1. Pitch Tunneling – The Hidden Art of MLB The Show 25 Stubs Deception

Pitch tunneling is one of the most advanced — and underappreciated — mechanics in MLB The Show 25. It refers to throwing different pitches that look identical for most of their flight before breaking apart near the plate. This makes it nearly impossible for hitters to distinguish between them in time.

For example, pairing a four-seam fastball high in the zone with a 12-6 curveball can create a deadly tunnel. Both start in the same trajectory, but the curve drops sharply at the end. The key is consistency: release your pitches from the same point and vary speeds to enhance deception.

Pro Tip: Combine fastballs, cutters, and sliders from similar release angles. The better you tunnel, the more strikeouts you’ll generate — especially online against human players who rely on visual cues.

2. Dynamic Confidence System – Momentum Matters

MLB The Show 25 has upgraded its dynamic confidence system, making it even more realistic and impactful. Both pitchers and hitters now experience fluctuating confidence levels that affect performance mid-game.

Pitchers: When a pitcher consistently hits spots and records outs, their confidence bar increases, improving accuracy and movement. Missed pitches or hard contact lowers confidence, leading to wilder throws.

Batters: Successful at-bats, such as hard contact or walks, build confidence, which boosts timing windows and plate vision. Slumps or strikeouts decrease those bonuses.

You can actually see the effects of confidence on pitch location in Pinpoint Pitching — the input timing window becomes smaller or larger depending on momentum.

Pro Tip: Take mound visits strategically to reset confidence, especially after giving up a few runs. This feature can swing games if used wisely.

3. Advanced Fielding Intelligence – Smarter Defense, Real Reactions

Fielding in MLB The Show 25 has seen subtle but meaningful improvements. Players now react to the ball and fielding situations in smarter, more lifelike ways.

Route Efficiency: Outfielders take better routes to fly balls when under player control, reducing awkward misreads. However, poorly rated defenders will still hesitate slightly on hard-hit line drives.

Momentum Physics: Fielders now maintain or lose momentum realistically. A third baseman charging a slow roller will need extra time to reset before throwing, increasing the importance of timing.

Throw Accuracy Meter: Timing the throw bar is more nuanced, especially on double plays or when throwing off-balance. Using a fielder with high Arm Accuracy gives you a bigger sweet spot on the meter.

Pro Tip: Positioning matters more than ever. Use defensive shifts and pre-pitch alignments to give your fielders the best possible angle for success.

4. Situational Awareness – Hidden Ratings in Action

Every player in MLB The Show 25 has hidden situational modifiers that activate depending on the game state. These are not traditional quirks — they’re subtle internal boosts tied to clutch performance, stamina, and defensive awareness.

For example:

Pitchers perform better in high-leverage innings if they have a strong Clutch rating.

Infielders are slightly faster to react when a runner is on third with less than two outs.

Catchers with high Fielding IQ call smarter pitch selections when using the “Pitcher-Catcher Dynamic” feature in offline modes.

You won’t see these ratings displayed openly, but you’ll feel their effects in tight moments.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to your player archetypes in Road to the Show. Power and Contact archetypes have hidden stamina and buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs timing modifiers that influence consistency throughout a series.