Scouts are watching, and this is my shot to fly up their draft boards.
I take my place at third base, locked in and ready.
Theres a runner on first, one away, as the pitcher deals from the mound.
The batter jumps on the first-pitch fastball; the loud ping of his metal bat pierces the air.
The ball rockets up the third-base line, far too fast for me to get a glove on.
As the left-fielder chases the ball in the corner, the runner from first is passing second.
I take my position, lined up between the left-fielder and catcher.
The runner rounds third as the outfielder launches the ball.
On the diamond
This years updates begin on the field.
Ambush hitting brings yet another real-world strategic element to batting.
In game, that translates to optionally focusing on pitches inside or outside of the center of the plate.
Defense is seeing its own slate of updates.
According to Gill, the goal was to make defense matter more.
Last year, the focus was on how outfielders react to balls in the air.
This year, the focus is on infielders and their start transitions.
Are they fast and smooth, going right to where they need to be?
Or do they hesitate, stutter-step, and lose crucial fractions of seconds?
One new addition that could prove to be a big difference-maker is the swim move for baserunners.
Bell is famously one of–if notthe–fastest player to ever play pro ball.
More era-accurate uniforms, equipment, stadiums, and crowds continue to enhance the authenticity of the mode.
According to Russell, sometimes the dev team can obtain the actual equipment to recreate it in-game.
Thats represented in Motivation, a stat that reflects how interested a player is in signing with you.
Your three targets are ranked first, second, or third in priority.
They will increase in Motivation each week, with larger gains going to the higher-priority players.
Once they are above 50%, you might offer them a contract.
Is a big market team in the hunt for your free agent?
Maybe it’s time to cut your losses and devote those resources elsewhere.
Is your division rival making a push to bring in a star?
It might be time to go all in and lock that player down for yourself.
Player value is getting a rebalance, too, which will affect both contracts and trades.
A greater emphasis on defense comes with a higher value placed on great defenders.
Diamond Quest is a new single-player experience somewhat adjacent to Conquest.
Weekend Classic, meanwhile, is the new bite-sized competitive mode.
Unlike Ranked Seasons, which unfold over multiple weeks, these contests play out over a few days.
The idea is to create a faster experience anyone can jump into without necessarily being an all-in competitive player.
Teams play six games, matchmade based on their rating, with better rewards for winning more games.
Merka tells us there are two tracks you might follow to reach your MLB dream.
Player progression is seeing a bit of an overhaul, as well.
Previously, attribute increases were tied directly to your performance in games or related drills.
Now, its shifting toward a token system, allowing you to invest upgrades in any attribute you want.
The one addition Im not quite sold on is the optional first-person camera.
Overall, the latest edition of MLB The Show is bringing a lot of new things to the table.
As for how many of those hit?
Well have to wait a few more days to find out.
MLB The Show 25 releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on March 18.
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