MLB The Show 26 is set to release later this month, and the first batch of Diamond Dynasty player ratings has already sparked plenty of debate. San Diego Studio revealed overall ratings and positional Top 10 lists, giving fans an early look at how players across the league stack up in the game.
For the Toronto Blue Jays, a few stars landed exactly where they should. Others, however, were noticeably overlooked despite strong recent performances.
Here's a closer look at two players the game rated properly and two who arguably deserved better.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ranked appropriately among first basemen
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. landed at the top of the first base rankings with an 88 overall rating, a placement that feels justified after his impressive 2025 season and historic playoff run.
While his regular season was good rather than dominant, Guerrero turned into one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball during the postseason. Across 18 playoff games he slashed .397/.494/.795 with a 1.289 OPS, launching eight home runs and driving in 15 runs.
He also recorded 29 hits, just one shy of teammate Ernie Clement's postseason record of 30 hits.
An 88 overall rating places Guerrero among the top 11–20 players in the entire game, alongside stars like Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, and Cody Bellinger. Considering his elite bat and solid production, the ranking feels about right.
Alejandro Kirk earns recognition among MLB's best catchers
Another Blue Jay who appears properly rated is Alejandro Kirk, who comes in as the fourth-best catcher in MLB The Show 26 with an 82 overall rating.
The catchers ranked ahead of him are:
- Cal Raleigh – 90 overall
- Will Smith – 85 overall
- William Contreras – 83 overall
Kirk sits alongside Shea Langeliers, while ranking ahead of notable names like Adley Rutschman, Gabriel Moreno, and Yainer DĂaz.
His balanced production makes that ranking reasonable. In 2025, Kirk hit .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs while contributing strong defense behind the plate. He also posted +9 defensive runs saved, highlighting his value as one of the game's better two-way catchers.
Daulton Varsho's rating feels far too low
One of the most surprising placements involves Daulton Varsho, who was ranked 10th among center fielders with a 78 overall rating.
Several players ahead of him include:
- Brenton Doyle – 79 overall
- Michael Harris II – 79 overall
- Ceddanne Rafaela – 80 overall
- Andy Pages – 82 overall
While Varsho's offensive numbers have fluctuated, he remains one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. His glove alone often adds significant value, and his bat showed improvement during the 2025 season.
Even though injuries limited him to 71 games, Varsho still posted 2.8 bWAR, far exceeding Doyle's 0.1 bWAR. When factoring in his elite defense and respectable offense, many fans expected him to rank higher than tenth at the position.
Kevin Gausman missing from the top starters is puzzling
Another surprising omission is Kevin Gausman, who received an 83 overall rating but did not crack the Top 10 starting pitchers list.
That decision is questionable considering his performance last season. In 2025, Gausman:
- Pitched 193 innings
- Recorded 189 strikeouts
- Posted a 3.59 ERA
- Finished with 3.8 bWAR
Among pitchers ranked near the bottom of the Top 10 list, his numbers compare favorably. For example:
- Chris Sale (No. 7) – 4.0 bWAR
- Bryan Woo (No. 9) – 4.2 bWAR
- Blake Snell (No. 8) – only 11 starts
Gausman also led that group in innings pitched and durability, something that often goes overlooked when evaluating pitchers.
If postseason performance helped boost Guerrero's rating, there's a strong argument that Gausman deserved similar consideration after his own strong finish to the year.
Honorable mentions for Toronto players
A couple of other Blue Jays also earned respectable ratings.
George Springer received an 83 overall rating, placing him as the seventh-best right fielder in the game. That comes after a Silver Slugger season in which he led the team with 32 home runs.
Meanwhile, Ernie Clement landed at 79 overall, ranking as the eighth-best second baseman. He tied Tommy Edman and finished ahead of players like Ozzie Albies and Brandon Lowe. Clement also received Gold Glove nominations at two positions, highlighting his defensive versatility.
Ratings spark early debate among Blue Jays fans
Player ratings in sports video games always spark debate, and MLB The Show 26 is no exception. While Guerrero and Kirk appear to be placed appropriately, players like Varsho and Gausman could have a legitimate case for higher rankings.
As the season unfolds, performances on the field may force adjustments in future roster updates. For now, though, the early ratings have already given Blue Jays fans plenty to discuss. ⚾