Using Shadows to MLB The Show 25 Stubs Your Advantage

Lighting plays a major role in MLB The Show 25, particularly during games that transition between afternoon and evening. When the pitcher’s mound sits in sunlight and the batter’s box in shadow—or vice versa—the visibility of the ball changes dramatically.

These shadow transitions can create optical illusions that challenge your reaction time. The pitch might appear faster or slower depending on where the light changes. Recognizing and adjusting to these conditions can give you an immediate edge.

Early Afternoon Shadows

During early innings, sunlight often covers most of the field, making pitch visibility clear. This is when you should focus heavily on spin detection and pitch recognition, as lighting won’t interfere.

Late Afternoon Shadows

As the game progresses, shadows begin to stretch across the field. When the ball travels from light into shadow, it can briefly “disappear” before reaching the plate. In these situations, rely on timing and pitch type recognition rather than purely visual tracking.

Night Games

Under artificial lighting, spin can appear sharper and more defined, but reflections from the ball can also distort its path. Night settings are excellent for training your ability to read spin, especially against high-spin pitchers or offspeed-heavy rotations.

Training Your Eyes: How to Recognize Spin and Shadow Faster

Like any baseball skill, reading spin and adapting to light takes practice. MLB The Show 25 offers multiple ways to train your eyes and reaction timing.

Use Custom Practice Mode.
Set up drills against specific pitchers or pitch types. Focus exclusively on identifying the pitch before swinging. This isolates your spin recognition ability and helps you memorize subtle visual cues.

Slow Down the Game (Mentally).
Many players make the mistake of reacting too quickly. Instead, work on your pitch tracking by watching pitches into the glove without swinging. The more you observe, the faster your brain learns to decode spin patterns subconsciously.

Adjust Camera Angles.
Experiment with Strike Zone 2, Offset, or Fish Eye views to find one that helps you read spin earlier out of the pitcher’s hand. A good camera angle can make a huge difference in recognizing movement.

Learn Pitcher Tendencies.
Some pitchers have unique spin cues tied to their windups. Study their patterns—does their slider always follow a high fastball? Does their curve start with a specific release point? Combining visual cues with MLB Stubs for sale scouting knowledge maximizes your reaction time.