In MLB The Show 25, the days of blindly swinging for the fences are over. This year’s entry in the long-running franchise places a greater emphasis on smart, skillful hitting than ever before. Whether you're a casual Diamond Dynasty grinder or a high-level Ranked Seasons competitor, learning to MLB The Show 25 Stubs approach each at-bat with discipline, strategy, and precision can be the difference between going 0-4 or carrying your squad to victory.

Let’s explore why MLB The Show 25 rewards intelligent offense and how you can leverage every in-game system to become a surgical hitter.

1. The Shift Toward Simulation-Based Hitting
MLB The Show 25 continues San Diego Studio's effort to simulate realistic baseball rather than lean into arcade-style outcomes. The revamped hitting engine emphasizes:

True Bat-to-Ball Contact: PCI placement, timing, and swing type now interact more organically. "Good" input feels like it produces consistent results.

Exit Velocity Reflects Mechanics: A well-timed swing with perfect PCI placement generates elite exit velocities, while poorly placed swings — even with powerful hitters — result in weak contact.

Situational Awareness is Key: Hitting now heavily rewards reading pitch sequences, working counts, and utilizing different swing types (normal, power, contact) based on the situation.

The game punishes reckless plate appearances. Sluggers like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani can’t carry you on attributes alone anymore — intelligent execution is vital.

2. Zone Hitting: The Competitive Standard
In competitive play, Zone Hitting remains the gold standard. It gives players total control over where they want to aim their PCI (Plate Coverage Indicator) and when they commit to a swing.

Here's why smart players thrive with Zone Hitting:

You can target pitcher tendencies (e.g., high fastballs, low sliders).

You can adjust for lefty/righty splits, handling inside or outside pitches better.

You can manipulate PCI anchor points, a new layer of control that helps cover certain zones effectively.

Even players with mediocre ratings can be deadly when wielded by someone with great PCI precision and pitch recognition.

3. Patience at the Plate: A Weapon
One of the biggest shifts in MLB The Show 25 is how the game now rewards taking pitches. The AI and online competition alike tend to fall into patterns — and smart players capitalize on this.

Why patience matters:

Draw more walks and increase pitch counts.

Force pitchers into the stretch and deeper into their bullpen.

React to the pitch, not guess it. Good hitters don’t chase; they hunt mistakes.

Learning to identify pitch types early in the count and being willing to take borderline pitches — even if it means risking a called strike — often leads to better results over nine innings.

4. Situational Hitting and Count Strategy
MLB The Show 25's new hitting engine favors situational awareness, rewarding you for choosing the right approach depending on the count and game state.

Examples:

0-0 Count: Sit dead red on a fastball in your favorite zone. Don’t waste your swing on a borderline pitch.

2-0 or 3-1: These are green-light counts for your best power hitters. Anticipate fastballs over the plate and go for damage.

With RISP: The game weights clutch ratings higher, so smart swings (even contact swings) are more likely to drop hits.

Additionally, the ability to influence the ball with your PCI placement (e.g., going opposite field to move a runner from second to third) is something advanced players utilize often.

5. Using Swing Types Wisely
There are three swing types in MLB The Show 25 — and each has a purpose when used smartly:

Normal Swing (X): The go-to choice, best used when you’re ahead or even in the count.

Contact Swing (O): Useful with two strikes or when facing a tough pitcher. Contact swings increase plate vision and reduce the likelihood of whiffing.

Power Swing (Square): Best in 2-0 or 3-1 counts or when using high-power hitters. Misusing power swings results in flyouts and pop-ups.

Knowing when to deploy each type of swing separates average players from top-tier competitors.

6. Lineup Construction That Rewards Matchups
Smart hitters don’t just show up to the game — they build lineups designed to exploit matchups. In Diamond Dynasty and Franchise, constructing your batting order based on handedness splits, power zones, and situational clutch attributes can drastically improve your offensive output.

Tips for smart lineup building:

Place high OBP hitters (e.g., switch hitters or high Vision/Contact players) at the top.

Group power hitters together to force pitchers into uncomfortable spots.

Put speedsters at the bottom of the order to flip the lineup more aggressively.

Use bench bats to counter left/right bullpen matchups late in games.

Having an optimized lineup ensures your smart hitting approach is supported by the right tools.

7. Stadium Choice, Weather, and Ballpark Factors
If you’re playing Diamond Dynasty with custom stadiums or in Franchise mode where you can set game time, smart hitters pay attention to:

Time of Day: Shadows from 1 PM to 5 PM can make seeing pitches harder.

Altitude: Stadiums like Laughing Mountain or Coors Field add carry to fly balls.

Wind Direction: 10+ mph out to center can help boost marginal hits into home runs.

Being aware of ballpark quirks gives you an edge. Smart players know how to adjust their swing and PCI placement based on whether a stadium plays pitcher-friendly or hitter-friendly.

8. Using Practice Mode to Train Your Eye and PCI
MLB The Show 25 offers Custom Practice, one of the most underused tools in the game. Smart hitters use it daily to warm up, refine their timing, and lock in their approach.

Drills to Try:

Set up a RHP vs RHB matchup with fastballs and sliders only.

Work on PCI placement against high inside heat.

Simulate 2-strike scenarios and practice fouling off tough pitches.

Focus only on laying off pitches below the zone.

This type of deliberate practice — not just jumping into Ranked Seasons — turns good players into elite ones.

9. Mental Toughness at the Plate
Smart hitting isn’t just about your thumbs — it’s about your mindset. MLB The Show 25’s hitting system reflects real baseball, where hitters succeed only 3 out of 10 times.

How to build a strong mental game:

Don’t tilt after a lineout or hard-hit out.

Take mental notes on your opponent’s pitch sequencing.

Don’t swing out of frustration; swing with purpose.

Adjust during the game — if you’re rolling over sliders, start sitting back.

The most successful players are the ones who treat each at-bat like a chess match, not a slot machine.

10. Key Attributes That Matter Most
While ratings don’t tell the whole story, smart hitters target players with attributes that align with their playstyle.

For contact-focused players:

High Vision and Contact ratings

Good Clutch and Discipline

For power-focused players:

High Power vs R/L

At least decent Vision to expand the PCI size

For switch hitters and flexible bench options:

Balanced splits across RHP/LHP

Decent fielding to remain useful defensively

Understanding which attributes translate well in-game helps you build a lineup that rewards smart hitting mechanics.

Final Thoughts: Smart Hitting Is the Meta in MLB The Show 25
The developers of MLB The Show 25 have made one thing clear: success at the plate belongs to those who play with intention. You don’t need the highest-rated cards to dominate; you need the right plan, consistent mechanics, and mental discipline.

From pitch recognition to PCI control, from lineup building to swing type selection, every layer of the game rewards intelligent decision-making. If you approach hitting like a science — analyzing, adapting, and executing — you’ll soon be putting up crooked numbers and rising through the online ranks.

So step into the batter’s box with a purpose. MLB Stubs isn’t just about hitting hard — it’s about hitting smart.