There is a stereotype in Major League Baseball that assumes most infielders are small-ball players who rely on luck, speed, and weak grounders to get on base while doing just enough in the field to get by. While this is true for some players in MLB The Show 21, it's not true for anybody on this list. Many players fit that archetype for general managers who like that style, but those willing to break the bank will get something far more special in return.
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The MLB is enjoying an incredible crop of infielders right now. For perspective, the lowest-rated infielder on this list is a 92; that leaves all-stars like Trevor Story on the outside looking in. If that seems too good to be true, give this a read. Whether it's franchise mode or custom teams, these are the hottest players who will spark their teams to a pennant race in 2021.
10 Alex Bregman
There's an easy rule of thumb: If Alex Bregman is on the team and the opposing pitcher is left-handed, he starts. He's still great against righties, but if the league were all lefties, he'd be one of the top-rated players in the game.
Putting aside his perfect 99 contact rating against lefties for a moment, don't overlook his 95 durability rating. Bregman is tough and even if others on this list have a slight edge over him, he makes up for it by staying healthy.
9 José Ramírez
It's hard to find a more balanced player than José Ramírez; being a member of the 30-30 club will open people's eyes to that fact. Those looking for rare speed from the third baseman position need to look no further.
His fielding is a weak point, which can be a liability at the hot corner, but he fulfills any role in the lineup at the plate and performs about equally against righties and lefties. Those who haven't decided to turn off baserunning will enjoy his presence on the basepaths.
8 J.T. Realmuto
The one catcher on this list is J.T. Realmuto and for a lot of general managers, picking up Realmuto is a top priority. While he can't steal, he's deceptively fast and his arm (rated at a 93) will ice any dreams of those who imagine swiping a free bag.
But what makes Realmuto such a target for GMs is that he's likely the only catcher in the league that plays every time he's healthy. While other gamers will have to figure out how to change position players regularly, those who own Realmuto will enjoy a steady presence behind the plate.
7 Ozzie Albies
Mixing a heavy dose of leather, speed, and contact, Albies is the prototypical second baseman. Top that off with a durability rating of 98 and he leaves general managers positively salivating over the thought of acquiring him.
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Now might be the best time to get him, too. As a switch hitter, he's still not quite solid against righties yet, but he's working on it and will likely have this rating improve by the end of 2021. There's no way to buy him low, but at least he can be bought before going higher.
6 Anthony Rendon
With 88 contact hitting against both kinds of pitching, Anthony Rendon does not need to be rotated based on the matchup. If that's not enough incentive, consider that his lowest major hitting statistic, aside from power versus righties, is a whopping 86.
Rendon does his best work with runners in scoring position, getting recognition this year with a perfect 99 when it comes to clutch hitting. Dream team manufacturers can find nobody better for that fourth, fifth, or sixth spot in the order.
5 D.J. Lemahieu
While he might not be the greatest power hitter, Lemahieu has been an RBI machine since entering the league. Advancing runners all the way to home plate is his specialty.
His strike zone swinging has no blue areas; if it's a hittable ball, Lemahieu can do damage with it. This forces pitchers to throw balls outside of the zone, leading to higher pitch counts and walks.
4 Freddie Freeman
Freeman has been an underrated fielder so a while. He's getting some credit in this year's ratings as one of only a couple of right-handed fielders capable of locking down the first baseman position.
Even amateurs who don't know video games or baseball will probably be aware that Freeman is electric when the lights shine brightest. He gets a 99 for his clutch rating and would probably have a 105 if video games accounted for extra credit.
3 Manny Machado
Manny Machado was once one of the premier power hitters in the league. Some might be surprised to find that after a slight decrease in power, he's still one of the very best infielders that a team can hope for.
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Machado has improved other aspects of his game since becoming a superstar, increasing his speed, and becoming a nominee for a Gold Glove at third base. He doesn't get enough credit from the press for these advancements, but thankfully the ratings adjusters have taken notice.
2 Fernando Tatis Jr.
The game's cover athlete is surprisingly mediocre in some core statistics like contact, power, and durability. So why is he the only shortstop to make the list of top targets for dream team construction?
He's the fastest player on this list and his 99 rated arm strength locks down the middle of the infield. Additionally, while he's average on his own, with a few ducks on the pond, his clutch hitting goes to a 99, so he's a superstar in all of the important moments.
1 Nolan Arenado
Look no further than the amount of red in Arenado's strike zone. It's more than just lacking blue to indicate that he has a weak spot, this is red to show that he can hit anywhere in the zone with authority.
He's been the best third baseman at the position for a while now and his Golden Glove streak isn't stopping anytime soon (99 in both reaction and fielding). As a 98 overall player, he's three full numbers ahead of the runner-up in the infield. And the Cardinals will attest that this isn't an exaggeration.
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