MLB The Show 19: All The Best Fielders

Fielding is an often-overlooked aspect of baseball. While diving catches and awesome throws often make highlight reels, the routine and day-to-day plays are ignored by fans. However, nothing can turn a game quicker than errors in the field and missed opportunities in the field. Nothing can be more soul-destroying than fielders robbing home runs with epic leaps over the wall or saving runs with superb throws.

How to choose the best fielders in MLB The Show 19's Franchise Mode

This article will look at the best fielders available in MLB The Show 19's Franchise Mode. The position of the player is not important for us, we just want those with the best fielding stat possible. Arm strength and accuracy, as well as reaction and speed, are important too, but a high fielding stat means they are unlikely to bobble a ball, drop a catch, or take a bad route to the ball in the field. These are the best fielders in MLB The Show 19.

*For a full list please see the table below, all stats correct at time of writing

Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox (OVR 97)

Age: 26

Position: RF

Throws/Bats: R/R

Secondary Position: 2B, LF, CF

Hitter Tendency: Pull Hitter

Best Stats: Fielding (99), Clutch (99), Reaction (95), Arm Strength (92), Contact vs L (90), Contact vs R (87), Vision (87)

Mookie Betts was a fifth-round pick for the Boston Red Sox in 2011. He got his MLB debut in 2014, playing 52 games, hitting .291 with good defense. In 2015 he was an everyday starter for Boston in the outfield and by 2016 had established himself as a star. He hit .318 with 31 homers, 26 steals, and electric defense. He won the gold glove in 2016, '17, & '18 in right field and the 2016 Wilson Overall Defensive Player.

In The Show 19 Betts is an elite player. His 99 fielding combines with 95 reaction and 77 speed to make him a wizard in the field. His arm strength (92) means he can throw people out at home too. At the plate Betts has terrific contact skill (87/90) and is very good in the clutch (99).

Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics (OVR 89)

Age: 25

Position: 3B

Throws/Bats: R/R

Secondary Position: 1B

Hitter Tendency: Whole Field

Best Stats: Fielding (99), Reaction (95), Arm Strength (89), Durability (89), Arm Accuracy (82)

Matt Chapman was a first-round pick for the Oakland Athletics in 2014. He got his MLB debut in 2017, playing 84 games and hitting .234 with 14 homers and terrific defense. In 2018 he was the everyday third baseman for Oakland and was stellar in the field, posting a 3.5 dWAR and winning the gold glove while also hitting .278 with 24 homers. Chapman also won the 2018 AL platinum glove and 2018 Wilson Overall Defensive Player.

In The Show 19 Chapman is a terrific fielder (99) with sensational reaction (95) and the arm strength (89) to make outs from way beyond third base. Offensively Chapman  isn't amazing, but he has reasonable contact skills (64/69) and power (70/59), as well as the durability (89) to play nearly every game.

Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels (OVR 88)

Age: 29

Position: SS

Throws/Bats: R/R

Secondary Position: 2B, 3B

Hitter Tendency: Pull Hitter

Best Stats: Fielding (99), Vision (98), Reaction (97), Arm Strength (95), Durability (89), Clutch (85), Arm Accuracy (85)

Andrelton Simmons was a second-round pick for the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and got his MLB debut in 2012, playing 49 games at shortstop for the Braves. Simmons was almost immediately recognized as the best fielder in baseball, posting an incredible 5.5 dWAR in 2013 as he won his first of four gold gloves and only platinum glove. Simmons was traded to the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the 2016 season and was a superb fielder for them too, winning the 2017 & '18 AL gold gloves at shortstop.

In The Show 19 Simmons has superb fielding (99) and elite reaction (97) to cut off any ball on its way to left-center field. He has the arm strength (95) to get the ball to first from anywhere and the durability (89) to play most games. At the plate Simmons has brilliant vision (98) and some solid contact skill (79/69).

Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays (OVR 83)

Age: 28

Position: CF

Throws/Bats: R/L

Secondary Position: LF, RF

Hitter Tendency: Extreme Pull

Best Stats: Fielding (99), Reaction (93), Arm Strength (90), Arm Accuracy (87), Speed (84)

Kevin Kiermaier was a 31st round pick for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. He made a brief appearance in 2013 but got his true debut in 2014, playing 108 games with the Rays. Kiermaier has never displayed great ability at the plate but in the field he has been electric. In 2015 he posted a 5.0 dWAR and won the AL gold glove and platinum glove. He backed that up with a second gold glove in 2016.

In The Show 19 Kiermaier is an elite fielder (99) with terrific reaction (93) and speed (84), meaning he can get to pretty much every ball hit into center field. He has the arm strength (90) and accuracy (87) to throw out runners across the diamond. Kiermaier is not good at the plate, with limited contact skill (61/53) and power (57/46).

Jeff Mathis, Texas Rangers (OVR 70)

Age: 36

Position: C

Throws/Bats: R/R

Secondary Position: None

Hitter Tendency: Pull Hitter

Best Stats: Fielding (95), Blocking (85), Reaction (80), Arm Accuracy (73)

Jeff Mathis was a first-round pick for the Anaheim Angels in 2001. The veteran catcher got his MLB debut in 2005 and provided strong defense behind the plate and very limited ability with the bat. In 2012 he moved to Toronto and then took his talents to Miami and Arizona before landing with the Texas Rangers ahead of the 2019 season.

In The Show 19 Mathis is a superb defensive catcher. His fielding (95) and blocking (85) are terrific and his reaction (80) is also solid. His arm strength (61) has disappeared somewhat and he lacks any ability at the plate.

All the best fielders in MLB The Show 19