MLB The Show is consistently one of the most realistic, true to life sports simulations in all of gaming. The annual San Diego Studios series has the market cornered for baseball fans who want an experience so real, they forget how poorly their favorite team is doing in real life. With a variety of modes like Road to the Show, Diamond Dynasty, and the all-new March to October, there’s more than enough to last through the entire baseball season.
It’s been said the hardest thing to do in sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat, and MLB The Show doesn’t make this any easier. Hitting is arguably the toughest part of the game, but these ten tips will have you manufacturing runs before you know it (with practice, that is).
10 Wait For Your Pitch
This may sound obvious, but it’s true. MLB The Show is not a game you can just throw on and race through racking up victory after victory. Baseball is a game of patience (just ask any non-fan who’s had to sit through an entire game).
Just swinging at everything that’s thrown at you is a recipe for a quick loss. Don’t be afraid to sit back and wait for your pitch to come. And speaking of waiting for your pitch…
9 Work Deep In The Count
Swinging at the first pitch is all well and good if it’s a fastball down the middle you can crush for a home run. But it’s rare an MLB pitcher will start off an at-bat with a meatball. However, they’re much more likely to throw you something you like if they’re down 2-1, or even 3-1.
Not only that, the more balls a pitcher has to throw, the more tired they’ll become, leading to more mistakes and more balls thrown either in the zone or blatantly outside. Don’t panic if you don’t score in the first five innings—just keep running up the pitcher’s count and you’ll start getting balls you can crush.
8 Pick A Camera Angle
Among MLB The Show 19’s dozens of customizable features are a plethora of camera angles, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. One of the most popular among streamers and successful players is known as the strike zone cam.
This angle highlights the strike zone and hitter’s midsection, making the ball larger and thereby easier to follow. The clearer you can see the ball, the easier it’ll be to avoid bad pitches and turn on good ones. Find one that works best for you.
7 Keep Your Eye On The Ball
Remember when your little league coach used to tell you this one? Well, it still applies big time. Tracking a pitch all the way with your eyes is the best surefire way to see if it’s landing in the zone or dropping outside.
If you’re hitting against someone who throws a sweeping curve, keeping an eye on where it starts and how far it drops can be the difference between a homer and popping out. MLB The Show is a game that demands your focus, and nowhere is that clearer than when it comes to watching the ball.
6 Use Practice Mode
Sure, it can be tempting to jump right into a game and start going for cards and other rewards. But keep in mind that all the pros practice, and it’s not a bad idea for you to do it as well.
Practice mode in MLB The Show 19 allows you to set up different hitting scenarios to really hone your craft. Keep striking out with the bases loaded? Set up a practice scenario and work it till it’s just another day at the office. Oh, and going off that…
5 Keep Calm
It can be stressful when you finally get an opportunity to drive in some runs and can’t deliver. Remember, first of all, it happens to the pros all the time, and secondly, it’s not on you as the hitter to make a bad pitch work.
Keep your cool and wait for the pitcher to give you what you want. It's like that quote from Watchmen: “I’m not locked in here with the pitcher, he’s locked in here with me, the batter.” Pretty sure that’s right.
4 Zone Hitting
Zone hitting is probably the most used swing style among successful MLB The Show 19 players. Zone hitting allows you to use the PCI, or a plate coverage indicator, to line up your swing for perfect contact on the ball.
This mode does take some time to master, but once you figure it out, it’s undeniable it gives the hitter the most possible control over their swing. Reticle and wedge are among the more popular PCIs you can use for a reason.
3 Do The Weekly Match Up
Every week, MLB The Show 19 has a hitter vs pitcher matchup players can participate in to earn rewards and XP. This is an excellent use of your time if you’re looking to brush up on hitting. It’s free, you could earn plenty of rewards, and it’ll make you a better hitter! What’s there to lose?
More than potentially any other sports series, MLB The Show truly highlights the fact that experts are not born overnight. Practicing often is key to victory. Along with improving your skills, these special weekly events provide an incentive to keep coming back.
2 Circle Is Not Your Friend
MLB The Show 19 has three hitting options: circle (contact), X (normal), and square (power). Got that? Good. Now go ahead and forget about the circle option. While it’s a nice addition to the control scheme, there’s really no scenario where the circle button will give you an edge as opposed to just using X.
If you know where the pitch is going, or have a great read on a high fastball, by all means, smash that square button, amigo. UNLESS—
1 Avoid The Power Swing down 0-2.
When you’re down 0-2 at the plate, which may or may not be your fault, the last thing you want to do is go for the big, sweeping power swing. Making contact should be your number one goal, and for this, you’ll want to use the X button. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but for the most part, if you’re trying to keep an at-bat alive and reach base down 0-2, shorten up and try using X to get the job done.
If it means keeps the team's hopes alive, there is nothing wrong with going for a punt!