MLB The Show 22: Best Center Fielders

Center fielders are like the shortstops of the outfield due to both positions having shared responsibilities with other players. There is a philosophy on defense in baseball that you need to have a strong middle which contains the catcher, shortstop, and center field positions.

Players at this position are usually the best all-around players on the team, which can make it hard to pick through your choices. Here’s the best center fielders in MLB The Show 22.

10. Kevin Kiermaier (OVR 82)

Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 31
Total Salary: $11,500,000
Years on Contract: 3 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 99 Fielding Ability, 99 Reaction Time, 99 Throw Accuracy

When you first look at Kevin Kiermaier’s player card, you will be shocked he made the list based on his hitting stats. He is average at best when it comes to hitting the ball. You want to make sure that you have some good bats in your lineup when adding him.

Kiermaier makes this list due to his three 99 score attributes on defense. His elite-level arm strength and speed are rated at 88 along with pinpoint throwing accuracy. In 2021, Kiermaier hit 4 home runs, 37 RBIs with a .259 average.

9. George Springer (OVR 83)

Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 32
Total Salary: $22,000,000
Years on Contract: 6 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 89 Power vs RHP, 85 Arm Strength, 79 Batting Clutch

George Springer easily fits the definition of an all-around player. He is an exceptional hitter and fielder with an elite power rating of 89 against right-handed pitchers and 79 in batting clutch. This combination makes him dangerous with runners on base.

Springer is a strong defensive player with his throwing accuracy the only stat below 70 on defense. He has outstanding arm strength with a score of 85. A center fielder’s job is to cover a lot of ground and a 73 speed will be more than enough to get the job done. Springer hit 22 home runs, 50 RBIs, and had a .264 batting average in 2021.

8. Bryan Reynolds (OVR 84)

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 27
Total Salary: $4,500,000
Years on Contract: 1
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 97 Durability, 81 Batting Clutch, 90 Contact vs LHP

Bryan Reynolds got his first All-Star nod in 2021. Outside of throwing accuracy, he has elite scores in every fielding category. He has an 80 reaction time which is an important attribute when making split-second decisions. The quicker they start to move, the better their chance at making a play.

Reynolds is an extraordinary contact hitter with a 90 rating against lefties. He has an 81 clutch rating and a 97 durability, so you can count on him to stay healthy and rested but also step things up in tight games. He hit 24 home runs, 90 RBIs, and had a .302 batting average last season.

7. Harrison Bader (OVR 84)

Team: St Louis Cardinals
Age: 27
Total Salary: $4,700,000
Years on Contract: 2 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 99 Fielding Ability, 99 Reaction Time, 92 Speed

Harrison Bader is coming off a Gold Glove season. His fielding attributes are impressive with two categories maxed out at 99 and a 92 in speed, making him the complete package. He has a flawless skillset on the defensive side of the game.

Bader is mediocre when he’s not wearing a glove. He has some attributes that hover around average, however, you won’t be picking him for his batting skills. Make sure you have a solid lineup of bats and don’t need offense from him. In 2021, he hit 16 home runs, had 50 RBIs and a .267 batting average. 

6. Cedric Mullins (OVR 86)

Team: Baltimore Orioles
Age: 27
Total Salary: $700,000
Years on Contract: 1
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 80 Fielding Ability, 85 Base Running, 85 Contact vs RHP

Some players are all-rounders, but they still have weaknesses in a few different areas. Cedric Mullins only has 2 out of 17 attributes that are below average. He an elite hitter against right and left-handed pitchers. His lowest baserunning attribute is 75 and he has a 97 durability rating. In short, he has it all! 

Mullins rates highly as a fielder too with quick reaction times to balls hit into play. He can get to the ball fast with his 77 speed rating and has an elite fielding ability rating of 80, with the only downside being throwing accuracy on defense. He hit 30 home runs, had 59 RBIs, and a .291 batting average.

5. Starling Marte (OVR 87)

Team: New York Mets
Age: 33
Total Salary: $14,500,000
Years on Contract: 4 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 94 Batting Clutch, 85 Arm Strength, 99 Stealing

Starling Marte really knows how to score runs. He’s not a top power hitter but he has near-elite plate vision and a 94 clutch rating. He locates the ball well and hits even better with runners on base. His strength on offense is his baserunning; he has a 99 rating in stealing and baserunning aggressiveness. Just get him to 1st base.

Marte is a great all-around defensive player. The 33-year-old rates at least 70 in every fielding category and when it comes to arm strength and throwing accuracy, he is elite. Covering the extra field that he is responsible for is also no problem for him with a 74 speed attribute. He hit 12 home runs, accumulated 55 RBIs, and had a batting average of .310 along with 47 stolen bases in 2021.

4. Luis Robert (OVR 88)

Team: Chicago White Sox
Age: 24
Total Salary: $3,500,000
Years on Contract: 6 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 84 Fielding Ability, 84 Arm Strength, 79 Accuracy

Injuries plagued Luis Rogers season in 2021. He was having an MVP caliber year but ended up only playing 68 games. Robert’s biggest value to a club is his hitting ability. He’s very comfortable against lefties, maxing out with a phenomenal 99 contact rating and a 90 power rating. He is a great clutch player as well as an elite-level baserunner.

Robert doesn’t have the best throwing accuracy, but he is still above average as a fielder. He has an 88 speed attribute and an 83 fielding ability rating. He also has top-level reaction time, which in combination with his speed, makes him an outstanding outfielder. In the 68 games he played during the 2021 season, he hit 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .338 batting average.

3. Byron Buxton (OVR 91)

Team: Minnesota Twins
Age: 28
Total Salary: $9,000,000
Years on Contract: 7 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 99 Fielding Ability, 98 Speed, 99 Reaction Time

Bunting isn’t as popular as it once was but when you are as fast as Byron Buxton, you can be unconventional at the plate. He has an 83 bunt rating combined with a 98 speed rating which allows him to beat the throw to first base on most occasions. He scores well in contact and power categories as well as being an elite baserunner.

Buxton is the best of the best on defense. All of his fielding attributes are in the 90s except for his throwing accuracy (76). His reaction time and fielding ability ratings are both perfect 99s. He is one of the fastest players in baseball, so he can quickly get to the ball regardless of where it is put into play. In the 2021 season, Buxton hit 19 home runs, 32 RBIs and had a .306 batting average.

2. Ronald Acuna Jr. (OVR 99)

Team: Atlanta Braves
Age: 24
Total Salary: $15,000,000
Years on Contract: 7 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 92 Batting Clutch, 99 Power vs LHP, 96 Throw Accuracy

Ronald Acuna Jr. has an overall player rating of 99 and rates at least 90 for eight different attributes. As a power hitter, he rates 97 against right-handed pitchers and a perfect 99 against lefties. There is nothing he can’t do on the highest of levels behind the plate except for bunting.

Acuna is just as impressive on defense as he is on offense. His arm strength and throwing accuracy are both 95+. He has elite speed to cover any part of the field and scores above average in overall fielding ability. Not only is he a top-three player in skill, but he also tends to stay healthy throughout the year. In 2021, he hit 24 home runs, 52 RBIs and had a .283 batting average.

1. Mike Trout (OVR 99)

Team: Los Angeles Angels
Age: 30
Total Salary: $35,450,000
Years on Contract: 9 yrs
Secondary Position(s): LF, RF
Best Attributes: 84 Fielding Ability, 84 Arm Strength, 79 Accuracy

This entry is no surprise. Mike Trout has been dominating the league for years. Most of his attributes are in the 80s. He has no problem hitting against the left or right-handed pitchers. He has a 99 power rating against righties and produces a lot of RBIs with a 92 batting clutch rating.

Trout doesn’t have any fielding attribute rating below 80 and he has an 89 speed rating. If Trout is available, you should definitely take him. Everything about him is elite with his only weakness being bunting. Trout hit 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and had a .333 batting average in only 36 games in 2021.

Center fielders are well-balanced players and are very important to solidify the middle of your defense. Most of them hit and field well but ensure you tailor your pick if you have a specific need for your team. There are a lot of options to pick from in MLB The Show 22, so take your time to make the right pick.