MLB The Show 22: Fastest Teams
Here are the fastest teams in MLB The Show 22.
One trait that can't really be taught is speed, and in baseball, speed can change the game. From Rickey Henderson's record for stolen bases to Dave Roberts' steal in the 2004 American League Championship Series to Alex Gordon not walking on a potential sacrifice fly during the 2014 World Series, speed, or lack thereof, can be the difference between a win or a loss.
Below are the fastest teams in MLB The Show 22 for steals, grabbing the extra base and putting pressure on the defense. Importantly, these rankings are from the live MLB squads from the 20. April. As with any live squad, the rankings can change throughout the season based on performance, injuries and squad changes. All stats on sprint speed are from Baseball Savant.
1. Cleveland Guard
Breakdown: American League Central
Fastest players: Amed Rosario (91x), Myles Straw (89x), Owen Miller (86x)
Although the American League Central has been maligned in recent seasons as the worst league in baseball, things have changed and they have the two fastest teams in MLB The Show 22. The newly named Guardians take the top spot with five players at least 82 speed. Amed Rosario leads the way at shortstop with 91, as the Mets' former top prospect appears to have found a home in Cleveland. He is followed by Myles Straw (89) in center, who just signed an extension with the team, and Owen Miller (86) at second base, while Andres Gimenez (84) can fill in at second, third and just under. This gives Cleveland a speedy defense in center, key positions that are able to extend their range with their speed. Oscar Mercado (82.) brings speed from the corner to the outfield.
Anthony Gose is special as a relief pitcher with a velocity of 76. Keep in mind that Gose is a former outfielder who has moved to a high-speed relief pitcher to extend his major league career.
Rosario is the ninth-fastest player by sprint speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.5 feet per second measured from home plate to first base. Gimenez is listed 16th with a speed of 28.8 feet per second.
2. Kansas City Royals
Breakdown: AL Central
Fastest players: Edward Olivares (89-homer), Adalberto Mondesi (88-homer), Bobby Witt, Jr. (88 times)
Kansas City may not have as many speedy players as Cleveland, but the visible roster has a range of 64 to 89 speed. They are led by Edward Olivares, an outfielder on the bench, with 89 speed. Adalberto Mondesi (88), who has made a name for himself with his speed in previous seasons, is also an adept base-stealer at shortstop. Top prospect Bobby Witt, Jr. (88) brings youthful speed to third, while Whit Merrifield (78), winner of the 2021 Fielding Bible Award, now uses his speed in right field at second base, along with Michael A. Taylor (69) in center himself in 2021 won both a Gold Glove and a Fielding Bible Award. Nicky Lopez rounds out the middle of the infield at second with 69 speed.
Witt, Jr. Is actually the fastest player by sprint speed in 2022, with a speed of 30 feet per second measured from home plate to first base.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
Division: National League East
Fastest players: Simon Muzziotti (81-run), JT Realmuto (80-run), Bryson Stott (79-run)
Philly is a sneaky third place team here, as they are more associated with their ability to hit than run. Simon Muzziotti (81) is the fastest player on the roster, but has seen little playing time. JT Realmuto (80) is an anomaly, as catchers are generally some of the slowest players on the roster, if not the slowest. This is just one of many reasons why many make Realmuto the best catcher in the game. Like Muzziotti, Bryson Stott (79) hasn't seen much time but can be a great pinch runner. Matt Vierling (79) and Garrett Stubbs (66) are both role players, although it should be said that the Phillies may have the fastest catchers in baseball with Realmuto and Stubbs. Bryce Harper (64), who has definitely lost a step since his earlier days, is still above average.
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Quadruplet rates ranked second in sprinting speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.9 feet per second. Stott is listed 23rd at 28.6 feet per second.
4. Angels of Los Angeles
Breakdown: American League West
Fastest players: Jo Adell (94 speed), Mike Trout (89 speed), Andrew Velazquez (88 speed)
First of the two Los Angeles teams on this list, the Angels have six players with speeds of at least 85! That's by far the most on this list and bolsters them in fourth place. They are led by their own top prospect Jo Adell (94) in right field, followed by Mike Trout (89) in center and Brandon Marsh (86) in left field, giving the Angels one of the fastest outfields in all of baseball. Andrew Velazquez (88) plays with his fantastic speed when he plays, though Tyler Wade (85) will see more time in the short term.
The Angels may have the fastest duo of pitchers in baseball, as they employ a permanent two-way player and one who has tried out. Shohei Ohtani – unanimous 2021 Most Valuable Player and The Show 22 cover athlete – has a speed of 86 and actually led baseball in triples in 2021. Michael Lorenzen, normally a pitcher, has also played in the outfield, which accounts for his 69 in speed.
There's a big drop-off after Lorenzen, but it's clear that the six fastest players are responsible for their ranking in MLB The Show 22.
Trout ranked second in sprint speed in 2022 with a speed of 29.9 feet per second. Adell ranks fifth with a speed of 29.6 feet per second. Wade is listed 15th with a speed of 28.8 feet per second.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
Breakdown: state league west
Fastest players: Trea Turner (99 speed), Gavin Lux (85 speed), Chris Taylor (80 speed)
The Dodgers have three speedy players, then four players with above-average speed. Trea Turner is one of five players on The Show 22 with 99 speed on MLB squads. A sixth-rounder, Derek Hill, is likely to join Detroit during the season, while a seventh-rounder, the late Lou Brock, is a legendary player. Turner is also a skilled base stealer with a steal rating of 92. Second baseman Gavin Lux (85) forms a speedy keystone combo with Turner. Versatile Chris Taylor (80) can play all over the hash, while Cody Bellinger (69) adds above-average speed to his excellent defensive numbers. Will Smith (64) is another catcher who is a bit light on his feet, while Mookie Betts (62) helps round out the outfield.
Here's the Dodgers' team ranking in MLB The Show 22: first in hitting (first in both contact and power), first in pitching, second in defense and fifth in velocity. When they say video game numbers, the Dodgers are basically the living embodiment of that statement.
Turner is listed seventh with a speed of 29.6 feet per second. Lux is listed 12 at 29.0 feet per second.
6. Tampa Bay Rays
Division: American League East
Fastest hitters: Kevin Kiermaier (88-hit), Randy Arozarena (81-hit), Josh Lowe (79-hit)
Like their defense, Tampa Bay's speed is in the outfield. Kevin Kiermaier (88) leads the way as one of eight players with a speed of at least 76. Joining him in the outfield – in whatever combination – are Randy Arozarena (81), Josh Lowe (79), Manuel Margot (78), Harold Ramirez (78) and Brett Phillips (77). Taylor Walls (78) and Wander Franco (76) bring good speed to the shortstop positions and, when speed matters, Walls to second base. Brandon Lowe comes in at 60 speed to round out the players over 50.
Arozarena is listed in 19th place for 2022 with a sprint speed of 28.6 feet per second. Kiermaier ranked just outside the top 30 at 31st with a speed of 28.4 feet per second.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
Division: Landesliga Mitte
Fastest players: Bryan Reynolds (80-run), Michal Chavis (80-run), Jake Marisnick (80-run)
Pittsburgh is a team in the midst of a season-long rebuild, and at the very least has plenty of speed and youth to build on when it comes to building its first true contender since the departure of Andrew McCutchen. Reynolds leads a trio of players with 80 speed, including Michael Chavis and Jake Marisnick. Diego Castillo (74), Kevin Newman (73) and Hoy Park (72) round out the 70-plus speed. Third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (64) is the best defensive third baseman in baseball, Ben Gamel (62) and Cole Tucker (61) are the last of those with over 60 speed. The only problem is no one on the MLB squad for Pittsburgh has a steal rating above 60. This makes it more difficult to make the most of their speed.
Chavis is the fastest pirate by sprint speed in 2022, listed at 41 with a speed of 28.2 feet per second, which Hayes lists at 44 and Marisnick at 46 with a speed of 28.1 feet per second.
8. San Diego Padres
Breakdown: NL West
Fastest players: CJ Abrams (88-run), Trent Grisham (82-run), Jake Cronenworth (77-run)
San Diego will move up in the rankings with a key player: superstar and MLB The Show 21 cover athlete Fernando Tatis, Jr. with a speed of 90. Remember that in The Show you can move the injured player from AAA to their major league club.
Without Tatis, Jr. top prospect CJ Abrams leads the Padres with a speed of 88 from the shortstop position. Trent Grisham (82) following in center field, the speed needed to man Petco Park's sprawling outfield. Jake Cronenworth (77) provides good speed from second base and forms a quick double play combination with Abrams. Korean Ha-Seong Kim (73) offers above-average speed and great defense when he plays, while Jorge Alfaro (73) is another catcher with good speed. Wil Myers maintains his above-average speed in right field.
Grisham is listed 18th in sprint speed at 28.7 feet per second. Abrams is listed 29th at 28.5 feet per second.
9. Baltimore Orioles
Division: At least
Fastest players: Jorge Mateo (99th), Ryan McKenna (89th), Cedric Mullins (77th)
Another rebuilding team, it appears the roster building strategy for these teams is to identify and acquire talent quickly. Jorge Mateo, like Turner, is one of the few..