MLB® THE SHOW™ 23 « User Guides

Hitting Controls – Directional Interface

Buttons Input

Normal Swing	S
Contact Swing	A
Power Swing	F
Check Swing	lightly tap S, A, F, or D

Analog Input

Normal Swing	right stick C
Contact Swing	right stick X / Z
Power Swing	right stick V, then right stick C
Cover Direction in Zone	right stick Y / I
Check Swing	flick and release right stick

All Input Types

Sacrifice Bunt	D (press early and hold)
Drag Bunt	D (press late, timed to the pitch)
Influence Fly Ball / Ground Ball	left stick C / V
Influence Left / Right Side	left stick Z / X
Influence Bunt 3rd or 1st	left stick Z / X
Bunt into Ground	left stick O / V / U

Hitting Controls – Timing Interface

Buttons Input

Normal Swing	S
Contact Swing	A
Power Swing	F
Check Swing	lightly tap S, A, F, or D

Analog Input

Normal Swing	right stick C
Contact Swing	right stick X / Z
Power Swing	right stick V, then right stick C
Cover Direction in Zone	right stick Y / I
Check Swing	flick and release right stick

All Input Types

Sacrifice Bunt	D (press early and hold)
Drag Bunt	D (press late, timed to the pitch)

Hitting Controls – Zone Interface

Normal Swing	S
Contact Swing	A
Power Swing	F
Sacrifice Bunt	D (press early and hold)
Drag Bunt	D (press late, timed to the pitch)
Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator	left stick
Check Swing	lightly tap S, A, F, or D
Move PCI Anchor	hold B + left stick

Batting – Pre-Pitch Bunt Influence

Influence a Drag Bunt	right stick Z / X
Cancel Current Influence	right stick C

Use the right stick to determine Bunt Influence pre-pitch. Your controller will vibrate when your choice is confirmed.

Batting Misc.

Guess Pitch Type	R + S, A, F, D, E
Guess Pitch Location	R + left stick
View Defensive Positioning and Ratings	N
Quick Menu (excluding player lock)	C
Pitcher Attributes / Player Quirks	Z
Pitcher/Batter Matchup Breakdown	X
Call Timeout (Before Windup)	V
Control the Camera	right stick

Pitching Controls – Pinpoint Interface

Pitchout	Q + S
Intentional Walk	Q + A
Pitch Type 1	S
Pitch Type 2	A
Pitch Type 3	D
Pitch Type 4	F
Pitch Type 5	E

To use PINPOINT PITCHING, start by selecting your PITCH TYPE and moving the left stick to your desired location in the zone. Next, a gesture meter displays with the pattern you must follow for that pitch type and location. Use the right stick to follow the pattern as shown, while timing your motion with the outer ball icon for a good release point. A real-time feedback trail displays to indicate motion accuracy.

Pitching Controls – Pulse Interface

Pitchout	Q + S
Intentional Walk	Q + A
Pitch Type 1	S
Pitch Type 2	A
Pitch Type 3	D
Pitch Type 4	F
Pitch Type 5	E

To use PULSE PITCHING, start by selecting your PITCH TYPE and moving the left stick to your desired location in the zone. Press S at the smallest point of the PULSE to increase the accuracy of the pitch as it is released.

Pitching Controls – Meter Interface

Pitchout	Q + S
Intentional Walk	Q + A
Pitch Type 1	S
Pitch Type 2	A
Pitch Type 3	D
Pitch Type 4	F
Pitch Type 5	E

To use METER PITCHING, start by selecting a PITCH TYPE and moving the left stick to your desired location in the zone. Press S once to start the METER and again as the bar reaches the top of the METER to control PITCH POWER. Finally, set the PITCH ACCURACY by pressing S once the bar approaches the yellow line on the way back down.

Pitching Controls – Classic Interface

Pitchout	Q + S
Intentional Walk	Q + A
Pitch Type 1	S
Pitch Type 2	A
Pitch Type 3	D
Pitch Type 4	F
Pitch Type 5	E

To use CLASSIC PITCHING, simply select your PITCH TYPE and move the left stick to your desired location.

Pitching Controls – Pure Analog Interface

Pitchout	Q + S
Intentional Walk	Q + A
Pitch Type 1	S
Pitch Type 2	A
Pitch Type 3	D
Pitch Type 4	F
Pitch Type 5	E

To use PURE ANALOG PITCHING, start by selecting your PITCH TYPE and moving the left stick to your desired location in the zone. Next, pull BACK on the right stick to start the PITCH DELIVERY, then push FORWARD quickly or slowly to set the velocity. You can also adjust PITCH ACCURACY by moving the right stick LEFT/RIGHT during release.

Pitching Misc.

Look at Runner	W
Request Catcher’s Pitch Call/Pitch History	R
Pitch Ball	S
Deceptive Move	W (hold) + A, F, D
Slide Step (with Runners on Base)	W + S
Pickoff to 1^st	W + A
Pickoff to 2^nd	W + D
Pickoff to 3^rd	W + F
Step Off Mound (from Windup/Stretch)	Q
Position Ball in the Zone	left stick
View Defensive Positioning and Ratings	N

Throwing Controls – Button & Button Accuracy Interfaces

Move Player	left stick
Jump / Dive	right stick
Throw to Cutoff	Q
Switch to Closest Player (Without Ball)	W
Jump	E OR right stick V / X
Dive	R OR right stick Z / C
Throw to 1^st	A
Throw to 2^nd	D
Throw to 3^rd	F
Throw Home	S

While using the Button Accuracy Meter, throw a perfect pitch by nailing the meter in the gold region in the following situations: 1. Throw a runner out at home from the outfield, 2. Throw a stealing runner out from the catcher position, or 3. Back pick a runner at base from the catcher position.

Throwing Controls – Analog Interface

Move Player	left stick
Switch to Closest Player (Without Ball)	W
Jump	E
Dive	R
Throw to 1^st	right stick X
Throw to 2^nd	right stick C
Throw to 3^rd	right stick Z
Throw to Home	right stick V

Analog Select Baserunning

Target Runner	left stick
Advance / Return Individual Runner	left stick + A + F + D + S
Lead Off with Individual Runner	left stick + Q
Lead Off / Advance All	Q
Steal with Individual Runner	left stick + W
Steal with All Runners	W
Steal Early	W (hold and release before pitch)
Return an Individual Runner/Reduce Lead	left stick + E
Return All Runners/Reduce Leads	E
Stop Runner(s)	R

Button Select Baserunning

Advance All	Q
Return All	E
Stop Runner	R
2^nd to 3^rd	D + Z
2^nd to Home	D + V
3^rd to Home	F + V
1^st to 2^nd	A + C
1^st to 3^rd	A + Z
1^st to Home	A + V

Button Select Baserunning – Leading Off & Stealing

Queue a Steal to 2^nd	hold A + tap W
Queue a Steal to 3^rd	hold D + tap W
Queue a Steal to Home	hold F + tap W
Manual Steal Timing	hold and release W
Leadoff from 2^nd	hold D + tap Q
Retreat to 2^nd	hold D + tap E
Leadoff from 3^rd	hold F + tap Q
Retreat to 3^rd	hold F + tap E
Leadoff from 1^st	hold A + tap Q
Retreat to 1^st	hold A + tap E
Advance All Runners’ Leads	Q
Retreat All Runners’ Leads	E
Queue Steals for All Runners	W
Cancel All Queued Steals	R

Sliding

Slides at Home

Straight In Feet First	right stick V
Straight In Head First	right stick C
Wide Right Feet First	right stick U
Wide Right Head First	right stick I
Wide Left Feet First	right stick O
Wide Left Head First	right stick Y

Slides at Bases

Straight In Feet First	right stick V
Straight In Head First	right stick C
Hook to the Left	right stick Z
Hook to the Right	right stick X

Retro Mode

Batting

Move Batter	left stick
Swing	S
Bunt	F

Baserunning (Pre-Pitch)

Increase Lead Off	D
Decrease Lead Off	A
Switch Runner Window	Q / E

Baserunning (Post-Pitch)

Steal	D
Advance All Runners	S
Return All to the Previous Base	A
Target Individual Runner	left stick
Advance Targeted Individual	S
Return Targeted Individual	A

Pitching

Move Pitcher	left stick Z / X
Throw Fastball	left stick V + S
Throw Changeup	left stick C + S
Pick Off Runner	Hold A + left stick Z / C / X
Switch Runner Window	Q / E
Move Pitch In Flight	left stick Z / X

Fielding

Throw/Dive/Jump	S
Switch Fielder	A
Throw to 1^st	left stick X or X
Throw to 2^nd	left stick C or C
Throw to 3^rd	left stick Z or Z
Throw to Home	left stick V or V

Welcome to MLB the Show 23! Here’s everything new and updated for this year’s latest addition.

Storylines

Experience baseball’s past, present, and future in MLB The Show’s new mode, Storylines. The Show 23 features Season 1 of The Negro Leagues, where you play out some of the most spectacular careers in baseball’s history, complete with classic uniforms and matchups. Celebrate these players’ amazing stories and impact on baseball while earning exclusive and highly desirable Diamond Dynasty items along the way!

Game Mode Expansions and Improvements

Diamond Dynasty

There are several exciting changes and additions for Diamond Dynasty fans this year! Build your squad around attribute-boosting Hitting & Pitching Captains and select a Designated Hitter or Two-Way Cards who can pitch and hit with the best. Sets & Seasons means more, better cards to collect (especially early in the season), and Mini-Seasons is back for its second season with more content, more features, and more ways to play. Finally, thanks to our new Unlimited Program Rewards, you can keep playing and never stop getting rewarded for your time.

Road to the Show

With the MLB the Show Companion App’s new Face Scan feature, you can use your phone to create a player with your likeness! Our dynamic Challenges reward you with game-altering perks aligned with your player’s archetype, and you can improve your player outside the game with the newly revamped On-Field Training system. We’ve also redesigned the HUD, simplified player progress visuals, and streamlined transitions from Ballplayer to RTTS.

Franchise/March to October

Our CBA updates include a new Postseason format, balanced schedules, and a competitive balance tax. We have also revamped the Draft experience with new presentations, improved scouting, and expanded system logic.

Custom Practice

Are you struggling to hit a specific pitcher? This year’s Custom Practice gives you unparalleled control over your batting practice. Set the exact percentages you want to see each pitch, acclimate your eye to catch those pitches in a simulation of real-life uncertainty, and step back into the online arena ready to conquer all comers!

General Game Improvements

This year, we’ve improved gameplay consistency with improved input matching, reduced foul ball frequency, and enhanced PCI accuracy. Our dynamic Throw Accuracy Meter now changes with the throw type, and we’ve implemented MLB’s new rules regarding Shifts and Pitch Timers.

Miscellaneous

In other MLB the Show news, we’ve expanded announcer commentary and upgraded our visuals with reskinned themes. Be on the lookout for our new Legends, uniforms, equipment, and gameplay animations, like back-picks and quick dives!

Note: Chapter One of Storylines is included in the base game. Future chapters are included in game updates, which must be downloaded with an internet connection.

Storylines is a new addition to The Show 23 that combines themed Moments with curated videos and a deep narrative diving into some of the greatest baseball stories ever told. Completing Storyline arcs rewards exclusive Diamond Dynasty cards.

Chapter One tells the tale of the Negro Leagues through the influential careers of eight of its greatest:

Jackie Robinson

Satchel Paige

John Donaldson

Rube Foster

Hilton Smith

Hank Thompson

Buck O’Neil

Martin Dihigo

Look for more Storylines content as the season progresses!

Note: Co-Op, Ranked, Events, and Battle Royale sub-modes require an internet connection and a PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately).

Diamond Dynasty is the ultimate fantasy baseball experience—a chance to create a personal team of real Live Series players or Legends and Flashback players spanning over 100 years of baseball history. Collect their baseball cards from Packs to build your 26-man squad, and then compete against opponents online or computer-controlled teams in Single Player mode.

New to Diamond Dynasty

Captains

Diamond Dynasty’s lineup now includes a Hitting and Pitching captain: build your squad around your Captains’ team, division, or league boosts. Each Captains’ boosts are unique and tiered, so adding compatible players to your roster has the double bonus of increasing stat boosts and spreading them across the players on your squad!

Sets & Seasons

Sets & Seasons is a revolutionary new approach to roster and team building, replacing the old year-long power creep with rolling card sets to keep the lineup metagame fresh all year long! But don’t worry: the Wild Card feature lets you use your favorite card in any game mode, any time.

Designated Hitter / Two Way Player

By popular demand, your Diamond Dynasty lineup need no longer feature a weak-hitting pitcher gumming up your ninth spot. But if you’ve got a player who excels as both a pitcher and a hitter like Shohei Ohtani or Martin Dihigo in the fold, why not let the big dog eat?

Mini-Seasons

Test your flexibility with Curated Challenges. Can you win with a team featuring only Silver players or players from the ‘90s?

With newly added Stat Tracking, you’ll earn end-of-season rewards for each mini-season as your favorite cards compete to lead the league and take home the MVP hardware!

Unlimited Program Rewards

Have you completed the reward program for this Season? No problem. Continue to earn rewards with Unlimited Program Rewards: after meeting the threshold, activate the bonus board to earn random prizes!

Ranked Co-Op Experience

Co-op gameplay made its MLB The Show debut in 2022, but this year the stakes have been raised and the gauntlet thrown. Just like in 1v1 Ranked play, players can team up and try to raise their score on the Leaderboard to the World Series level, earning bonuses and rewards all along the way.

How to Play

Diamond Dynasty begins with a simple set of tutorial missions to teach you the basics. Your initial team is chosen automatically, but you earn new players, upgrades, and rewards as you play.

But before that, your team needs a name, logo, and uniforms. Use The Show’s uniform creator to give your team a unique look or choose from thousands of real-life uniforms to outfit your squad. Armed with your dream team and personalized look, you are ready to take on Diamond Dynasty!

Need help choosing a logo? Check out the online Logo Vault to choose from hundreds of logos lovingly created and graciously shared by The Show’s community. Of course, you can upload your custom logos and see if your creation becomes a fan favorite, too!

You earn rewards like Stubs and XP as you play. Stubs are the in-game currency used to purchase cards in Packs or through the online Community Marketplace. XP is tied directly to the Season Reward Path: earn rewards for each threshold you meet. The more you play in any mode, the more (and better) rewards you earn! If an MLB player performs a real-life feat in the 2023 MLB season, their player cards will receive a Supercharged Boost and unique border art! This temporary boost stacks with other Parallel boosts you have earned, turning that card into a uniquely powerful weapon to build your lineup around.

Ways to Play

Note: Co-Op, Ranked, Events, and Battle Royale sub-modes require an internet connection and a PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately).

New: Sets and Seasons

Some Diamond Dynasty modes (like Ranked and specific Conquest Maps) require Season Squads composed of In-Season cards. In-Season cards include all cards released in the current or previous season, in addition to all Core Set cards, which are always lineup-eligible. This keeps squads fresh and the competition fierce!

Coach Tip: For all in-season game modes, your lineup can include one out-of-season Wild Card. Some players use this free pass to keep their favorite card in the lineup or finish a card on the cusp of a Superfractor Parallel. Other players use Wild Cards to cover a glaring hole in their new-season lineup or optimize their Captain Boost. How you use the Wild Card is up to you, but don’t forget it’s there!

Mini-Seasons

Mini-Seasons are 28-game seasons consisting of 3-inning games. Play four games (two home, two away) against each of the other teams in the Global Baseball League and finish in the top half of the league to advance to the playoffs and take your shot at the Championship. New this year, use Curated Challenges to challenge your gameplay and team-building flexibility.

You earn rewards for each game you play and each Mini-Season you complete. League leaders will be awarded at the end of each season.

Coach Tip: Mini-Seasons is the only single-player mode in Diamond Dynasty to utilize a season-long stamina system for pitchers. Using a relief pitcher in back-to-back games will result in a stamina penalty, so don’t waste your high-leverage stopper’s best stuff mopping up an inning in an uncompetitive game!

Cooperative Play

Cooperative Play comes in several modes: 2v2 or 3v3 games, Exhibition Co-Op (Major League rosters), and Diamond Dynasty Co-Op (player-created Diamond Dynasty rosters).

This year, for the very first time, Casual Co-Op is joined by Ranked Co-Op, with its own Ranked Leaderboard and rewards program just like the one-on-one version.

Coach Tip: Always support your teammates! Remember, people of all ages, skill levels, and baseball know-how play this game. If your teammate makes a mistake, have their back: no one likes a clubhouse cancer!

Ranked

Ranked play grants rewards as you win full-length games against online opponents and climb the leaderboard for that Season. The leaderboard resets monthly, so there are fresh incentives to stay at the top!

New this year, Co-Op Ranked lets you build a squad with one or two of your friends, average your Ranked leaderboard ratings, prove your superiority on the field, and make the run to the World Series rank an all-inclusive affair.

Coach Tip: Don’t give up! Players in Ranked (especially in lower divisions) may want to quit if they initially fall behind by a couple of runs, but nine innings is a long time. Remember: your stats count towards Parallel XP and Featured Program Missions, win, or lose!

Events

Events are dynamic, time-limited challenges. Build a team to fit the event’s roster restrictions and play games with non-standard rules (such as Quick Counts active, three-inning games, or no visible strike zone reticle). Compete against other players for rewards!

Coach Tip: Even if you’re not intrigued by the Featured Rewards, Events are a great way to accumulate Stat Goals and Community Parallels experience online if you don’t want to risk dropping a tier in Ranked (or if you don’t have the time for nine whole innings).

Battle Royale

Battle Royale is a player-versus-player experience where you build a team not from card inventory, but from a player draft. Outlast your rivals in a fierce series of three-inning games: the pitchers tire quickly, the strategy is tenacious, the rewards are wonderful, and every pitch counts! Lose twice and you’re out—or rip off twelve uninterrupted wins to earn the much-coveted Flawless rewards!

Coach Tip: In the draft, every team has the same number of Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Common cards respectively. Finding the Silver and Bronze cards with strengths that fit your play style can be the difference between winning a couple of games and going on a Flawless 12-0 run.

Conquest

Conquest is The Show’s beloved spin on a classic turn-based strategy game, pitting your Diamond Dynasty squad against real MLB teams in a race to take over the map. Conquer the territories controlled by your rival MLB teams, complete the Conquest-specific Missions, and upgrade your team as you progress.

Coach Tip: The ratio of attacking fans to defending fans determines your difficulty options. New players of The Show should take this time to gain an advantage by playing on Rookie or Veteran; hardcore players can rush Spartan-style into hexagons held by significantly more fans and conquer them with a win on Hall of Fame or Legend. Some of our more advanced Conquest programs will inevitably force you to attack from a shorthanded position if you want maximum rewards!

Showdown

Showdown is a Diamond Dynasty mode unlike any other. Instead of using your usual squad or a pre-set team, you’ll draft a small set of players to anchor your lineup and staff at the outset. As you complete Showdown-specific Moments, you’ll earn additional players to round out your squad and Perks to boost your team’s performance. At the Final Showdown, your performance in the Challenges directly influences how daunting your task against the Final Boss will be!

Coach Tip: Boss Battles are a unique feature of The Show, and they play very differently from a regular game. Remember, the point of Showdown is to beat the Final Boss, not to beat all the Moments, so draft towards this goal—don’t be afraid to stack your lineup with favorable platoon splits!

Moments

Moments take you back to relive baseball history or showcase the highlights of the 2023 season. Since Moments are not a full game, they’re a great way to earn progress in Seasons and Other Programs when you only have a little time to play. Try them all!

Coach Tip: Remember how we said you should play every Ranked Seasons game to completion? Moments is the exact opposite: there is no penalty for restarting, so if you are not on a good pace to complete the requirements in the time allotted, you might want to restart rather than chase a miracle.

Seasons

Seasons are how we track the passing of time in life, and The Show 23. Seasons are tied to a Season Reward Path, but also mode-specific Reward Programs, lineup-building restrictions, Moments, and gameplay missions.

Coach Tip: If you’re looking for a more in-depth guide to The Show than these pages contain, check out the forums on theshow.com for tips and advice from some of the sharpest gamers in the MLB The Show community.

Team Affinity Programs

Back by popular demand! Unlike the main Season Reward Path, Team Affinity Programs are themed around the six divisions in Major League Baseball. Season-eligible player cards are rewarded for progress in these programs and used for some Stat Missions and Moments. You can even gain progress towards the Team Affinity Program by stepping away from
Diamond Dynasty and playing through a season of March to October!

Coach Tip: Don’t just stack your lineup with players from that division— pick a Captain who boosts cards from the same team, add his teammates to your lineup, and enjoy the benefits of a powerful Tier 3 boost while you stack those rewards in record time!

Other Programs

Other Programs are exactly what they sound like: other Programs that supplement the Season Reward Paths but don’t fit in the Team Affinity box. Every Other Program is different: some are time-limited, highlight a particular player’s career, or are themed around an event.

Coach Tip: Get your feet wet in Diamond Dynasty by checking out the Starter Program. You’ll complete a few Moments, play your first Showdown, and complete some Missions in regular gameplay—and for all that, you will be rewarded with a free Diamond All-Star Series Justin Verlander Flashback card to anchor your starting rotation for Seasons 1 & 2!

Collections

Collections are completed by locking in several cards from a particular set. Complete each Collection’s milestones to earn unique rewards like valuable players and equipment. Keep an eye out for new Collections with more powerful rewards as the season goes on!

Coach Tip: If you have the necessary Stubs, use the Community Marketplace to bridge that last gap or two in a Collection you’re working on completing.

Parallel Boosts

No two Diamond Dynasty squads are alike, thanks to Parallel Boosts. Earn Parallel XP for every card you own as you use them: each card can be boosted five times, ultimately securing a +5-stat boost across the board for all that player’s attributes!

Coach Tip: Parallel numbers are forever in The Show: even if you sell a copy of that card and buy a new one, your Parallel XP and boost levels carry over. Getting a card to Superfractor Tier first in the community is a great honor that many of the grittiest The Show veterans dream of accomplishing someday.

Community Marketplace

The online Community Marketplace is The Show’s official digital bazaar. Place your buy and sell orders at the price you want, or use Buy/Sell Now to let the market dictate the price.

Coach Tip: If you sell a card on the Marketplace, there is a 10% sales tax taken from the order. Quickselling a card gets you a lower flat rate of Stubs, but depending on the math, you might come out ahead by doing that instead. Knowing your quicksell values and strategizing your listings to never make less than that is how the sharpest investors in the Marketplace build their Stub stacks.

In MLB The Show 23’s long-time fan-favorite mode, embark on a baseball journey as a fresh young prospect who grows to baseball greatness!

New to Road to the Show

Face Scan

Have you ever dreamed of playing in a World Series game? Seeing your face on the screen as the starting lineups are introduced? Use the mobile MLB the Show Companion App’s new Face Scan feature to turn your Ballplayer into the spitting image of… you!

Dynamic Challenges and Program Progress

Challenges are now more streamlined and aligned to your player’s archetype; once completed, you’ll get to choose from several game-altering perks.

On-Field Training

Big and strong! Road to the Show players now have access to various training sessions, successful completion of which rewards Training Points to progress your player. Each training session has five different levels, with the difficulty scaling up as you rise. Achieve a Gold result, move up to the next level, and turbo-boost your superstar to the big leagues!

Your Ballplayers, Your Way!

Own your Ballplayer experience: take to the field as a pitcher, hitter, and everything in between! Use our improved Perk and Archetype systems to maintain several players so you’re prepared for anything.

Your ballplayer grows their skills through the field, off-day workouts, and on-field training. As you collect XP, you will earn stat-boosting equipment for your star-in-the-making; combine these with Perks and Archetypes for nearly unlimited customization options!

Be sure to tweak your animations as well: they don’t affect your ballplayer’s stats, but what’s the point of hitting more home runs than Jazz Chisholm if he celebrates with a cooler bat flip than you?

Take Your Ballplayer Online

Take your ballplayer off the Road! Add your ballplayer to your online Diamond Dynasty squad to prove them against the best. Stat Missions in Diamond Dynasty can be used to level up Archetype Programs or gain experience and loot through specially designed Moments! Place your favorite ballplayer in a historical fantasy lineup to take your domination to the next level!

Meet the Press

As any MLB superstar will tell you, what you do on the field is just the tip of the iceberg. Listen to some of the most respected MLB leaders and former players give their take on your ballplayer’s progress from an up-and-coming prospect to an emergent sensation—and maybe a league MVP!

Put your baseball knowledge to the test! You call the shots on all management aspects, such as drafting players, training programs, signing free agents, hiring new staff, and managing your budget. Take control of your favorite team and guide them to victory!

New Franchise Improvements

CBA Updates

Baseball has changed a lot over the past few years, and we’re keeping up. We’ve added an expanded Postseason format, a new balanced schedule setup, and even a Competitive Balance tax. The only way it could feel more like running your own team is if you played from a corner office!

Revamped Draft Experience

New presentations, improved scouting, and expanded logic and systems, such as:

Player Generation Logic

New Immersive Scouting System

Scouting Big Board

MLB Draft Day Experience

Signing Big Board

Improved CPU Signing Logic

Draft Lottery

Fog of War Logic

Franchise Launch Pad

These features offer a variety of ways to play Franchise based on your playstyle and time commitment:

Critical Moments

Critical Moments skip to late-inning, urgent game situations, so you can directly affect the standings without playing full games, such as hitting for the cycle or a potential no-hitter.

Retro Mode

Play Retro Mode with your franchise team for a blast from the past!

Player Lock

Choose a player to lock on and play as in a shortened Road to the Show-style game.

Quick Manage

Use Quick Manage to speed up and simplify your responsibilities. Make managerial decisions during simulated games, like setting up rotation and batting order, or quickly input in-game team strategies while your players handle the in-game action. Easily jump between Quick Manage and standard gameplay for a flexible, fully customizable Franchise experience.

Franchise Responsibilities

Running an MLB franchise is a challenging job! There are many factors to supervise: balancing the team budget, maintaining player morale, signing new players, keeping up with your GM goals, and more. These Franchise responsibilities are broadly divided into three sections: Coaching, Player Development, and General Manager. When creating a franchise, you can distribute these tasks between yourself and your staff by setting them to Auto or Manual. Tasks can quickly be reassigned at any time.

Note: Co-Op, Ranked, Events, and Battle Royale sub-modes require an internet connection and a PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately).

March to October

Experience the most exciting moments of your favorite MLB team’s season! Each game episode has unique narrative content and mode-specific commentary reflecting your in-season performance. With an interface focused on rapidly getting you from one game to the next, tear through each episode and take your team to the Postseason and beyond!

Quick Play

Note: Co-Op, Ranked, Events, and Battle Royale sub-modes require an internet connection and a PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately).

Challenge of the Week

Face off against a CPU pitcher with steadily increasing difficulty to outscore players worldwide. Bonuses boost your total!

Coach Tip: Just because nobody is fielding the ball doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hit smart! Taking a ball boosts your active Multiplier by 2—building your multiplier is the secret to posting high scores, so don’t chase! Foul balls don’t get Multiplier bonuses, but their distance counts toward your score and keeps you alive with two strikes.

Moments

Experience baseball’s historical moments or pit your favorite players against Hall-of-Fame legends. Moments updates all year round, so be sure to check back regularly!

Home Run Derby

In this mode (available online or offline), you are pitted against up to seven players to hit as many home runs as you can within the time limit. Whoever hits the most homers advances to the next round!

Play Now

Exhibition

Want the most up-to-date baseball experience? Play a game from the MLB schedule using up-to-the-moment lineups loaded directly from MLB.com.

Exhibition (Live Rosters)

Play online matches using MLB rosters and see how you rank against the best players worldwide!

Online Rated

Test your skills in a competitive online exhibition match.

Retro Mode

Experience the sights and sounds of old-school gameplay in this casual mode.

Other Game Modes

Postseason

Build your fantasy Postseason bracket to compete for the World Series Championship.

Custom Leagues

Custom Leagues let you play flexible season formats with fully customizable rules and options. Play against your friends in competitive or relaxed games!

Online Co-Op

Play with friends in casual cooperative online games.

Learn to Play

Custom Practice

Practice your fielding, batting, and pitching abilities to become the best player you can be!

Options Explorer

Are you looking to improve your skills? Want to try the control scheme your favorite streamer recommends? Check out Options Explorer to learn about and sample different gameplay options.