Beyond the Controller: How “MLB The Show” Can Help Young Players Grow on the Diamond
With the release of MLB The Show 25, excitement is soaring in dugouts and living rooms across the country. For young ballplayers, it’s more than just a video game drop—it’s a chance to step into the cleats of their favorite pros, call pitches like a catcher, and build dream rosters packed with legends. But beyond the flashy graphics and new features, there’s a hidden benefit that parents and coaches should know: games like The Show are quietly becoming powerful learning tools. At NTX Select Baseball, we believe that with the right mindset, even screen time can help develop a sharper, smarter ballplayer.
Baseball has always been a game of inches, instincts, and information. And in today’s world, young athletes aren’t just learning on the field—they’re learning on screens, too. One surprising tool that’s helping players build their baseball IQ? MLB The Show, the popular video game series from Sony.
Now, we get it—parents might hesitate when screen time starts eating into field time. But when used intentionally, games like MLB The Show can actually serve as a digital batting cage for the mind. At NTX Select Baseball, we’re all about using every available tool to help our players grow. So let’s dig into how this game, when used the right way, can be a sneaky-good supplement to real-world baseball development.
- Road to The Show: Begin your RTTS journey by playing High School and College games in The Amateur Years. Build the RTTS ballplayer you want, the way you want to. Craft Perks to your liking and utilize a revamped attribute progression system for full control of your player's development
- Franchise March to October: A revitalized Free Agency system with risk/reward elements that add strategy, immersion, and excitement to the pursuit of the top free agents each offseason. Enjoy every moment of every game – or choose the key moments that matter, now with improvements to both Player Valuation Logic and Contract Logic.
- Expanded Diamond Dynasty and more: Collect and earn player cards in Diamond Dynasty: 360, as you craft your very own lineup with no more time-limited season restrictions. Try out Diamond Quest with your squad! It’s a brand-new roguelike board game mode, where rewards are yours to earn through moments, boss encounters and more.
- Gameplay Improvements and Expansion: Experience exciting new gameplay in all modes: featuring a variety of all-new RTTS Impact Plays, G.O.A.T difficulty for the ultimate challenge, all-new Ambush Hitting for a more realistic “plan of attack” at the plate, faster online gameplay and hundreds of new animations for extreme realism and much more!
- Visual Improvements: Appreciate incredible high fidelity when you play on a PS5 console including updated dirt and grass, combined with real-time physics, making for an advanced level of detail.
1. Game IQ: Learning Positioning, Strategy, and Situational Awareness
One of the most valuable aspects of MLB The Show is how accurately it mirrors the real game—from positioning shifts to pitch sequences to baserunning decisions. For young players, this offers a low-stress, high-repetition way to absorb the rhythms of the game.
Field Positioning and Decision Making
As players take control of their virtual team, they start learning:
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Why infielders shift based on batter tendencies
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Where outfielders play in different situations (e.g., shallow with a man on third and less than two outs)
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How catchers call a game and why pitch sequencing matters
These are concepts that can take years to click on the field, but when players see them play out in a fast-paced digital game, those “aha” moments come faster. Suddenly, your 12-year-old is telling you why a 3-2 slider might not be the best choice with runners on base. That’s growth.
Baseball Situations in Real Time
Video games reward smart baseball. Players who execute hit-and-runs, sacrifice flies, and smart defensive plays get better results in-game—which encourages real-world learning. It builds instincts. Kids start thinking one play ahead, just like their coaches want them to.
2. Learning the Game Through Players, Stats, and Slumps
Let’s face it—young players don’t always sit down to watch a full 9-inning game. But through MLB The Show, they’re engaging with the stars of today and learning the language of the game in the process.
Who’s Who in Baseball
These games feature:
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Accurate rosters and player ratings
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Signature batting stances and pitching motions
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Real stadiums and broadcast-style commentary
Young athletes learn who Ronald Acuña Jr. is, what makes Shohei Ohtani a unicorn, and how guys like José Altuve succeed despite not looking like traditional power hitters. It helps them see that baseball stars come in all shapes and sizes—and that can be incredibly motivating.
Understanding Slumps and Streaks
Another bonus? MLB The Show features hot/cold streaks, fatigue, and stats that change based on performance. Players learn that even the best hitters fail 7 out of 10 times, and that slumps are part of the game. This creates realistic expectations and teaches emotional resilience.
Instead of getting frustrated with a bad tournament weekend, a player who’s seen Mike Trout go 0-for-12 in-game might shrug it off, knowing it’s part of the sport. That’s maturity, rooted in virtual experience.
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3. Sparking Passion: Cards, Creativity, and Baseball Culture
Beyond gameplay, MLB The Show dives into the culture of baseball in ways that can ignite lifelong passion.
The Return of Baseball Cards
The game features “Diamond Dynasty,” where players build teams by collecting virtual cards. These cards represent legends from every era—Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter—and spark curiosity about baseball history. It often leads players to start collecting real cards, reading stats, and asking, “Who was this guy?”
That curiosity can snowball into deep appreciation and respect for the game’s legacy. It makes baseball cool, even to kids growing up in a TikTok world.
Building Teams and Managing Lineups
Kids love control—and in MLB The Show, they get to be GM, coach, and star player all at once. They make trades, manage lineups, and experiment with strategies. They learn what makes a good lineup, how to balance power and speed, and even how to budget a team under a salary cap.
This kind of creative engagement builds ownership. When they’re back on the real field, they’re not just “playing baseball”—they’re living it.
Customization = Identity
From creating custom players to designing uniforms and ballparks, players learn how to express themselves within the game. It builds pride and identity around the sport—which helps keep them connected to it long-term.
- Celebrate the Unofficial Start of Baseball: Topps Series 1 is collectors' and fans' first chance to embrace the start of the season and their love for the game. You can find yourself a baseball card box that includes the league's current stars, team cards, and rising rookies.
- Variety of Baseball Packs: Series 1 baseball card packs include base cards with sluggers like the 2024 American League MVP Aaron Judge, aces like 2024 National League Cy Young, Award-winner Chris Sale, and rookies Dylan Crews and James Wood Jr. They also celebrate 1990 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary Insert cards with 2024 National League MVP and World Series champion Shohei Ohtani.
- Lead Off 2025 with the Value Box: 2025 Topps Series 1 covers the needs of every collector and fan. With 12 cards per pack and 7 packs per box, the Value Box is a set that sets the tone for the season.
- Sets for Every Collector Type: Whether you’re a set collector in the early stages of building your collection, a player collector rounding out your complete set, a team collector who cherishes your club’s history, or any other type, 2025 Series 1 will be a special addition to your collection. There are several ways to collect. However you choose to, remember having fun is the driving force behind every collection.
- Significance of 2025 Topps Baseball Cards: Some of the most beloved cards in baseball history come from Topps. The inaugural set includes arguably the most important card in Hobby history: The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, his first ever Topps baseball card. What this season’s baseball card packs represent has yet to be determined, but they do present you with an opportunity to connect with the history of the game.
Final Thoughts: From Console to Clay
Look—we’re not saying MLB The Show replaces hitting off a tee or taking live reps. But for young players growing up in the digital age, video games can absolutely be a gateway to deeper understanding, motivation, and love for baseball.
So next time your player fires up the PlayStation or Xbox, don’t roll your eyes. Ask them what they’re learning. Watch a few innings with them. Let the game become part of the game plan.
Used intentionally, video games like MLB The Show can become a secret weapon in your player’s development—boosting their baseball IQ, connecting them with the sport’s legends, and turning downtime into growth time.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
MLB The Show isn’t just a video game—it can be a powerful learning tool for young ballplayers. It teaches on-field strategy and positioning, helps players understand stats, slumps, and star athletes, and even inspires deeper passion through baseball cards, history, and team building. When used the right way, screen time can support game time.
