All 22 Pokémon Baseball: best Pokémon at every position

Best Pokémon at each position

Top three non-Legendary picks at each of the eleven kinds of spot, with the Team Score points each adds over a 50-rated player. Each position page ranks the top 30 from every region.

• C CatcherPheromosa +51.8Dragapult +45.2Slaking +43.8Contact, Power
• 1B First basemanPheromosa +70.1Dragapult +61.3Iron Valiant +56.3Contact, Speed
• 2B Second basemanPheromosa +91.3Dragapult +80.1Iron Valiant +71.1Speed, Contact
• 3B Third basemanPheromosa +73.7Dragapult +64.6Iron Valiant +58.8Speed, Contact
• SS ShortstopPheromosa +97.1Dragapult +85.2Iron Valiant +75.0Speed, Contact
• LF Left fielderPheromosa +98.2Dragapult +86.2Iron Valiant +75.8Speed, Contact
• CF Center fielderPheromosa +107.9Dragapult +94.8Iron Valiant +82.6Speed, Contact
• RF Right fielderPheromosa +103.5Dragapult +90.9Iron Valiant +79.5Speed, Contact
• DH Designated hitterPheromosa +51.8Dragapult +45.2Slaking +43.8Contact, Power
• SP Starting pitcherFlutter Mane +64.4Cursola +60.2Florges +58.9Control, Movement
• RP Reliever or closerFlutter Mane +14.6Cursola +13.5Florges +13.1Control, Movement

What wins in baseball, from the game's own weights

The Team Score weights each rating differently at each spot. Points of Team Score per rating point (a rating runs 1 to 99):

• Control is the biggest rating in the game. A starter's control is worth 1.18 points a rating point, twice contact. A starter with control 90 instead of 50 adds about 47 points to your Team Score by itself. Velocity and stamina are worth nothing to the starter.
• Speed counts twice for fielders. It's both a batting rating and how far a fielder reaches the ball. In center field a point of speed is worth 1.14, more than contact's 0.57. At catcher, designated hitter and first base it counts for far less, so slow sluggers belong there.
• The bullpen is the cheapest place to save. The three relievers and the closer count the same way, and a point of control or movement is worth a fifth of what it is for the starter.
• Eye matters least of the bat ratings (0.19), and glove and arm only a little: they're multiplied by how many balls the spot sees.

These weights are in the game's published code, fitted by its developer to the SLUGGER engine's own simulated games, so they describe how much a rating wins in the game itself. A simpler position OVR formula in the same code tracks the games less closely (correlation 0.62 against 0.77).

Best lineup for every region

The builder drafts one region at a time (or all nine at once). Best lineup from each pool: Team Score and runs a game without Legendaries, Team Score with two, and runs a game with no limit on them. Open the builder and switch pools there.

Pool	No Legendaries	Runs a game	Two Legendaries	Runs, no limit	Best starter
Kanto	827	8.5	867	9.3	Alakazam
Johto	734	6.8	784	8.5	Mantine
Hoenn	860	9.1	944	11.5	Gardevoir
Sinnoh	852	8.9	904	10.9	Probopass
Unova	872	9.3	908	10.9	Chandelure
Kalos	795	7.9	846	9.3	Florges
Alola	898	9.8	989	12.3	Nihilego
Galar	918	10.1	1000	12.2	Cursola
Paldea	964	10.8	1000	11.9	Flutter Mane
All nine regions	1000	12.9	1000	14.6	Flutter Mane

Kanto: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 827)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Dragonite	+33.1
1B	Scyther	+30.6
2B	Raichu	+40.9
3B	Dodrio	+35.8
SS	Dugtrio	+46.3
LF	Jolteon	+53.9
CF	Electrode	+59.9
RF	Aerodactyl	+67.6
DH	Arcanine	+27.9

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Alakazam	+46.5
RP	Mr. Mime	+10.0
RP	Jynx	+8.1
RP	Exeggutor	+7.8
CL	Gengar	+7.3

Open in the builder ↗

Johto: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 734)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Tyranitar	+27.7
1B	Kingdra	+22.8
2B	Heracross	+37.9
3B	Typhlosion	+28.0
SS	Houndoom	+35.6
LF	Espeon	+40.2
CF	Crobat	+62.9
RF	Sneasel	+43.0
DH	Ursaring	+18.6

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Mantine	+39.5
RP	Slowking	+8.3
RP	Ampharos	+6.1
RP	Umbreon	+6.0
CL	Porygon2	+6.0

Open in the builder ↗

Hoenn: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 860)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Metagross	+30.9
1B	Sharpedo	+32.3
2B	Salamence	+57.6
3B	Flygon	+31.6
SS	Slaking	+64.6
LF	Sceptile	+51.7
CF	Ninjask	+72.2
RF	Swellow	+54.3
DH	Blaziken	+28.5

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Gardevoir	+53.2
RP	Milotic	+9.6
RP	Claydol	+7.8
RP	Grumpig	+7.7
CL	Dusclops	+6.7

Open in the builder ↗

Sinnoh: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 852)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Gallade	+27.6
1B	Electivire	+38.2
2B	Infernape	+51.1
3B	Garchomp	+45.9
SS	Staraptor	+45.5
LF	Floatzel	+51.6
CF	Weavile	+69.8
RF	Ambipom	+53.3
DH	Lucario	+29.1

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Probopass	+49.0
RP	Togekiss	+10.9
RP	Magnezone	+9.8
RP	Glaceon	+9.4
CL	Roserade	+9.2

Open in the builder ↗

Unova: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 872)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Hydreigon	+32.7
1B	Zoroark	+35.6
2B	Zebstrika	+47.6
3B	Haxorus	+43.2
SS	Mienshao	+59.9
LF	Cinccino	+48.4
CF	Accelgor	+68.5
RF	Archeops	+74.9
DH	Emboar	+26.2

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Chandelure	+46.5
RP	Volcarona	+10.1
RP	Cryogonal	+9.3
RP	Beheeyem	+9.2
CL	Gothitelle	+8.7

Open in the builder ↗

Kalos: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 795)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Goodra	+26.4
1B	Pyroar	+24.5
2B	Heliolisk	+32.3
3B	Delphox	+28.3
SS	Noivern	+46.2
LF	Greninja	+57.0
CF	Talonflame	+57.0
RF	Hawlucha	+56.8
DH	Pangoro	+20.2

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Florges	+58.9
RP	Sylveon	+10.4
RP	Aegislash	+8.6
RP	Carbink	+8.4
CL	Dragalge	+8.3

Open in the builder ↗

Alola: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 898)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Buzzwole	+28.7
1B	Kommo-o	+33.3
2B	Lycanroc	+48.1
3B	Naganadel	+37.8
SS	Ribombee	+39.6
LF	Blacephalon	+69.0
CF	Pheromosa	+107.9
RF	Kartana	+70.0
DH	Xurkitree	+23.6

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Nihilego	+53.6
RP	Primarina	+11.2
RP	Celesteela	+8.3
RP	Drampa	+8.1
CL	Toxapex	+7.8

Open in the builder ↗

Galar: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 918)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Sirfetch’d	+23.8
1B	Kleavor	+30.1
2B	Boltund	+48.5
3B	Inteleon	+39.7
SS	Cinderace	+60.0
LF	Sneasler	+68.8
CF	Dragapult	+94.8
RF	Barraskewda	+76.8
DH	Rillaboom	+22.6

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Cursola	+60.2
RP	Hatterene	+11.8
RP	Polteageist	+11.5
RP	Alcremie	+9.5
CL	Orbeetle	+9.0

Open in the builder ↗

Paldea: best lineup without Legendaries (Team Score 964)

Lineup

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
C	Baxcalibur	+34.6
1B	Iron Leaves	+45.1
2B	Cyclizar	+51.1
3B	Roaring Moon	+53.4
SS	Iron Boulder	+68.6
LF	Meowscarada	+63.0
CF	Iron Bundle	+70.0
RF	Iron Valiant	+79.5
DH	Slither Wing	+34.6

Pitching staff

Spot	Pokémon	Adds
SP	Flutter Mane	+64.4
RP	Iron Crown	+12.0
RP	Iron Moth	+11.6
RP	Gholdengo	+11.1
CL	Arboliva	+9.0

Open in the builder ↗

Questions

Is there a best-Pokémon list for All 22 Pokémon baseball?

Yes, this page and the position pages under it. The Indigo Series Challenge scores your fourteen with a Team Score built from each Pokémon's ratings at its spot; we ranked all 1,025 Pokémon at all eleven kinds of spot with the game's own weights.

Which Pokémon is best at baseball?

Flutter Mane is the best starting pitcher and Deoxys the best center fielder with Legendaries allowed. Without Legendaries the top starter is Flutter Mane. No single Pokémon is best everywhere: the fourteen spots count different ratings.

Does the closer matter?

Not more than any other reliever. The game's Team Score counts the three relievers and the closer the same way, and the whole bullpen is worth far less than the starter.

How are the baseball ratings worked out?

From base stats, weight and height. Contact leans on Speed, Attack and Sp. Atk; power on Attack and weight; eye on Sp. Def; control on Sp. Def and Sp. Atk; movement on Sp. Atk. Fighting, Psychic, Ghost, Fire and Electric types get bonuses in places. The game keeps the numbers hidden; this guide shows them.