1. Understand the Core of Player Development

At its heart, player development in MLB The Show 25 is about turning potential into production. Every player, whether it’s your RTTS character or MLB The Show 25 Stubs a prospect in Franchise Mode, has three main factors that determine how quickly they grow:

Performance: How well they perform in games.

Training: The drills, focus sessions, and development programs you assign.

Potential: The hidden ceiling that defines how far they can progress.

Your goal is to align these three elements — consistently performing well while optimizing training toward your playstyle or position.

2. Focus Training on Key Attributes

One of the easiest mistakes new players make is spreading training too thin. Instead of upgrading every attribute evenly, focus on your core skill set.

For example:

Power Hitters should emphasize Power, Vision, and Plate Discipline.

Contact Hitters should focus on Contact, Speed, and Reaction Time.

Pitchers should invest in Pitch Control, Velocity, and Stamina.

MLB The Show 25’s updated training menus let you view how each drill affects your attributes. Prioritize drills that boost your primary role first. Once you hit consistent ratings in those areas, branch out to secondary stats to round out your player.

Pro tip: Use “Focus Training” during off-days or team practice sessions to target weak areas. These small boosts compound over time and help you progress faster.

3. Make Every In-Game Performance Count

Performance is the single biggest factor in development speed. The game rewards you more for consistent production than for streaky stats.

In Road to the Show, your player gains attribute experience after every game. Getting hits, home runs, strikeouts, and solid fielding plays all contribute to faster growth. But don’t just swing for the fences — high strikeout rates and defensive mistakes slow progression.

To maximize in-game development:

Use Dynamic Difficulty to keep gameplay challenging but fair.

Focus on quality at-bats — even fouling off tough pitches improves discipline.

As a pitcher, mix pitch types and hit your spots consistently.

Don’t simulate too often; manual play gives more XP and better stat tracking.

Remember: MLB The Show’s progression system rewards efficiency and smart play, not just volume.

4. Build Morale and Chemistry

Morale is often overlooked but has a subtle impact on development speed — especially in Franchise Mode. When players are happy, they perform better and gain attributes faster.

To build morale:

Keep players in preferred roles and positions.

Rotate young prospects for playing time to keep them engaged.

Maintain winning streaks — team success boosts everyone’s confidence.

In Road to the Show, morale comes from your personality choices and teammate interactions. Being a vocal leader or team player unlocks perks that improve training and chemistry bonuses.

5. Leverage Equipment and Perks

Your loadout can make a huge difference in how quickly you develop. MLB The Show 25’s updated equipment and perk system adds stat bonuses that stack with natural progression.

Equip high-tier gear for your position:

Bats and gloves boost hitting and fielding attributes.

Cleats and rituals improve speed, reaction, and energy recovery.

Perks amplify specific skills like contact vs. right-handers or breaking ball control.

The key is to build synergy. For example, a hitter using power-focused gear plus a “Slugger” perk gains faster attribute growth in Power because those bonuses stack during games.

You can purchase or earn these items using Stubs, the game’s currency, through Diamond Dynasty or Marketplace investments.

6. Use the Development Programs in Franchise Mode

For Franchise Mode players, maximizing development requires balancing prospect potential with playing opportunities.

Assign top prospects to appropriate minor league levels — not too easy, not too hard.

Monitor monthly performance reports to adjust their training focus.

Use the Player Development tab to boost key attributes through targeted coaching.

Scouting and drafting also play huge roles in long-term success. Draft players with high potential grades (A or B) even if their current ratings are low. Over several seasons, they’ll evolve into franchise cornerstones with the right development focus.

7. Don’t Ignore Archetypes and Specialization

In Road to the Show, archetypes define how your player grows. Each archetype (Power, Contact, Velocity, Control, etc.) has its own progression tree.

To maximize development:

Pick an archetype that fits your playstyle.

Complete missions tied to that archetype for XP boosts.

Equip archetype-specific perks that match your current goals.

As you rank up archetypes, you unlock Diamond-level skill trees that grant significant attribute bonuses. Sticking to one archetype early on helps you specialize faster and unlock better perks sooner.

8. Play Different Game Modes for Extra XP

The best part of MLB The Show 25’s development system is that progress carries across multiple modes. Whether you’re grinding Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, or Franchise, XP and rewards often overlap.

Completing Moments and Programs gives XP that fuels global progression.

Participating in Online Events helps build both skill and reward bonuses.

Daily challenges add consistent Stub and XP payouts that accelerate development indirectly.

By alternating between these modes, you maximize efficiency — growing your player while earning currency and items at the same time.

9. Track Progress and Adjust Regularly

Development isn’t a straight line. Attributes grow faster early, then plateau. Keep an eye on your player’s growth chart and adapt training accordingly.

When one stat caps, shift focus to cheap MLB The Show 25 Stubs secondary skills. This balance prevents stagnation and helps you create a more complete athlete.