One trait that can’t really be taught is speed, and in baseball, speed can be game changing. From Rickey Henderson’s record for stolen bases to Dave Roberts’ steal in the 2004 American League Championship Series to Alex Gordon not running on a potential sacrifice fly during the 2014 World Series, speed, or a lack thereof, can be the difference between a win or a loss.
Below, you will find the fastest teams in MLB The Show 22 for steals, taking the extra base, and just applying pressure to the defense. Importantly, these rankings are from the April 20 live MLB rosters. As with any live roster, the ranking is subject to change throughout the season based on performance, injuries, and roster moves. All sprint speed statistics are taken from Baseball Savant.
1. Cleveland Guardians
Division: American League Central
Fastest Players: Amed Rosario (91 Speed), Myles Straw (89 Speed), Owen Miller (86 Speed)
Though the American League Central has been maligned as the worst division in baseball the past few seasons, things are turning around and they have the two fastest teams in MLB The Show 22. The newly named Guardians take the top spot with five players who have at least 82 Speed. Amed Rosario leads the way with 91 at shortstop as the former top Mets prospect has seemingly found a home in Cleveland. He’s followed by Myles Straw (89) in center, fresh off of signing an extension with the team, and Owen Miller (86) at second base, with Andrés Giménez (84) able to fill in at second, third, and short. This gives Cleveland a speedy defense up the middle, the most important positions, able to extend their range with their speed. Oscar Mercado (82) adds some speed from the corner outfield.
Anthony Gose is peculiar as a relief pitcher with a Speed of 76. Remember that Gose is a former outfielder who transitioned to being a relief pitcher with high velocity to extend his Major League career.
Rosario is the ninth fastest player by sprint speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.5 feet a second as recorded from home plate to first base. Giménez is listed 16 with a speed of 28.8 feet per second.
2. Kansas City Royals
Division: A.L. Central
Fastest Players: Edward Olivares (89 Speed), Adalberto Mondesi (88 Speed), Bobby Witt, Jr. (88 Speed)
Kansas City may not have as many fast players as Cleveland, but the visible roster has a range of 64 to 89 Speed. They’re led by Edward Olivares, a bench outfielder, with 89 Speed. Adalberto Mondesi (88), who made his mark in earlier seasons thanks to his speed, is also an adept base stealer at shortstop. Top prospect Bobby Witt, Jr. (88) brings youthful speed at third while 2021 Fielding Bible award winner at second base Whit Merrifield (78) now uses his speed in right field, joined by Michael A. Taylor (69) in center, himself winning both a Gold Glove and Fielding Bible award in 2021. Nicky Lopez rounds out the middle of the infield with 69 Speed at second.
Witt, Jr. is actually the fastest player by sprint speed thus far in 2022 with a speed of 30 feet per second as recorded from home plate to first base.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
Division: National League East
Fastest Players: Simon Muzziótti (81 Speed), J.T. Realmuto (80 Speed), Bryson Stott (79 Speed)
Philly is a sneaky third ranked team here as they’re more closely associated with their ability to hit than run. Simon Muzziótti (81) is the fastest player on the roster, but has seen sparse playing time. J.T. Realmuto (80) is an anomaly as catchers are generally some of, if not the slowest players on the roster. This is just one of a bevy of reasons many pick Realmuto as the best catcher in the game. Like Muzziótti, Bryson Stott (79) hasn’t seen much time, but can be a great pinch runner. Matt Vierling (79) and Garrett Stubbs (66) are both role players, though it should be said the Phillies may have the fastest set of catchers in baseball with Realmuto and Stubbs. Bryce Harper (64), who’s definitely lost a step since his earlier days, is still above average.
Vierling rates tied for second in sprint speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.9 feet per second. Stott is listed 23 at 28.6 feet per second.
4. Los Angeles Angels
Division: American League West
Fastest Players: Jo Adell (94 Speed), Mike Trout (89 Speed), Andrew Velazquez (88 Speed)
The first of both Los Angeles teams on this list, the Angels have six players with a Speed of at least 85! That is by far the most on this list and buttresses them into fourth place. They’re led by their own top prospect Jo Adell (94) in right field, joining Mike Trout (89) in center and Brandon Marsh (86) in left, giving the Angels one of the speediest outfields in all of baseball. Andrew Velazquez (88) chips in with his fantastic speed when he does play, though Tyler Wade (85) will see more time at short.
The Angels may have to the fastest duo of pitchers in baseball as they employ one permanent two-way player and one who has dabbled. Shohei Ohtani – unanimous 2021 Most Valuable Player and The Show 22 cover athlete – has an 86 in Speed and actually led baseball in 2021 in triples. Michael Lorenzen, usually a pitcher, has played outfield as well, accounting for his 69 in Speed.
After Lorenzen, there is a big drop off, but it’s clear that the six fastest players account for their placement in MLB The Show 22.
Trout ranks tied for second in sprint speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.9 feet per second. Adell ranks tied for fifth with a speed of 29.6 feet per second. Wade is listed 15 with a speed of 28.8 feet per second.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
Division: National League West
Fastest Players: Trea Turner (99 Speed), Gavin Lux (85 Speed), Chris Taylor (80 Speed)
The Dodgers have three fast players, then four players with above average Speed. Trea Turner is one of five players in The Show 22 with 99 Speed on the MLB rosters. A sixth, Derek HIll, is likely to join Detroit during the season while a seventh, the late Lou Brock, is a legendary player. Turner is also an adept base stealer with a 92 Steal rating. Second baseman Gavin Lux (85) forms a speedy keystone combo with Turner. The versatile Chris Taylor (80) can play all over the diamond while Cody Bellinger (69) brings above average Speed to his excellent defensive ratings. Will Smith (64) is another catcher that’s a bit fleeter of foot while Mookie Betts (62) helps round out the outfield.
Here are the Dodgers’ team ranking in MLB The Show 22: first in Hitting (first in both Contact and Power), first in Pitching, second in Defense, and fifth in Speed. When they say video game numbers, the Dodgers are basically the living embodiment of that statement.
Turner is listed seventh with a speed of 29.6 feet per second. Lux is listed 12 at 29.0 feet per second.
6. Tampa Bay Rays
Division: American League East
Fastest Players: Kevin Kiermaier (88 Speed), Randy Arozarena (81 Speed), Josh Lowe (79 Speed)
Like their defense, Tampa Bay’s speed lies in its outfield. Kevin Kiermaier (88) leads the way as one of eight players with a Speed of at least 76. He’s joined in the outfield – in whatever combination – by Randy Arozarena (81), Josh Lowe (79), Manuel Margot (78), Harold Ramirez (78), and Brett Phillips (77). Taylor Walls (78) and Wander Franco (76) bring good Speed to the shortstop positions and, if you’re going for quickness, Walls at second base. Brandon Lowe comes in at 60 Speed, rounding out the players above 50.
Arozarena is listed 19 for 2022 with a sprint speed of 28.6 feet per second. Kiermaier ranks just outside of the top 30 at 31 with a speed of 28.4 feet per second.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
Division: National League Central
Fastest Players: Bryan Reynolds (80 Speed), Michal Chavis (80 Speed), Jake Marisnick (80 Speed)
A team in the midst of a seasons-long rebuild, Pittsburgh at least has a lot of speed and youth to build from as they look to build their first real contender since the departure of Andrew McCutchen. Reynolds leads a trio of players with 80 Speed that includes Michael Chavis and Jake Marisnick. Diego Castillo (74), Kevin Newman (73), and Hoy Park (72) round out those above 70 Speed. Third basemen Ke’Bryan Hayes (64) is who many peg to overtake division rival Nolan Arenado as the best defensive third baseman in baseball, with Ben Gamel (62) and Cole Tucker (61) the last of those above 60 Speed. The only issue is that nobody on the MLB roster for Pittsburgh has a Steal rating above 60. This makes it more difficult to utilize their speed to its maximum benefit.
Chavis is the fastest Pirate by sprint speed in 2022, listed at 41 with a speed of 28.2 feet per second, which Hayes ties listed at 44, and Marisnick at 46 with a speed of 28.1 feet per second.
8. San Diego Padres
Division: N.L. West
Fastest Players: C.J. Abrams (88 Speed), Trent Grisham (82 Speed), Jake Cronenworth (77 Speed)
San Diego will rise up the rankings with the addition of one key player: superstar and MLB The Show 21 cover athlete Fernando Tatis, Jr. with a Speed of 90. Remember that in The Show, you can move the injured player from AAA to the their Major League club.
Without Tatis, Jr., top prospect C.J. Abrams tops the Padres with a Speed of 88 from the shortstop position. Trent Grisham (82) in center field follows, the Speed necessary to man the expansive Petco Park outfield. Jake Cronenworth (77) provides good quickness from second base, forming a speedy double play combo with Abrams. Korean Ha-Seong Kim (73) provides above average speed and great defense when he does play, while Jorge Alfaro (73) is another catcher with good Speed. Wil Myers maintains his above average Speed in right field.
Grisham is listed 18 in sprint speed at 28.7 feet per second. Abrams is listed 29 at 28.5 feet per second.
9. Baltimore Orioles
Division: A.L. East
Fastest Players: Jorge Mateo (99 Speed), Ryan McKenna (89 Speed), Cedric Mullins (77 Speed)
Another rebuilding team, it seems like the roster construction strategy for these teams is to identify and acquire talent with speed. Jorge Mateo, like Turner, is one of the handful of players with 99 Speed and has slotted into the Baltimore leadoff spot. Ryan McKenna (89) and Cedric Mullins (77) provide great speed to man the outfield (McKenna if you prioritize Speed), with Austin Hays (57) filling in nicely at a corner outfield spot. Kelvin Gutierrez (71) and Ryan Mountcastle (67) provide above average Speed for the corner infield positions that generally do not see fast players.
Gutierrez is listed at 20 with a sprint speed of 28.6 feet per second. The next Oriole listed is Mateo at 54 with a speed of 28.0 feet per second.
10. Chicago Cubs
Division: N.L. Central
Fastest Players: Nico Hoerner (82 Speed), Seiya Suzuki (74 Speed), Patrick Wisdom (68 Speed)
After the departure of their 2016 championship winning core that saw good hitting, but not much speed, the Cubs’ rebuild has identified enough speedy players that they rank tenth in The Show 22. They’re led by shortstop Nico Hoerner (82) and right fielder Seiya Suzuki (74) – who also happen to be two of their best defenders. Patrick Wisdom (68) follow at third base. Nick Madrigal (66), Ian Happ (62), and Willson Contreras (60) round out those with 60+ Speed, the latter another catcher.
Suzuki is listed 25 at 28.6 feet per second. Hoerner is listed 30 at 28.5 feet per second.
Now you know the fastest teams in MLB The Show 22, some of which may be surprising. If speed is your game, then which team is your play?