Players who compete in Diamond Dynasty for MLB The Show 23 understand what it means to have a complete team. The difference between having a diamond 85 player and a diamond 99 player is night and day. Only the most veteran gamers are capable of seriously competing with anything less than the best cards are each spot.
However, finding these cards can be difficult. Sometimes players mistakenly see a 95 player and believe it's the best player around, only to find that a set or collection offers something better. These are the best players for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 23 as of the release date for the game (more will undoubtedly be added as the season goes on).
There is an artificial maximum of 99 placed on all player cards. This guide uses the "true" value of the card; the rating of the card if no such artificial maximum were applied and no rounding is used.
Starting Pitcher - Pedro Martinez - 107.30
Pedro Martinez is widely regarded as one of the nastiest breaking ball pitchers of all time. He has five lethal pitches: two fastballs, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider. Trying to time out these pitches can result in some really ugly swings from opponents who don't know what to prepare for.
The best starting pitchers of today look up to what Martinez was capable of, breaking the World Series Curse of the Red Sox, winning the pitching Triple Crown, and making it to the Hall of Fame.
Reliever/Closer - Eric Gagne - 101.61
Players who know the name Eric Gagne know exactly what he's most famous for; as a closer, he holds the record for consecutive saves with 84 straight. This is more total saves than most closers accrue in several years.
It's tough for the best closers of today to imagine this kind of coolness under pressure. Gagne won a Cy Young as a reliever, one of the rarest achievements a bullpen pitcher can hope for and he won a World Series in 2007 after joining the Red Sox.
Catcher - Johnny Bench - 97.78
The Big Red Machine doesn't become the dominant force that it was without the superiority of Johnny Bench. Cincinnati won multiple World Series titles behind the strength of his bat and his glove. The totality of his awards is too numerous to go over here.
Elite catchers today try to model their game after Bench. But with ten Gold Glove awards, and multiple RBI and home run titles, Bench's durability and dominance are something the modern game just doesn't get from catchers anymore.
First Base - Miguel Cabrera - 102.22
Nobody had won a hitting Triple Crown since 1967 until Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012. Modern analytics has abandoned average for power and it was believed that nobody could be the best at both. Cabrera is a historic anomaly, dominating at the plate in a way that only elderly fans have ever seen before.
There are many talented first basemen today, but hitting for over 3,000 hits, over 500 home runs, and a lifetime average of over .300 is something that not many of them can realistically hope to accomplish as Caberera has done.
Second Base - Ketel Marte - 99.93
Ketel Marte is something of an anomaly on this list. Most of the rest are either retired after achieving vast glory or currently playing and destined for Cooperstown. Even so, Ketel deserves recognition despite being only 29 years old.
The greatest second basemen today need to be speedy both on defense and offense. Marte is a former league leader in triples, so he epitomizes getting around the bases as a contact hitter.
Third Base - Chipper Jones - 107.13
Chipper Jones will be one of the most highly sought-after cards in Diamond Dynasty because he's always been considered one of the best switch-hitters in baseball history. Hitting over .300 with 450+ home runs gives him huge value for both power and contact.
Many of the top-tier third basemen today can try to get these numbers but it's rare to see this kind of talent on both sides of the plate. Jones is one of the most revered names in braves' history for this reason.
Shortstop - Derek Jeter - 104.29
With five World Series titles during his nineteen years, Derek Jeter is the first Yankee to rack up 3,000 hits despite all the legendary names in New York's glorious history. Jeter had it all, stacking up Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards as a shortstop.
Statistically, some of the best shortstops today might match his production but it's Jeter's steadfastness through adversity that marks him as one of the best ever.
Left Field - Rickey Henderson - 102.61
It's impossible for young baseball fans to understand what Rickey Henderson was. He's the league's all-time leader in runs, stolen bases, unintentional walks, and leadoff home runs. His speed on the basepaths gave his entire team an advantage at the plate since he distracted the pitchers so well.
It's a different game today. The best left fielders are sluggers and are usually known for being slow with a lot of pop. Rickey had power at the plate that can no longer be demonstrated by even the fastest players currently.
Center Field - Mike Trout - 101.98
Still midway through his career, Mike Trout could retire today and be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's been a league leader in stolen bases and RBIs before, with a rare mix of speed and power. His three MVP awards have solidified his legacy.
Among the best center fielders still playing, Trout remains the best, still making it to All-Star games and winning Silver Slugger awards. His game isn't dropping off and the Angels need to get him a World Series ring before he retires.
Right Field - Babe Ruth - 110.39
Whatever legendary and absurd stories people hear about Babe Ruth, the truth is much wilder than the fiction. Ruth was setting records in an era that made him an anomaly. He won seven World Series titles and a jaw-dropping twelve home run titles.
All of the best right fielders in the game now know they need a strong arm, but Ruth's arm was otherworldly. He would be regarded as one of the best pitchers of all time if we weren't so talented at hitting that the Yankees needed him to play and hit in every game.
MLB The Show 23 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.