MLB The Show 23 is out today, so this week’s Top Ten Tuesday highlights ten of the most undervalued cards to begin Diamond Dynasty in this year’s game.
10. Freddie Freeman (86 overall)
A fourth-place NL MVP finish for Freddie Freeman in his first season with the Dodgers should’ve been enough to have him rated higher than an 86 to open MLB The Show 23, so you can take advantage by getting him cheaper right now. The former MVP might be more comfortable in his season year with LA, and he already led the league in on-base percentage in 2022.
9. Randy Arozarena (78 overall)
The record-setter for most home runs in a postseason (ten), Randy Arozarena is a player that has shown he can get hot and do serious damage—which would lead to a bump in rating that you can potentially sell at a profit.
8. Ozzie Albies (80 overall)
Health must cooperate, but Ozzie Albies hit 30 homers a couple of seasons ago, and more might be put on his plate with former middle-infield mate Dansby Swanson now with the Cubs. The 26-year-old Albies should be able to increase his overall by at least a handful of points.
7. Jose Abreu (80 overall)
After nearly a decade with the White Sox, it’ll be interesting to see Jose Abreu placed into the high-powered Astros lineup. Abreu won AL MVP in 2020, and he can again be among the best players in baseball with Houston.
6. Nick Castellanos (75 overall)
While the first season in Philadelphia was not a great start individually for Nick Castellanos, he’s being paid to produce at a very high level. As frustrating as the campaign might have been at times, he still hit .263. A return closer to the .300 range—along with an increase in power in a hitter’s park—can certainly get Castellanos back into the 80s.
5. Cody Bellinger (74 overall)
This is more of a big swing considering the downside. However, perhaps the move to the Cubs will spark former NL MVP to somehow get back on track. We know the defense will be superb, so he’s a good card to start with for your Diamond Dynasty squad. And this is a guy that’s still just 27 years old and has a 47-homer season under his belt.
4. Bryce Harper (87 overall)
If Bryce Harper wasn’t going to miss the start of the season due to his elbow injury, he’d be in the No. 1 spot. 87 overall for arguably the best player in the National League from the past two seasons feels like stealing. He gets less time to raise his overall rating, but Harper can easily get to the mid-90s range if he catches fire whenever he makes his 2023 debut.
3. Ronald Acuna Jr. (86 overall)
Another year removed from his torn ACL, Ronald Acuna Jr. has a chance to get back to showing why he’s one of the best all-around players in the world. The Venezuelan superstar has the upside to hit around .280-.290 while leading the NL in homers.
2. Trea Turner (87 overall)
Beloved by most people that know the game, Trea Turner profiles as someone that can go off at the top of a stacked Phillies lineup this season. Turner lit it up with five homers in the World Baseball Classic, and he’s a five-tool player that can be in the MVP mix.
1. Tim Anderson (79 overall)
The most surprising initial Live Diamond Dynasty card is Tim Anderson. He missed half of 2022 due to injury, but Anderson has hit .300 in four consecutive seasons, was the AL batting champion in 2019, a Silver Slugger in 2020, and an All-Star in 2021 and 2022. 79 overall is way too low for the White Sox star.