With "MLB The Show 17" set to release before the end of the month, it's time to delve into the player ratings for the upcoming season.

As was the case last year, only two players are rated 99 Overall: Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw. Jose Altuve is next at 97 Overall. In total there are 32 players rated 90-plus, which is down from the 35 that began "MLB 16" in that elite territory.

The Dodgers, Indians, Cubs, Giants and Nationals lead the way with three players rated 90 or higher. When considering all the players rated 85-plus, the Indians have the strongest roster with a total of seven. Unfortunately for the Athletics, Padres and Phillies, those teams have no players rated above 84.

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While most sports games attempt to rate players in a manner that represents exactly what they are at the current time, "The Show" has always taken a bigger picture approach by building out the abilities of players based not just on the "now" but also performance going back multiple seasons. Keep that in mind as some inclusions in the lists below, and certain exclusions, could be explained away by that ratings methodology.



First Base

Miguel Cabrera (DET) 92

Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) 91

Joey Votto (CIN) 91

Anthony Rizzo (CHC) 89

Freddie Freeman (ATL) 88

Edwin Encarnacion (CLE) 86

Matt Carpenter (STL) 85

Wil Myers (SD) 84

Brandon Belt (SF) 84

Albert Pujols (LAA) 83

Jose Abreu (CHW) 83

Victor Martinez (DET) 83

Eric Hosmer (KC) 83

Steve Pearce (TOR) 81

Carlos Santana (CLE) 81

Hanley Ramirez (BOS) 81

Ian Desmond (COL) 80

Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) 80



Second Base

Jose Altuve (HOU) 97

Robinson Cano (SEA) 91

Ian Kinsler (DET) 89

Daniel Murphy (WAS) 88

Dustin Pedroia (BOS) 88

Jason Kipnis (CLE) 87

Brian Dozier (MIN) 87

D.J. LeMahieu (COL) 85

Ben Zobrist (CHC) 85

Roughned Odor (TEX) 84

Dee Gordon (MIA) 84

Devon Travis (TOR) 83

Neil Walker (NYM) 81

Cesar Hernandez (PHI) 81

Javier Baez (CHC) 81

Brandon Phillips (ATL) 81

Starlin Castro (NYY) 81

Josh Harrison (PIT) 81



Shortstop

Francisco Lindor (CLE) 90

Corey Seager (LAD) 90

Trea Turner (WAS) 88

Brandon Crawford (SF) 88

Carlos Correa (HOU) 85

Xander Bogaerts (BOS) 85

Jonathan Villar (MIL) 85

Troy Tulowitzki (TOR) 83

Jean Segura (SEA) 83

Jose Iglesias (DET) 83

Andrelton Simmons (LAA) 81

Elvis Andrus (TEX) 81

Jose Reyes (NYM) 80

Alcides Escobar (KC) 80

Aledmys Diaz (STL) 79

Didi Gregorius (NYY) 79

Jung Ho Kang (PIT) 79

Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM) 78



Third Base

Josh Donaldson (TOR) 94

Kris Bryant (CHC) 94

Nolan Arenado (COL) 93

Manny Machado (BAL) 93

Adrian Beltre (TEX) 89

Kyle Seager (SEA) 88

Justin Turner (LAD) 87

Evan Longoria (TB) 87

Anthony Rendon (WAS) 83

Todd Frazier (CHW) 83

Jose Ramirez (CLE) 82

Maikel Franco (PHI) 81

Miguel Sano (MIN) 81

Mike Moustakas (KC) 80

Eduardo Nunez (SF) 80

Alex Bregman (HOU) 79

Jake Lamb (ARI) 77

Martin Prado (MIA) 77



Catcher

Buster Posey (SF) 92

Jonathan Lucroy (TEX) 87

Wilson Ramos (TB) 84

Yadier Molina (STL) 84

Salvador Perez (KC) 84

Gary Sanchez (NYY) 84

Russell Martin (TOR) 83

Yasmani Grandal (LAD) 82

Devin Mesoraco (CIN) 82

Matt Wieters (WAS) 81

Stephen Vogt (OAK) 80

Wellington Castillo (BAL) 80

Brian McCann (HOU) 80

Evan Gattis (HOU) 80

J.T. Realmuto (MIA) 80

Travis d'Arnaud (NYM) 79

Nick Hundley (SF) 79

Robinson Chirinos (TEX) 79



Left Field

Yoenis Cespedes (NYM) 90

Ryan Braun (MIL) 87

Michael Brantley (CLE) 86

Alex Gordon (KC) 83

Gregory Polanco (PIT) 83

Justin Upton (DET) 82

Khris Davis (OAK) 81

Brett Gardner (NYY) 81

Marcell Ozuna (MIA) 81

Jayson Werth (WAS) 80

Melky Cabrera (CWS) 80

Corey Dickerson (TB) 79

Randal Grichuk (STL) 79

Carl Crawford (LAD) 79

Melvin Upton Jr. (TOR) 78

Michael Conforto (NYM) 77

Nori Aoki (HOU) 77

Andrew Benintendi (BOS) 77



Center Field

Mike Trout (LAA) 99

Starling Marte (PIT) 87

A.J. Pollock (ARI) 86

Lorenzo Cain (KC) 85

Christian Yelich (MIA) 85

Charlie Blackmon (COL) 84

George Springer (HOU) 84

Kevin Kiermaier (TB) 84

Odubel Herrera (PHI) 82

Carlos Gomez (TEX) 82

Adam Jones (BAL) 82

Billy Hamilton (CIN) 82

Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS) 82

Ender Inciarte (ATL) 82

Adam Eaton (WAS) 81

Jarrod Dyson (SEA) 81

Dexter Fowler (STL) 80

Kevin Pillar (TOR) 80



Right Field

Mookie Betts (BOS) 93

Bryce Harper (WAS) 90

Nelson Cruz (SEA) 88

Giancarlo Stanton (MIA) 88

Andrew McCutchen (PIT) 85

Carlos Gonzalez (COL) 84

J.D. Martinez (DET) 84

Jose Bautista (TOR) 83

Mark Trumbo (BAL) 81

Hunter Pence (SF) 81

Kole Calhoun (LAA) 80

Stephen Piscotty (STL) 79

Yasiel Puig (LAD) 79

Matt Kemp (ATL) 79

Nick Markakis (ATL) 79

Yasmany Tomas (ARI) 78

Jason Heyward (CHC) 78

Josh Reddick (LAD) 78



Relief Pitcher (Non-closers)

Andrew Miller (CLE) 96

Dellin Betances (NYY) 90

Nate Jones (CHW) 85

Sean Doolittle (OAK) 84

Addison Reed (NYM) 84

Hector Rondon (CHC) 84

Pedro Strop (CHC) 84

Will Harris (HOU) 84

Carson Smith (BOS) 84

Kyle Barraclough (MIA) 84

Jerry Blevins (NYM) 84

Joe Blanton (WAS) 83

Joaquin Benoit (PHI) 83

Koji Uehara (CHC) 83

Mychal Givens (BAL) 83

Luke Gregerson (HOU) 83

Ryan Buchter (SD) 83

Carter Capps (SD) 83



Closing Pitchers

Kenley Jansen (LAD) 95

Zach Britton (BAL) 92

Aroldis Chapman (NYY) 92

Wade Davis (CHC) 91

Mark Melancon (SF) 89

Seung Hwan Oh (STL) 87

Cody Allen (CLE) 87

Roberto Osuna (TOR) 86

Craig Kimbrel (BOS) 86

Jeurys Familia (NYM) 85

Kelvin Herrera (KC) 85

Shawn Kelley (WAS) 84

David Robertson (CHW) 84

Ken Giles (HOU) 84

Edwin Diaz (SEA) 83

Tony Watson (PIT) 83

A.J. Ramos (MIA) 83

Alex Colome (TB) 83



Starting Pitcher

Clayton Kershaw (LAD) 99

Max Scherzer (WAS) 93

Chris Sale (BOS) 93

Noah Syndergaard (NYM) 92

Corey Kluber (CLE) 92

Jake Arrieta (CHC) 92

Madison Bumgarner (SF) 92

Stephen Strasburg (WAS) 90

Jon Lester (CHC) 90

Johnny Cueto (SF) 90

Jacob deGrom (NYM) 89

Felix Hernandez (SEA) 89

Yu Darvish (TEX) 89

David Price (BOS) 89

Zack Greinke (ARI) 89

Justin Verlander (DET) 88

Rich Hill (LAD) 87

Kyle Hendricks (CHC) 87

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"MLB The Show 17" releases March 28 for PlayStation 4, and Ken Griffey Jr. is featured on the cover. New features include MLB Network presentation, story-like interactions in "Road to the Show," and a Retro Mode intended to be reminiscent of '90s video game baseball. Those with Amazon Prime can pre-order and get the game for 20 percent off.



Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.