MLB The Show 26 April Fool's Day Common Courtesy Program Guide | How to get 64 OVR Player Cards, Stubs, and other Rewards?

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• MLB The Show 26 Top 10 Stadiums Ranked | Which one will you unlock to gain a competitive edge?

  Whether in a real-life baseball game or within the virtual world crafted by MLB The Show 26, the stadium stands as a pivotal element.

  It serves not only as the foundation upon which the game is played but also shapes your overall experience through its unique on-field and off-field environments.

  As a spectator watching a game, you might focus solely on the players' performances. However, when you step into the shoes of a baseball player in MLB 26, the stadium environment directly influences your running, pitching, and fielding.

  With this in mind, and drawing from the roster of over 60 stadiums available in MLB The Show 26, we present our top 10 picks, ranked from lowest to highest.

  

  How to unlock stadiums?

  Before diving into our top stadium picks, you first need to understand the comprehensive methods for unlocking stadiums in MLB 26. After all, it would be a shame to spot a stadium you love only to find yourself unable to add it to your collection!

  Generally speaking, if your goal is to quickly unlock rewards tied to specific objectives, you can utilize the custom stadium to create a ballpark perfectly tailored to meet those requirements.

  As for other classic stadiums, some are included within the reward packs found in various Programs, while others require you to buy MLB 26 stubs at IGGM to acquire them via Diamond Dynasty Shop.

  Additionally, by participating in and making progress within Conquest or Storylines modes, you stand a chance to unlock even more exclusive stadiums as rewards.

  10. Terrapin Park

  This stadium is part of the new content introduced in MLB The Show 26; consequently, you will find that it offers a particularly vivid showcase of the new details and design nuances the developers have incorporated into the game's ballparks.

  From a visual standpoint, Terrapin Park features not only realistic texture designs for its playing surfaces but also boasts highly immersive celebration effects and animations.

  If, however, you prioritize gameplay utility, this stadium makes for an excellent choice when you are playing as a batter.

  9. Hiram Bithorn Stadium

  Although this is a classic baseball stadium that has been renowned in the real world for decades, it makes its debut in MLB The Show series with the release of MLB 26.

  Located in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, Hiram Bithorn Stadium was originally constructed in 1962 and was officially added to National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

  Influenced by the urban atmosphere, this venue exudes a strong tropical vibe, and the crowd's energy runs particularly high.

  More importantly, Hiram Bithorn is one of the host stadiums for 2026 WBC; playing here creates the illusion that you are participating in the actual tournament!

  8. Oracle Park

  Its unique layout makes Oracle Park both incredibly challenging and exciting for outfielders: McCovey Cove, situated just beyond the right-field wall, means that left-handed batters risk hitting the ball straight into the water if they aren't careful, while the stadium's narrow dimensions add an extra layer of difficulty for the defense.

  Yet, precisely because of this, you can experience atmospheric fog effects and stunning water reflections here, visual elements rarely found in most other stadiums.

  Furthermore, if you happen to be playing as a pitcher, you'll likely find the gameplay experience here to be a bit more forgiving.

  7. Old Texas Stadium

  In reality, it is no longer possible to play in, or even watch a game at, the actual Old Texas Stadium! This is because the venue, once located in Irving, Texas, was demolished back in 2010.

  Fortunately, in MLB 26, you can still relive that classic Texas baseball atmosphere thanks to the developers' meticulous attention to detail in recreating the stadium.

  More importantly, this ballpark is well-suited for both batters and pitchers looking to capitalize on their specific strengths, making it an excellent choice when you're aiming to rack up more victories.

  6. Tokyo Dome

  If you tuned into this year's WBC, you know that it marked one of Team Japan's most disappointing tournament runs to date.

  However, you can now assemble your own squad and reclaim that glory right here at Tokyo Dome in MLB The Show 26, provided, of course, that you're a fan!

  This stadium captures the distinct essence of Japanese baseball, utilizing a wealth of intricate details to create an incredibly authentic WBC game-day atmosphere. Batters who favor this style of play will find plenty of opportunities here to frequently launch extra-base hits.

  5. Bayfront Stadium

  Following Oracle Park, this is another venue where you can enjoy stunning light and water effects. However, its true defining characteristic is just how small it is compared to most other stadiums.

  This design makes Bayfront Stadium inherently more hitter-friendly, while pitchers must be even more cautious than usual. Additionally, the compact layout concentrates the roar of the crowd, so be careful not to let the intensity of the cheers distract you!

  4. Petco Park

  Petco Park stands out as a rare gem, a major league baseball stadium situated right in the heart of a bustling urban metropolis.

  Unlike other ballparks that cultivate a seaside or suburban atmosphere, playing here means being surrounded not only by the crowd but also by a dazzling urban cityscape at night.

  

  3. Fenway Park

  If you are a fan of nostalgia, Fenway Park is absolutely one ballpark you cannot afford to miss. More importantly, MLB The Show 26 has introduced further optimizations to its impressive retro details, breathing new life into this stadium.

  However, a word of caution: if you are controlling a right-handed batter, Fenway Park may not be your top choice for racking up rewards. Pesky Pole in right field adds an extra layer of difficulty and unpredictability to the game.

  2. Date Palm Field

  This ballpark is a purely fictional creation within MLB series, designed to evoke the desert landscapes found near Date Palm Drive in Palm Springs, California.

  Despite its virtual nature, it rivals other options in terms of both visual appeal and practical playability.

  Furthermore, precisely because it is a virtual creation, the developers enjoyed greater creative freedom; they were able to design the field dimensions to align perfectly with game mechanics and standards, rather than being constrained by the need to strictly replicate the specific features of a real-world stadium.

  For this very reason, any skilled player of MLB The Show 26 will be more than happy to designate Date Palm Field as their preferred venue.

  1. PNC Park

  Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, PNC Park serves as the home stadium for Pittsburgh Pirates. Much like Petco Park, it is a venue defined by its distinctive urban skyline backdrop.

  Based on its stunning night views, high level of recognition, and excellent playability for players at every position, we have ranked PNC Park as the number one ballpark on our list.

  Conclusion

  The list above represents our ranking of ballparks based on several key factors relevant to playing MLB The Show 26.

  However, in the actual game, you are entirely free to choose whichever ballpark you are most familiar with or simply prefer playing in. Ultimately, it's all about having fun!

• MLB The Show 26 Online Pitching Guide | How to break batters' timing by Pinpoint Pitching?

  MLB The Show 26, like FC 26, is a competitive game. Diamond-level players have a higher ceiling and can pull off incredible swings or pitches, but you're still the one in control.

  Here, we'll focus mainly on how you approach pitching. This covers not just in-game techniques, but also your settings and even your hardware. Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran, this guide aims to help you level up your pitching game.

  

  Controller Choice

  For Xbox players, the default controller feels somewhat sluggish in MLB 26. Plugging a microphone into the auxiliary port improves the situation a little, but it still won't give you 1:1 precision. Therefore, you can use a third-party controller for pitching. PlayStation players don't face this issue.

  Game Settings

  Pitching Interface

  Watch top players, and you'll see almost all of them use Pinpoint Pitching, with the occasional exception using Pure Analog. The problem with Pure Analog is that when your pitcher's confidence drops, the pitching meter disappears, and you'll also need to learn how to use a mound visit to restore it - too complicated for beginners. It's really not difficult to learn Pinpoint Pitching. Finish one Conquest map, and you'll basically have the feel for it.

  Pitching Ball Marker

  Pitch Trail shows the ball's full path from the pitcher's release point to the intended landing spot. Some players prefer Chevron (the small arrow symbols), but it may not give you a 1:1 sense of the ball's actual trajectory as it crosses the plate - you're almost guessing.

  Fixed Pitch Location

  This is a new feature in this year's edition. When turned off, the aiming reticle automatically snaps back to the center after each pitch; when turned on, it stays where you left it. If you're an experienced player and don't like this change, you can turn it off.

  Pitcher Delivery

  When grinding games offline, you can set this to Stretch Only, which speeds up the pace of play.

  

  Pinpoint Pitching

  Pinpoint Pitching isn't unique to MLB 26; it existed in previous games. First, you need to select the pitch type and landing point. Then, using the right analog stick, carefully trace the unique trajectory of each pitch type.

  When you choose a pitch, the game visually shows you the stick movement you need to replicate - both the speed and the shape. Watch it closely and copy the motion. After completing the movement, return the stick to the center. Wait for the two blue circles at the bottom of the screen to close together - at that exact moment, pull the stick straight down.

  Different pitches have different difficulty levels: fastballs, because they're straight, demand tighter precision for a perfect execution; forkballs are harder to throw well, but the accuracy requirement is actually looser. However, the timing of pulling down applies to all pitches.

  Also note that right-handed and left-handed pitchers may mirror each other's motions, so some pitch trajectories can be reversed. Pay attention to the pitcher's handedness and follow the on-screen prompts. Head into custom practice and try various pitches repeatedly - you'll quickly get the rhythm of Pinpoint Pitching.

  Many players obsess over a perfect angle, but as long as you hit the threshold in each category, every perfect pitch delivers the same result. So Pinpoint Pitching has one drawback, which you can't intentionally miss your spot. In Pure Analog, you can deliberately release late to avoid hanging a breaking ball, but Pinpoint doesn't allow that.

  Throwing Balls

  Throwing balls is perfectly fine, especially early in the game or early in the count. Use them to test the opponent's swing tendencies. Are there certain locations or pitch types that opponents can't resist swinging at, even when they're clearly out of the zone?

  In online games, many players aren't good at consistently identifying balls. So mix in some balls to tempt them into chasing. Especially early in the game, experiment with different spots and pitches to find the zone where the opponent swings and misses most often.

  The more strikes you throw, the lower the hitter's batting average. Aim to keep your first-pitch strike rate between 60% and 80%. A first-pitch strike doesn't have to be a called strike; as the game goes on, you can throw a chase ball that gets a swing-and-miss, which also gives you a 0-1 advantage.

  Tunneling

  Tunneling is making one pitch look like another. You need to know which pitch types are naturally similar:

  • 4-seam fastball & forkball: very similar
  • 4-seam fastball & cutter: very similar
  • 4-seam fastball & slider: moderately similar
  • 4-seam fastball & changeup: moderately similar
  • Circle changeup: less like a fastball

  For example, steal an outside corner strike with a 4-seamer, then follow with a cutter that's a ball - the batter may chase and miss or produce weak contact. Next, attack the inside corner with a sinker. Once the batter starts protecting the inside too much, throw a circle changeup low at waist level. It has a similar motion and spin. The batter will often swing early, rolling the ball over to the first-base or second-base side for a groundout.

  You can also use cutters and sliders to make the ball move horizontally from the same initial trajectory - inside against righties, outside against lefties. Tunneling is one of the most important advanced pitching skills, and it works especially well against other human players.

  In online matches, PAR limits how effective tunneling can be. Still, even with a knuckle-curve, you can try to make it look like a 4-seamer by placing the pitch at a similar release point and gambling that the batter will swing.

  These are some general pitching tips. You'll discover more techniques through practice. But remember: while you're studying the opponent's habits, they're often studying yours as well. So keep varying your approach.

• MLB 26 Stubs Free Giveaways

  Thank you to all MLB The Show players for your long-term support of IGGM! In order to give back to all customers, we have launched a new giveaway event with a total prize pool of 1,000K Stubs! We will announce the lucky winners in the next few days! As long as you pay attention to us in time and actively participate, the next lucky winner will be you!

  

  During this promotion, all the giveaways we provide to players are as follows:

  • Total 1000K MLB 25 Stubs

  Total Winners: 5

  We will randomly draw 5 winners on IGGM Discord, and they will share all 1000K stubs giveaways, that is, each lucky winner can get 200K stubs.

  To Enter: Leave Reaction Emoji “Love” To Win

  If you only pay attention to it after this event is over, don’t be discouraged, you can continue to pay attention to IGGM official X and Discord, because we always hold related giveaways from time to time. Isn’t it nice that you can just join in, be active, and have a chance to win a ton of stubs without any effort?

  Product Links:

  • MLB The Show 26 Stubs: https://www.iggm.com/mlb-the-show/mlb-26-stubs
  • MLB The Show 26 Players: https://www.iggm.com/mlb-the-show/mlb-26-players

  

• MLB The Show 26 Ultimate Conquest Mode Guide | How to stockpile stubs and packs without spending a dime?

  In MLB The Show 26's Diamond Dynasty mode, a vast array of content awaits your acquisition, and a significant portion of it can be unlocked by completing offline objectives.

  One of the primary ways to accomplish offline goals is through Conquest mode. This straightforward mode offers substantial rewards, including uniforms, card packs, stubs, and various other items. The following information will help you secure all these rewards in the shortest time possible.

  

  What is Conquest Mode?

  For newcomers to Diamond Dynasty, Conquest can be understood as a board-game-style strategy mode similar to Risk. Your objective is to expand your territory by capturing Strongholds on the map, which represent real-world Major League Baseball teams.

  With the global release of the game, the iconic USA Map series has gone live. This includes three separate maps: East, West, and Central. These are the largest Conquest maps in terms of content for this year. Additional maps will be added through future game updates.

  Clarify Your Objectives

  Before embarking on your Conquest journey, the most crucial step is to identify your thematic goals. Various Themed Programs or Team Affinity Programs within the game include a series of missions, and these can generally be completed in any mode, including Conquest.

  The requirements for different Programs within Conquest mode often vary. Therefore, before entering any Conquest map, be sure to check Program you're working on and place the required players into your game lineup. The advantage of doing this is that you can accomplish these Program missions while simultaneously progressing through Conquest map—effectively killing two birds with one stone.

  Conquest Map Reward

  Once you select a map you wish to challenge, you can immediately view its specific objectives. These typically include:

  Capturing Specific Divisions: For instance, taking control of all Strongholds in AL West will directly reward you with an 88 OVR Diamond Player Card, Colt Emerson.

  Completing an Entire Map: Finishing any single USA Division Map will grant you a Spring Breakout Choice Pack, along with various other card packs and MLB The Show 26 stubs rewards.

  These are the direct rewards within Conquest mode itself, independent of the rewards from themed Programs you're working on, making the overall payout very substantial.

  How to Complete Conquest Mode Efficiently?

  Conquest mode is an engaging strategic game, and exploring its mechanics on your own can be part of the fun. If you're short on patience, you can follow these steps to conquer the mode.

  Attack Phase

  During your attack turn, use all available reinforcements (your "fans") to expand as far as possible. The goal is to connect as many hexes as you can, forming a large contiguous territory. The number of reinforcements you receive each turn is entirely determined by the total number of hexes you control. More hexes mean more troops for the next turn.

  Once you've exhausted your troops or can no longer expand, the game proceeds to Steal Fans Phase. Unless the specific map has an objective requiring you to steal fans, you can safely skip this phase entirely. Simply advance to Reinforcement Phase.

  Reinforcement Phase

  Now, you'll receive new reinforcements based on the total number of hexes you held in the previous turn. Concentrate all your reinforcements onto a single hex from which you plan to continue your expansion (typically a hex adjacent to one of your Strongholds).

  Skip Move Fans Phase again and return to Attack Phase. By repeating these steps, your territory will grow larger, and the number of troops you gain each turn will increase. After a few such cycles, you'll quickly control most of the empty or lightly defended areas on the map, establishing a vast foothold.

  Capturing Strongholds

  After using the territory-encircling method described above to turn most of the map into your territory, it's time to directly confront the other teams.

  Clear the Periphery

  For any enemy hex that is not a Stronghold (marked with a team logo), you can use overwhelming troop numbers to Simulate the battle. It functions like a dice-rolling mechanic; the more troops you have, the higher your chance of success. Occasional losses are nothing to worry about.

  Assault the Core

  Once you've cleared all hexes surrounding a Stronghold, you can attack its core. To capture a Stronghold, you cannot simulate; you must play and win a 3-inning game yourself.

  You can select the difficulty based on your troop advantage over the stronghold. Beginners may prefer Rookie. However, for players with some experience, Veteran difficulty is often a better choice. On Rookie difficulty, the computer pitcher's velocity is extremely slow, and pitches frequently miss the strike zone, which can throw off your hitting timing. Veteran difficulty offers pitching speeds closer to a normal game, providing a better rhythm.

  If your troop count isn't sufficient for a comfortable margin, you can continue to stockpile fans for a few turns, accumulate over 50 troops, and then choose a difficulty you're comfortable with to secure the win.

  

  Keep Mission Objectives in Mind

  While playing these manual games, always keep Program missions you're working on in mind. If you need doubles or home runs, patiently wait for a favorable pitch.

  If you need innings pitched, remember that in Conquest mode's 3-inning games, even if your pitcher's stamina runs out, the computer struggles to mount effective offense on lower difficulties. You can easily have them pitch the entire game to efficiently complete those tasks.

  In offline modes, it's advisable to forgo the complex Pinpoint Pitching. While it's the preferred method for high-level online competition, against the computer, using simpler and faster methods like Analog or Meter pitching is more than enough to get batters out. This choice can significantly speed up your grinding process, saving you a considerable amount of manual time.

  Conquest mode stands as one of the most relaxed and efficient avenues in Diamond Dynasty for acquiring free card packs and players. You can naturally progress through all Programs while enjoying your games. Hopefully, the strategies above will help you conquer every map with ease.

• Stop grinding MLB The Show 26 Programs the wrong way! Maximize Stubs and more rewards through stacking strategy!

  Beyond participating in standard modes and matches, the primary source for earning additional rewards in MLB The Show 26 lies within its various programs.

  The good news is that there are almost always active programs available in the game, ensuring that you can make progress at any time.

  The bad news, however, is that new programs are released at a rapid pace, often alongside long-term, ongoing ones, making it difficult to keep up with every single one. Consequently, you might inadvertently miss out on the specific player cards you desire most.

  This time around, we're here to offer the perfect solution to this dilemma!

  

  What are MLB 26 programs?

  Programs are a structured reward progression system introduced within MLB 26's Diamond Dynasty mode. To advance, you must complete specific objectives to earn MLB 26 stubs, XP, card packs, or rare player cards.

  Common program types include:

  • Missions: Accumulate specific statistics (such as hits or innings pitched) using designated players or teams.
  • Moments: Complete specific actions to recreate classic baseball scenarios.
  • Showdowns: Assemble a team to face off against a boss pitcher.
  • Exchanges: Trade in your existing player cards to earn points.
  • Team Affinity: Complete various specific tasks to advance your progress with a designated team.
  • Featured Programs: An umbrella term for a series of new, limited-time events that are continuously updated as the game evolves.

  Currently, there are over 80 active programs available in MLB 26 (making it more urgent than ever to manage them efficiently!). Based on the highest potential returns in Stubs, XP, and Player Rewards, we've compiled a list of those you should prioritize:

  • Most Stubs: 1st Inning XP Path, Multiplayer 1 Program, Arizona Diamondbacks Program.
  • Most XP: Multiplayer 1 Program, Starter Program, World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool A-D Programs (four separate programs in total).
  • Most Player Rewards: World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool A-D Programs, WBC Recap Program, Multiplayer 1 Program.

  The best strategy: stacking several programs

  Our recommended method for tackling as many programs as possible, and thereby maximizing your rewards, is to stack them whenever their respective time limits allow.

  For many of the current high-value programs, the specific tasks often simply require you to perform a particular baseball action using a designated player.

  Crucially, neither the difficulty setting you choose nor the specific composition of your team will affect whether these tasks are successfully completed.

  Therefore, if your roster includes players required by multiple tasks, you might even be able to complete several tasks within a single game. By stacking these objectives a few times, you can effectively make progress on multiple programs simultaneously.

  However, to maximize the efficiency of this stacking strategy, there are a few additional tips you should master, and we're here to share them with you.

  The strongest team isn't always the best

  Given the competitive nature of baseball games, you might be accustomed to fielding the absolute strongest team possible for every matchup. Awkwardly enough, this isn't a particularly effective strategy for completing specific program objectives.

  If you build your team solely around overall power, resulting in a roster where only one or two players actually meet the program's specific requirements, you'll find yourself constantly having to reshuffle your lineup after every single game.

  Admittedly, a slightly weaker team might take a little longer to finish a game, but the hassle of constantly rebuilding your roster is far more annoying!

  Therefore, you're much better off reviewing the program requirements in advance and selecting multiple designated players to assemble a dedicated "Program-Specific Squad."

  In fact, most program objectives don't impose any requirements regarding game difficulty. So, feel free to simply select the lowest difficulty setting to start your games, the priority here is to earn your rewards as quickly as possible!

  Choose the suitable game mode

  In addition to lowering the overall game difficulty, you can also boost your task-completion efficiency by selecting the right game mode, specifically, we recommend prioritizing Conquest mode.

  In this single-player mode, the objective is to capture territories on a specific map and grow your fan base to expand your influence, ultimately culminating in the defeat of your opponents' Strongholds.

  With this in mind, we suggest focusing on accumulating fans as quickly as possible during the early stages of the game. This allows you to capture more territory faster, thereby lowering the difficulty of subsequent matchups.

  Once you've established this advantage, you can apply our earlier tip regarding roster construction to knock out even more program objectives.

  Another excellent option is Mini Seasons. Its key advantages are low difficulty and a fast pace: you only need to complete short, three-inning games.

  Furthermore, Mini Seasons allows for repeated playthroughs. This means that if you're short on gaming time, or if your "Program-Specific Squad" happens to be particularly low-rated, you can simply stick to playing this mode exclusively.

  In addition, we specifically recommend opting for the offline mode. While it might lack some of the excitement of online play, it eliminates matchmaking wait times and offers an even more relaxed, straightforward experience.

  Choose the custom stadiums

  Some program tasks require you to execute specific in-game actions. If you select a stadium with conditions that are ideally suited to those actions, you can complete your objectives with far less effort and much greater efficiency!

  For instance, hitting a home run is easier in stadiums situated at higher altitudes, while dim lighting can help you better confuse opposing players.

  Therefore, we recommend that you utilize custom stadiums to complete your project tasks. By freely designing a stadium environment that works to your greatest advantage, you can achieve your objectives much faster and more easily!

  That covers everything we wanted to share with you in this guide. As a quick reminder, we have also previously published walkthroughs for several specific projects; combining those guides with the tips in this article will make for an even more effective gaming experience!

• MLB The Show 26 Only New Threads Cards Worth Your Time | From an unstoppable closer to a disappointing collection reward

  New Threads series cards for MLB The Show 26 have been released, and these players who have moved to new teams will be the focus of Diamond Dynasty in the coming days.

  Acquiring these players isn't particularly difficult - you can obtain all of them for around one hundred thousand stubs. But as you know, some of these cards are stronger than others, and the elite ones are better suited for your squad. Let's go from strongest to weakest and see which ones are worth your consideration.

  

  Pitchers

  87 OVR Ryan Helsley, Orioles | CP

  Ryan Helsley is without a doubt the top card in this collection, and he's a strong recommendation for your bullpen. In the current game, elite right-handed relief pitchers are relatively scarce, and Helsley stands out as one of the best. He comes with Outlier II, and pairing his high-velocity cutter with a slider makes him essentially Rich Gossage from MLB 25. While he also has a curveball, it's best not to rely on it too heavily.

  87 OVR Robert Suarez, Braves | RP

  Robert Suarez can be viewed as a slightly toned-down version of Ryan Helsley. He adds a sinker to his arsenal, which might give him a slight edge against right-handed hitters.

  88 OVR Ranger Suárez, Red Sox | SP

  Ranger Suárez is no easy opponent. All of his pitches come in with below-average velocity and feature significant movement, and the slower speed adds an extra layer of deception, making him tough to hit. However, when facing high-level players in Ranked mode, his effectiveness drops considerably.

  88 OVR Sonny Gray, Red Sox | SP

  Gray's card features a pair of curveballs, and his delivery remains somewhat unconventional. Still, his overall performance is fairly average, with few standout qualities. His H/9 stats are underwhelming (81 vs. lefties, 63 vs. righties), and his Control is merely okay. As a typical cutter-sinker pitcher with two curveballs, he doesn't pose a major threat in high-level matchups.

  87 OVR Edward Cabrera, Cubs |SP

  Edward Cabrera's profile is similar to that of another Chicago Cubs right-hander, Jake Arrieta - his game centers on a hard sinker. His circle change comes in at 88, but in actual gameplay, that's not quite fast enough to place him among the top-tier pitchers.

  

  Hitters and Fielders

  91 OVR Kyle Tucker, Dodgers | RF

  Kyle Tucker is the highest-rated card in this collection. He comes with some wonderful Quirks such as First-Pitch Hitter and Dead Red. In terms of hitting attributes, aside from power, his stats range between 85 and 90.

  90 OVR Pete Alonso, Orioles | 1B

  Pete Alonso is a right-handed first baseman with decent stats. His 97 power and 72 contact resemble those of 87 OVR Travis Hafner, but Pete has better Contact and Clutch ratings. However, his swing doesn't feel as smooth as last year's, and his 31 Speed is very low.

  Still, he currently ranks as the best right-handed first baseman aside from 99 OVR Albert Pujols. Thanks to this year's Parallel Mod system, you can easily boost his defense into the 70s and his speed into the 60s or even low 70s, freeing him from his previous role as a one-dimensional hitter and making him more effective than before.

  88 OVR Marcus Semien, Mets | 2B

  Marcus Semien is a pure right-handed second baseman. He's on par with Gleyber Torres but offers better defense. Torres has a slightly smoother swing, while Semien can still hit home runs against right-handed pitching. For players working with a limited budget, Marcus Semien is a very solid choice.

  90 OVR Jorge Polanco, Mets | 1B (2B, 3B)

  Jorge Polanco is a switch hitter with stats that include 71 Contact vs. righties, 97 Contact vs. lefties, 85 and 76 power, and 108 Clutch. His defense is poor, his speed isn't great, and he has a smaller frame. In MLB 26, first-base defense has become more important, as taller, longer-limbed players can prevent more hits.

  Although he's quite popular right now, in terms of value, a similarly performing card like Carlos Santana is currently going for around 20,000 stubs, while Jorge Polanco commands as much as 70,000 stubs due to his hype. If you're looking to be more economical with your MLB 26 stubs, there's no need to go after this card right away.

  91 OVR Bo Bichette, Mets | 3B (2B, SS)

  As the collection reward, his stats show 101/100/110 in Contact and Clutch, but his power sits at just 70 against righties and 82 against lefties. Bo Bichette is a very poor defender and lacks speed. His role likely fits as a powerful pinch hitter against left-handers in your top-tier lineup. If you enjoyed the feel of his Moonshot card from last year, this one might suit you well.

  You'll notice that several New Threads cards weren't mentioned. That's because they either lack standout qualities or come with fatal flaws. You might use them in casual play, but in Ranked mode, their weaknesses become magnified. The cards highlighted above represent the most valuable ones from MLB The Show 26's New Threads collection. Keep in mind that some of these cards can't be acquired through the marketplace - you'll need to complete specific objectives to earn them.