MLB The Show 21 has thousands of baseball players for fans to sift through as they put together their starting lineup. If you’re looking to build an incredible, young team in Franchise mode or want to know who to pay attention to in Diamond Dynasty as the real-world season progresses, we have a great list to help you start. Every player below is under the age of 25 and boasts either a high starting OVR or incredible potential. Of course, San Diego Studios will update the roster over time, so these ratings are only accurate as of April 21.

Starting Pitcher

The starting pitcher position is full of both established, young talent and prospects waiting to break out. We’ll include a few of each to give you some options depending on what your roster needs. Here are some young guns that can hit your starting rotation right away:

  • Shane Bieber – Cleveland Indians – 95 OVR – 25 years oldMike Soroka – Atlanta Braves – 87 OVR – 22 years oldJulio Urias – LA Dodgers – 85 OVR – 24 years oldChris Paddack – San Diego Padres – 81 OVR – 25 years oldFreddy Peralta – Milwaukee Brewers – 81 OVR – 21 years old

And here are a few prospects that will need a bit more time to cook, but should be ready for primetime soon:

  • Brendan McKay – Tampa Bay Rays – 23 – 73 years oldAlex Manoah – Toronto Blue Jays – 22 – 73 years oldJordan Balazovic – Minnesota Twins – 69 OVR – 21 years oldForrest Whitley – Houston Astros – 68 OVR – 21 years oldTim Cate – Washington Nationals – 68 OVR – 22 years old

Relief Pitcher

Relief pitcher isn’t as deep as starting pitcher, but there are a few guys worth targeting if you need some help in the middle innings. Here are a range of players that can all develop into quality relievers:

  • Jordan Hicks – St. Louis Cardinals – 78 OVR – 24 years oldBrusdar Graterol – LA Dodgers – 73 OVR – 22 years oldGarrett Crochet – Chicago White Sox – 72 OVR – 21 years oldBlake Watson – Arizona D-Backs – 68 OVR – 18 years old

Closing Pitchers

Closing pitcher has just one really established young player in Cleveland’s James Karinchak. However, there a few other guys that are just on the cusp. Make sure to grab one of them if you need someone to come in and finish out a win in the final innings.

  • James Karinchak – Cleveland Indians – 82 OVR – 25 years oldSeranthony Dominguez – Philadelphia Phillies – 76 OVR – 25 years oldAlejandro Zepeda – Chicago Cubs – 74 OVR – 21 years oldMichael Aoki – Detroit Tigers – 72 OVR – 25 years oldJack Sanchez – Minnesota Twins – 71 OVR – 24 years oldJoe Willard – Toronto Blue Jays – 71 OVR – 23 years old

Catchers

Of all the positions on this list, catcher is probably the driest in terms of young talent who have already made a name for themselves. That doesn’t mean these guys can’t get there though. Just don’t expect any of them to come in and completely turn your team around on day one.

  • Korey Lee – Houston Astros – 75 OVR – 21 years oldJoey Bart – San Francisco Giants – 73 OVR – 23 years oldDaryl Cooley – Atlanta Braves – 72 OVR – 23 years oldAdley Rutschman – Baltimore Orioles – 70 OVR – 21 years oldM.J. Melendez – Kansas City Royals – 68 OVR – 21 years oldKeibert Ruiz – LA Dodgers – 67 OVR – 21 years old

First Base

At the top, we said we’d only be including players under the age of 25. Well, that’s mostly true, but the first base position is a bit lacking in star power. So, we made the decision to include one 26-year-old on the list in Pete Alonso. Please, forgive us.

  • Pete Alonso – New York Mets – 85 OVR – 26 years oldBobby Bradeley – Cleveland Indians – 67 OVR – 24 years oldAndrew Vaughn – Chicago White Sox – 66 OVR – 21 years oldMichael Toglia – Colorado Rockies – 63 OVR – 21 years old

Second Base

Second base is one of the deeper positions in the league in terms of young studs. You have three players who could start for most teams on day one and several young players quickly making their way up the ranks. Here they are:

  • Ozzie Albies – Atlanta Braves – 93 OVR – 24 years oldGleyber Torres – New York Yankees – 85 OVR – 24 years oldCavin Baggio – Toronto Blue Jays – 80 OVR – 25 years oldKeston Hiura – Milwaukee Brewers – 75 OVR – 24 years oldGavin Lux – LA Dodgers – 74 OVR – 23 years oldMichael Busch – LA Dodgers – 70 OVR – 22 years oldChase Strumpf – Chicago Cubs – 68 OVR – 21 years old

Third Base

Third base lacks the top-end player you’ll find at other positions, but there is a lot of depth here. If you can’t nab one of the top young players, there are still several prospects to target.

  • Yoan Moncada – Chicago White Sox – 81 OVR – 25 years oldKe’Bryan Hayes – Pittsburg Pirates – 81 OVR – 24 years oldRafael Devers – Boston Red Sox – 81 OVR – 24 years oldVladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays – 74 OVR – 22 years oldAustin Riley – Atlanta Braves – 74 OVR – 23 years oldDrew Mendoza – Washington Nationals – 67 OVR – 22 years oldKody Hoese – LA Dodgers – 67 OVR – 22 years old

Shortstop

Obviously, if you can, you want to get coverboy Fernando Tatis Jr. into the clubhouse. However, below him are still several other players that can fill your needs at the demanding defensive position. Check them out:

  • Fernando Tatis Jr. – San Diego Padres- 95 OVR – 22 years oldBo Bichette – Toronto Blue Jays – 83 OVR – 23 years oldBryson Scott – Philadelphia Phillies – 71 OVR – 22 years oldBobby Witt Jr. – Kansas City Royals – 71 OVR – 19 years oldNoelvi Marte – Seattle Mariners – 71 OVR – 18 years oldRobert Puason – Oakland Athletics – 71 OVR – 18 years old

Left Field

If you’re looking for young, top-end talent, the LF position has that in spades. However, the prospects leave a little to be desired. There’s still a few gems to unearth, but this position isn’t as strong as some of the outfield positions.

  • Juan Soto – Washington Nationals – 95 OVR – 22 years oldYordan Alvarez – Houston Astros – 87 OVR – 23 years oldEloy Jimenez – Chicago White Sox – 82 OVR – 24 years oldCasey Golden – Colorado Rockies – 72 OVR – 25 years old

Center Field

While LF and RF are a little dry in terms of young talent, CF is filled to the brim with it. Both at the top end and in prospects, this position has so many players for you to give a look. Let’s first take a gander at the guys who can fit into an MLB lineup on day one:

  • Ronald Acuna Jr. – Atlanta Braves – 94 OVR – 23 years oldCody Bellinger – LA Dodgers – 93 OVR – 25 years oldAlex Verdugo – Boston Red Sox – 81 OVR – 24 years oldVictor Robles – Washington Nationals – 81 OVR – 23 years oldLuis Robert – Chicago White Sox – 81 OVR – 23 years oldTrent Grisham – San Diego Padres – 80 OVR – 24 years old

And here are a truckload of young prospects to give a look:

  • Cristian Pache – Atlanta Braves – 75 OVR – 22 years oldNick Senzel – Cincinnati Reds- 73 OVR – 25 years oldKyle Isbel – Kansa City Royals – 69 OVR – 22 years oldCole Roederer – Chicago Cubs – 69 OVR – 20 years oldMichael Gigliotti – Tampa Bay Rays – 68 OVR – 23 years oldJustin Dean – Atlanta Braves – 68 OVR -23 years oldBubba Thompson – Texas Rangers – 68 OVR – 21 years oldLolo Sanchez – Pittsburg Pirates – 68 OVR – 20 years old

Right Field

Right field lacks the top-end talent, but does have several prospects you can grow into daily starters. Here are five good, young options at the position:

  • Kyle Tucker – Houston Astros – 77 OVR – 24 years oldAustin Meadows – Tampa Bay Rays – 76 OVR – 25 years oldDylan Carlson – St. Louis Cardinals – 70 OVR – 22 years oldJ.J. Bleday – Miami Marlins – 68 OVR – 22 years oldWill Benson – Cleveland Indians – 68 OVR – 21 years old