MLB: The Three Best Utility Players

Utility players can be a lot more beneficial to an MLB team than most assume. With the ability to play multiple positions, these players can fill any number of voids a team has.

I have always found it interesting that players are not as versatile as they could be. Sure, there are that select handful that go out and prove they can play multiple positions, but not as many as you would think. These players have been playing baseball their entire lives, so chances are in little league they all played shortstop, caught, or pitched. Of course, the talent level in MLB is tremendous and one cannot simply pitch against major league hitters without endless practice. However, the jump from shortstop to first base theoretically shouldn’t be a hard one, yet few players make those transitions.

I know that nearly every MLB outfielder played infield growing up, because coaches always put the best kids in the infield. Heck, Bryce Harper was even a catcher his whole life up until he was drafted by the Nationals. It may have been several years, but these players have likely fielded thousands of ground balls in their life, and to think that they cannot play the infield after familiarizing themselves is absurd.

That is what has made utility players so valuable in the landscape of MLB. Yes, the amount of players playing multiple positions seems to be increasing, but not many are comfortable leaving the familiarity of their normal position. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the three best utility players baseball has to offer.