Improve Your Defensive Reactions

Defensive play in MLB The Show 25 rewards anticipation. The new Dynamic Fielding Engine adjusts your player’s first step and route efficiency based on MLB The Show 25 Stubs reaction time. That means reading the ball immediately off the bat is essential for gold-level defense.

Tips to improve fielding reaction:

Watch the hitter’s stance and swing path: Pull hitters tend to send balls to their dominant side. Position your fielder slightly to anticipate this.

Use pre-pitch positioning: Many fielders in the MLB adjust their depth or alignment depending on the count. You can do the same to increase your coverage.

Focus on the initial ball trajectory: The first half-second after contact tells you whether the ball is rising, sinking, or slicing. Don’t wait for the camera to adjust—move instantly.

Practice with custom fielding drills to learn how each batted ball behaves off different pitches. You’ll soon start recognizing spin and flight patterns intuitively.

Master Baserunning Awareness

Reading the ball off the bat isn’t just a defensive skill—it’s equally critical for smart baserunning. In MLB The Show 25, improved AI reactions mean the window for advancing bases safely is smaller.

Key baserunning techniques:

Freeze on line drives: Don’t take off too early on hard liners; they’re often caught, leading to easy double plays.

Tag up on deep fly balls: As soon as the ball leaves the bat, judge its hang time and fielder positioning. Prepare to tag if it’s playable.

Round bases smartly: When you recognize a gap shot, start rounding early to maintain momentum.

Veteran players rely on instinct, but you can develop that same intuition by practicing in custom baserunning mode—set scenarios with specific pitch types and learn to predict the result of MLB The Show 25 Stubs for sale contact.