MLB The Show 23: Best Team Affinity Charisma Cards

Check out which stars are worth adding them to your dream team

Baseball’s back and in full swing, and so is Team Affinity in MLB The Show 23. The fan favorite program from Diamond Dynasty is making a proper return this year – putting San Diego Studio’s “Grind 99” ethos back into the heart and soul of what it’s like to build your very own fantasy card collection. Whereas last year’s title emphasized legends, the future, and homegrown talent, The Show 23 is throwing conventional out the window with a brand new series that’s all about “rizz”.

The first season of Team Affinity in this year’s Diamond Dynasty is the Charisma series – a new card type that throws it back to the Topps Stadium Club days with 30 new player items that can be earned through XP missions, conquest maps, exchanges, and Mini Seasons. Each division’s XP path features themed icons, banners, retro uniforms, Live Series packs, new Team Captain cards, and a mess of legends and flashbacks, including 1994 All-Star Chili Davis, 2007 Second Half Chase Utley, 1995 Postseason Tom Glavine, and 2016 Veteran Kyle Seager. There’s also a 99 OVR Charisma Series Jazz Chisholm up for grabs and his euro step celebration is worth it.

With Team Affinity’s Charisma cards being 97 OVRs that lace up with style and swing right for the fences, below is a guide on which MLB names are worth adding as the season rolls on by.

MLB The Show 23: Best Team Affinity Charisma Cards

Bo Bichette (SS) – Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette still has flow. The 25-year-old shortstop was a second-half hero for the Blue Jays in 2022, slashing .406/.444/.662 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in the team’s last 32 games – finishing as the American League leader in total hits (189) for the second year in a row. His new Charisma series card backs it up with 111/89 and 118/98 hitting splits and 94 vision, and while his fielding can only max out at gold (80), his swing makes up for it with 114 clutch with RISP.

Bobby Witt Jr. (SS) – Kansas City Royals

The shortstop known as “Bobby” stole hearts in Kansas City in 2022 with a full rookie campaign, leading the Royals in hits (150), doubles (31), triples (6), and RBIs (80) while becoming the fifth player in MLB history to record 20 homers and 30 steals at age 22 (or younger). The other four? Acuna Jr. (2019), Mike Trout (2012), Alex Rodriguez (1998), and Barry Bonds (1987). His build needs a new glove but it’s hard to pass on a mullet with 122 clutch, a 92+ arm, and 99 speed.

Cedric Mullins (CF) – Baltimore Orioles

Ask anyone: Cedric Mullins’ swing is money. The Orioles outfielder suffered from a few setbacks in 2022 and despite a dip in power, he set career highs in RBIs (64) and stolen bases (34) while launching his first career grand slam against the Brewers. He’s bound to rejoin MLB’s 30-30 club in 2023 and his new 97 OVR pairs balanced hitting attributes with elite defensive metrics, which at Parallel Five, maxes out at 93 reaction, 89 speed, 94 steal, and a diamond glove at CF/LF/RF.

Christian Yelich (LF) – Milwaukee Brewers

Christian Yelich hasn’t exactly been himself since putting up MVP numbers in 2019 – hitting .329 with 44 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 130 games – but he’s destined to find his “rizz” again after becoming the sixth player in MLB history to hit their third career cycle. Yelich’s 97 OVR has power on both sides and comes equipped with DH-ready quirks like Fighter and Stopper, but his 6-foot-3 frame makes him an underrated OF option with max 80 fielding, 83 speed, and 78 steal.

Dustin May (SP) – Los Angeles Dodgers

In 17 starts in 2020-2021, May posted a 2.62 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 79 innings before missing a large part of the past 24 months due to Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old leads a Dodgers pitching core that’s becoming more about youth (Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot) and his Team Affinity debut compliments his “quit sucking” attitude with 104 stamina, 106 H/9, 91 K/9 and 99 velocity. May’s fastball hits 100 mph but his sinker and slurve are fitted with max break (because chaos).

Eloy Jimenez (LF) – Chicago White Sox

“The Big Baby” is headed for a breakout year as the American League icon hit .295 with 16 home runs, 12 doubles, and 54 RBIs in less than 85 games. Jimenez has had his share of injury woes, but when healthy, he’s a talented hitter that can rearrange the seams on a baseball – especially with a 97 OVR that fronts 111+ contact, 109+ power, and 120 clutch to be a lock in the DH spot.

Javier Baez (SS) – Detroit Tigers

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, “El Mago” is due. Baez hasn’t been himself since his MVP run in 2018 but the former Cub-turned-Met-turned-Tiger repped Puerto Rico to the fullest at the World Baseball Classic – hitting .368 with a home run, three doubles, and six RBIs in five games. And if anyone is keeping tabs, this card might be better than his Silver Slugger version as it values clutch over contact and upstages other shortstops (Pena, Edman) with 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF secondaries.

Jeff McNeil (2B) – New York Mets

As any Mets diehard will remind you: Jeff McNeil is an elite contact hitter. The former Long Beach State Dirtbag finished the 2022 season with a .326 batting average and a Silver Slugger award – becoming the first Met to win the National League batting title since José Reyes (2011). His new 97 OVR speaks for itself with near perfect contact, vision, and clutch but it also pairs quirks like Dead Red, Breaking Ball Hitter, and Unfazed with diamond fielding at five different positions.

Joc Pederson (LF) – San Francisco Giants

Maybe it’s the shades. Or the pearls. Or the “dad power”. But Joc Pederson’s swing deserves a spot in Cooperstown. The 30-year-old had an underappreciated 2022 (.274 BA, 23 HR, 74 RBIs) as he became just the second Giant to have a three-home run game at Oracle Park and his new Charisma Series card doesn’t hold back with 103/117 splits that max at 108/122 and eat righties alive with 125 clutch. He’s DH material all day thanks to Dead Red, Homebody, and Night Player.

Juan Soto (RF) – San Diego Padres

The 2022 Home Run Derby champion had an odd year at the plate – hitting .242 with 27 big ones while leading the league (again) in walks (135) – but there’s no denying his swing and what it can do with runners on. Soto’s Charisma Series card isn’t as power-heavy as his ‘20 and ‘21 Finest builds and it doesn’t need to be as his 115 clutch and 125 discipline counter his contact against lefties, and there are enough quirks (Dead Red, Unfazed) to go around until the All-Star Game.

Rafael Devers (3B) – Boston Red Sox

Boston’s Devers is known for two things: big scoops and sending baseballs to outer space. The Dominican-born third baseman will always have a soft spot for ice cream cones, but he had his third MVP-type season in six years – hitting .295 with 27 homers and 42 doubles in 141 games. His 97 OVR Team Affinity nod mirrors his May 2022 Monthly Awards Lightning card and it might even be better thanks to 95 vision, 104 clutch, and Raffy-made quirks like Breaking Ball Hitter.

Ronald Acuna Jr. (RF) – Atlanta Braves

The Venezuelan-born Acuna Jr. regressed a bit in 2022 as his stat line (.266 BA, 15 HRs) barely eclipsed his short-lived season in 2021 (.283 BA, 24 HRs), but he is more than ready to make a serious run at NL MVP. The Braves phenom, also known as “El Abusador”, has a much quicker swing in The Show 23 and it comes with balanced hitting splits (99/102, 89/94), First Pitch Hitter and Breaking Ball Hitter, and 90 speed and 89 steal that makes up for his woeful reaction rating.

Taylor Ward (RF) – Los Angeles Angels

Taylor Ward has one goal for 2023: to be the best left fielder in baseball. The pride of Dayton, OH slashed .370/.481/.713 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in his first 30 games for the Angels last year and if he stays healthy, he has a chance to be the missing piece that Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have so desperately needed. Ward’s 97 OVR card lacks offensive stats, but it does have quirks (Unfazed, Breaking Ball Hitter) and a fielding/speed combo that levels up at Parallel Four.

Make sure check out the best World Baseball Classic cards in MLB The Show 23 as well.