There is a saying that something unexpected “comes out of left field.” It’s a way of saying that it was unexpected, unseen, and noticed prior to the event. Some players inMLB The Show 22may take offense to the colloquialism because their position becomes synonymous with “nowhere.”
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But there are otherMLB The Show 22players that embrace this idea. They enjoy being that unexpected pop at the plate. And who says the right and center fielders get to have all of the fun in the outfield? Don’t sleep on the arm of a left fielder or prepare to get gunned down on the basepath.
Updated on July 13th, 2022 by Hodey Johns:This list first came out before the season started. All-Star week marks the halfway point of the season. So, how did the analysts do? Of course, nobody is perfect. Some players that were expected to do poorly ended up putting together a fantastic first half, so they needed to be added to the list. Others that were well-hyped didn’t quite hit the expectations of the experts, so they had to be dropped. A hot or a cold streak could see even the worst-ranked player make this list or the number one ranked player fall out of favor entirely. This is how things have shaken out so far.
13Tommy Pham - 82 OVR
The most shocking thing about Tommy Pham is how quickly he will steal a base. His rating in this category is 85. Those who want toimprove in Road to the Show rapidlyshould learn from him and swipe a few bags just to keep their OVR high.
This year, Pham has changed his game quite a bit. He’s rounded out power and contact and hits lefties and righties with more equality. His discipline is a shocking 97, that’s up there with most small-balls second basemen.
12Austin Meadows - 82 OVR
If there is possible to be great for being well-rounded, then Austin Meadows is a star. No attribute for Meadows is over an 87 OVR, which may make gamers feel his OVR is way too high for what it is. But his lowest rating on offense or defense, outside of bunting, is a 54.
Most importantly, Meadows has red zones across the board against righties and lefties alike. No pitch is safe, regardless of its location. When he guesses the pitch location correctly, he can make solid contact.
11Andrew Benintendi - 82 OVR
It’s arguable that Andrew Benintendi is much, much too low on this list. He made the All-Star game this year among all outfielders, not just left fielders, and he’s been a bright spot on a Royal team that is often in the dark.
Not all of his ratings are subpar. On defense, he’s got a 65+ across the board. Most noteworthy, his 99 contact against righties gives him some rare batting average at the position. He’s good for a few extra-base knocks over his rivals.
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7Kris Bryant - 84 OVR
The Chicago Cubs might have felt like former MVP Kris Bryant had no more juice left. The Colorado Rockies took advantage of their misjudgment. Despite a disappointing season for the team, Bryant is playing some of his strongest ball.
Bunting aside, all of his hitting attributes are at least a 59. His defense, while nothing shocking, is still well-rounded, especially compared to others in his position. The Rockies will hope the rest of his huge contract is as productive as this first half of a season.
6Andrew Vaughn - 84 OVR
This list didn’t have Andrew Vaughn to start the year. Many had high hopes for the young player but figured it was going to be a matter of time before he settled in at the MLB level. It appears that 2022 is that year, much earlier than would be expected.
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Most folks just breaking out can’t bost a high average, but Vaughn is sitting at an 82 against righties and a perfect 99 against lefties. If he’s truly hitting his stride, baseball clubs are going to be on notice for a while to come.
5Ian Happ - 85 OVR
Ian Happ could find himself on many top ten lifts as he also plays the other outfield positions and a few infield ones as well. His defense is above-average, no matter where he gets plugged in. He’s a primary left fielder that has the talent tochange positions when needed.
He’s not the usual power guy that most left fielders are expected to be. His perfect 99 contact against lefties is very useful. It’s perhaps his 96 discipline that is the most striking as left fielders tend to be easy to strike out. Happ is a happy (pun intended) exception to this rule.
4Tyler O’Neill - 86 OVR
It’s hard to remember this, but there was a time with the Cardinals weren’t sure if Tyler O’Neill would work out aftergetting called up quickly. He was plagued by injuries in the first few years. Thankfully, he spent the last two years healthy and the patience of the organization paid off.
One might expect that the gold glover for the last two years has high defensive stats and O’Neill’s card does not disappoint. He has a 76+ in each of these attributes. His hitting is above average and his speed is at a solid 95, so no balls are gonna sneak by him in the corner.
