - 97
Mookie Betts went from being the best player on the East Coast to being the best player on the West Coast. After being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in 2020, Betts was a catalyst in the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series that season.
Betts hits for both contact and power but tends to lean a little more toward the latter (85 right, 89 left). He’s likely to take a chance on the first pitch, but as long as it’s in the strike zone, Betts will have an opportunity to put the ball into play. And when you add in his phenomenal fielding (88) to the equation, it’s not a surprise Betts is among the best out there.
1Aaron Judge - 99
The best right fielder in MLB The Show 23 also has a claim for the best overall player in the game: Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees superstar is coming off a monster season where he led the major leagues in runs (133), home runs (62), RBI (131), on-base percentage (.425), and slugging percentage (.686). In other words, Judge was demolishing the baseball.
Out of the ten offensive categories available, Judge is a machine in contact hitting against right-handers (90), power hitting against right-handers (99) and left-handers (99), discipline (93), clutch (99), and durability (96). Judge is currently one of the top offensive players in baseball. On defense, he’s no slouch either, with a decent fielding rating (76) and an extremely accurate arm (96). The reigning MVP is well-deserving to hold the title of the best right fielder in MLB The Show 23.
