Veterans of the series look forward to playing third base in MLB The Show 23 for the entire off-season. Most gamers love to hit for power at the plate but also want to show off a strong arm and quick reactions. No position does this like third base. It's not called the "hot corner" for no reason.
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But playing third base can be tricky. A truly bad team will waste the player's talents and blow any lead the hitter gives them. Others are satisfied with their current player at the spot and will keep the player's character in the minor leagues for years. There are only a few rosters in MLB The Show 23 that are ready to take off as soon as the gamer takes over at third.
Detroit Tigers
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 84 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 79 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 79 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 75 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 74 |
Relief Pitcher | 72 |
Closing Pitcher | 77 |
Catcher | 77 |
First Baseman | 68 |
Second Baseman | 77 |
Third Baseman | 64 |
Shortstop | 75 |
Left Fielder | 70 |
Center Fielder | 68 |
Right Fielder | 69 |
Although the Tigers are a team in need of a first baseman and many other positions, their third baseman is the lowest-rated starter at this spot in the entire game. At a wretched 64, any third baseman that plays for the Tigers' organization will get called up with lightning speed.
Detroit only has one player at an 80+ rating and they're in the middle of a rebuild. But outside of third, center, and left, there aren't many total liabilities as one might expect from rebuilding squads. This is the place to pull off a quick turnaround.
Texas Rangers
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 99 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 81 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 79 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 77 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 77 |
Relief Pitcher | 78 |
Closing Pitcher | 75 |
Catcher | 76 |
First Baseman | 85 |
Second Baseman | 87 |
Third Baseman | 70 |
Shortstop | 85 |
Left Fielder | 67 |
Center Fielder | 72 |
Right Fielder | 85 |
The Rangers are surprisingly good for a rebuilding team. They have three positions of dire need, one of which is third base. At some point, the team will need to upgrade their closer, but this is a team that an average player can turn into an immediate playoff contender.
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Texas recently acquired one of the best pitchers in baseball as evidenced by his maximum 99 rating. They've already begun to get better players onto the team, a player stepping in at third base will make Texas even more appealing for valuable free agents.
Minnesota Twins
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 83 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 81 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 80 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 78 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 78 |
Relief Pitcher | 83 |
Closing Pitcher | 74 |
Catcher | 76 |
First Baseman | 74 |
Second Baseman | 79 |
Third Baseman | 74 |
Shortstop | 89 |
Left Fielder | 74 |
Center Fielder | 93 |
Right Fielder | 73 |
With no player under 73, it can take a few extra months to get the starting role at third for the Twins. But it should be doable within one year and, after that, gamers can play a star on a team that could use just one more star.
This is one of the best teams in the league by most metrics, in the top half in contact, power, pitching, and fielding. Minnesota doesn't blow games. But to start winning games meaningfully, they need somebody to take over at third who can lead them.
Philadelphia Phillies
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 91 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 90 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 80 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 79 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 72 |
Relief Pitcher | 76 |
Closing Pitcher | 82 |
Catcher | 90 |
First Baseman | 84 |
Second Baseman | 72 |
Third Baseman | 73 |
Shortstop | 92 |
Left Fielder | 78 |
Center Fielder | 71 |
Right Fielder | 95 |
There aren't many roles the Phillies need. After all, this is the squad that made it to the World Series last year. But they came up just short of a title and will need just one more star to lock up a championship. Their third basem*n is certainly an area of need.
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While it might be tempting to play starting pitcher for this team and start, their playoff rotation won't bring along the fifth pitcher. What they will need to win it all is a third baseman with a clutch factor on the game's biggest stage.
Cincinnati Reds
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 80 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 79 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 74 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 73 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 72 |
Relief Pitcher | 72 |
Closing Pitcher | 80 |
Catcher | 81 |
First Baseman | 79 |
Second Baseman | 72 |
Third Baseman | 69 |
Shortstop | 71 |
Left Fielder | 71 |
Center Fielder | 65 |
Right Fielder | 77 |
On paper, the Reds initially appear to be one of the worst teams in the game, among the bottom six teams in terms of contact, power, pitching, and defense. But this is more due to a bunch of average players who don't have specializations in anything.
Players can shine among the generic athletes with some serious splash. Cincinnati's highest player is an 81 (catchers should seek work elsewhere), enabling the player to shine without any competition from teammates.
San Francisco Giants
Position | Rating Of Best Player |
Starting Pitcher 1 | 83 |
Starting Pitcher 2 | 77 |
Starting Pitcher 3 | 76 |
Starting Pitcher 4 | 76 |
Starting Pitcher 5 | 76 |
Relief Pitcher | 75 |
Closing Pitcher | 79 |
Catcher | 74 |
First Baseman | 66 |
Second Baseman | 75 |
Third Baseman | 68 |
Shortstop | 77 |
Left Fielder | 75 |
Center Fielder | 75 |
Right Fielder | 83 |
The Giants are a complete team with only two positions under a 74 rating. They're stuck in a competitive NL West but keep in mind that this team is already capable of going up against the Dodgers who aren't quite the team they were in the last few years.
With the division up for grabs and the third base spot in need of an upgrade, players in San Francisco have a chance to go against the most competitive teams during the year and come out on top. The squad is good enough to make the playoffs already, the player's character can help them take the next step.
MLB The Show 23 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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