Retro Mode is one of the returning alternate game modes available to players with MLB The Show 21. It’s intended to be a more stripped-down version of the game that harkens back to baseball titles of old. Pitching and batting are both controlled with a single button and the joystick, and fielders only need to be pointed towards a base then throw with a single button.

All in all, it’s intended to be a nostalgia trip as opposed to a serious competitive mode, but that doesn’t mean players can’t choose a beefed-up team to battle it out on the diamond with their friends. With that in mind, here are the best players for MLB The Show 21’s Retro Mode.

10 Kevin Kiermaier

With the simplified mechanics of Retro Mode, it’s best to focus on raw power in choosing players for the team. Technique and skill are largely removed from the equation, so the best players are going to be the ones who can send the ball flying in a given direction with their field of expertise.

While Kevin Kiermaier may be one of the strongest all-around outfielder players available, he slips down on this list due to his arm strength being rated at 92. His speed helps make up for that though, as it’s rated at 91.

9 Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger better fits the mold of outfielder that Retro Mode in MLB The Show 21 is looking for. He also has great speed and field coverage, but his arm is an absolute cannon with a 95 rating in terms of arm strength.

As a bonus, Bellinger is a powerhouse hitter that can launch a ball out of the park. The drawback is a low RBI, but that’s less of a problem in Retro Mode given the simplified mechanics.

8 Juan Soto

In addition to needing arm cannons in the fielding positions, a Retro Mode player absolutely needs explosive hitters. Juan Soto fills that position excellently. He is good at making contact with the ball for sure, but his placement here is largely due to his ability to launch it into the stratosphere.

Juan Soto has a monstrous 99 power rating against right-handed pitchers, and that’s the exact kind of player needed in Retro Mode. Forget all of the more intricate parts of baseball; just get the ball out of the park.

7 Joey Gallo

Joey Gallo is a downright explosive hitter. That is both a compliment and a criticism, as his ability to hit the ball is as chaotic as a sudden detonation. He can knock the ball into the stands easily, but he actually has to hit the ball first.

That is the exact kind of hitter that shines in Retro Mode. The pitcher has far fewer options in terms of getting the ball across the plate, and the batter only has one option for hitting the ball. As such, there are fewer ways for the ball to evade Gallo’s bat, and he can knock the hide off the baseball. His power against both left-hand and right-hand pitchers is rated at 99.

6 Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso is another powerhouse hitter that will make an excellent addition to any Retro Mode team. He has contact issues, especially against left-handed pitchers, but that’s not as much of a drawback in Retro Mode.

Despite his contact issues, Pete Alonso’s batting power against both right and left-hand pitchers is a startling 99. No matter which side of the mound the ball is coming from, Alonso can launch the ball into the stands.

5 Liam Hendriks

Liam Hendriks is an example of a pitcher that can launch the ball across the plate. With the simplified controls and tactics available to Retro Mode players, any pitcher who can really fire the ball from the mound is needed.

With that in mind, Liam Hendriks is an ideal choice. His 4-seam fastball can go at 96 mph, so he is an excellent player when all that is needed is the speed to evade the batter.

4 Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole is another pitcher with a blazing fastball. His 4-seam goes at a shocking 97 mph. His arm is a cannon, and it takes a keen eye to be able to make contact with anything he sends across the plate.

Given that Retro Mode only gives pitchers one button and lets the joystick control the ball from there, it allows a fast pitcher like Gerrit Cole to really shine.

3 Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge is generally one of the best players in the sport right now. Regardless of the stripped-down mechanics of Retro Mode, Aaron Judge is a monster that every MLB The Show 21 player can greatly benefit from.

That said, he’s still a shining star in Retro Mode. He is an all-star outfielder able to cover a lot of grass and an 85 rating in arm strength. He is a killer batter with a 99 power rating against right-handed pitchers and a 97 against left-handers.

2 Jacob DeGrom

Jacob deGrom is the best pitcher for Retro Mode hands-down. He’s also one of the best pitchers in the sport right now, and able to launch a 4-seam fastball at 99 mph.

While Retro Mode may not really do justice to a pitching talent like this, he can still dominate the game mode with his sheer power and control.

1 Mike Trout

There are many that consider Mike Trout to be the best player in the sport right now, and even the different controls of Retro Mode in MLB The Show 2021 can’t take that away from Mike Trout. Plus, his talents also make him an ideal Retro Mode choice.

He is another powerhouse hitter who can launch a ball out of the park, but he also has the contact ability to ensure that he will almost always get a piece of the ball. On top of that, he’s a great outfielder that can offer a lot of coverage for his team.

NEXT: MLB The Show 21: The 10 Highest Rated Infielders In The Game At Launch