Road To The Show: Best Early Career Moves in MLB The Show 26

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When you start a Road to the Show (RTTS) career in MLB The Show 26, the first few months—or even weeks—can make a huge difference in your long-term development. Most players aren’t sure where to focus their time, how to balance stats, or how to make choices that will help them reach the majors faster. This guide breaks down common strategies that experienced players use to get a strong start.

How Should I Choose My Player’s Position and Build?

In general, your first decision is whether to focus on a position player or a pitcher. Most players stick to one role and invest heavily in their main stats rather than spreading themselves too thin.

Position Players: Usually, hitting and fielding are the main focus. Players often prioritize either power (for sluggers) or contact and speed (for hitters who rely on getting on base). Defense matters, but early in your career, hitting performance will affect promotions more.

Pitchers: Most players focus on improving pitch control and velocity early. Strikeout-heavy pitchers tend to climb the minor league ranks faster, but mixing in stamina and pitch variety pays off long term.

When it comes to your build, don’t overspecialize too early. A well-rounded starter is easier to adapt if the team asks you to switch positions or roles.

How Important Are Minor League Games?

Most players underestimate how valuable minor league games are. In RTTS, playing regular games in the minors gives you XP, increases your stats, and helps you unlock equipment that boosts performance.

Daily Play vs. Grinding: Playing daily, even if it’s just a few at-bats or innings pitched, usually provides steady growth. Grinding for long sessions might help, but it can also lead to fatigue and mistakes.

Spring Training and Practice: These sessions don’t give as much XP as actual games, but they’re useful for focusing on weaker stats without hurting your performance in real matches.

In general, balancing game time with practice sessions helps most players improve evenly across all needed skills.

Should I Focus on Contact or Power Early On?

This depends on your player type, but most players see more consistent results by focusing on contact early in their careers.

Contact Hitting: Helps you get on base and generate more RBIs. Usually, contact stats increase faster in the minors, and you’re less likely to strike out.

Power Hitting: Can lead to big moments, but early in your career, many players struggle to hit homers consistently. Most experienced players balance power with contact until their overall hitting stats are strong.

Pitchers also have trade-offs. Some focus on strikeouts early, while others try to limit walks and home runs. Usually, pitchers who master control first tend to climb faster.

How Should I Manage Training Points?

Every player earns training points as they progress. Most players make the mistake of spreading points too thin across multiple skills.

Best Strategy: Focus on 1-2 key attributes that match your role. For example, if you’re a power hitter, invest in power and contact first. If you’re a pitcher, control and velocity are usually the priority.

Long-Term Growth: Skills that are easier to increase early often pay off later. Most players invest in stats that are consistently used in games rather than niche skills.

It’s also worth noting that some players save a few points to adjust later when they know which areas they’re struggling in.

How Important Is Equipment and Stubs?

Equipment in RTTS can give small but noticeable stat boosts. While some players focus heavily on gear, most experienced players only upgrade items when it aligns with their immediate needs.

Using Stubs: If you decide to accelerate gear upgrades, you can buy MLB The Show 26 stubs for PS4 at U4N. But generally, using stubs isn’t required early on. Most players can reach high performance without spending real money.

Gear choice usually reflects your play style: a bat with more power for sluggers, or gloves that improve fielding for defenders.

When Should I Ask for Promotions?

One common question is whether you should push for a call-up to the majors as soon as possible.

In General: Promotions happen when your stats are above the league average and you’ve been performing consistently. Most players wait until their hitting, pitching, or fielding stats are competitive at their current level.

Early Promotion Risks: Moving up too fast can hurt your confidence and stall stat growth if you aren’t ready. Most experienced players suggest staying in the minors a bit longer to maximize training and play experience.

How to Handle Plate Discipline and Pitch Selection

Plate discipline is one of the most overlooked aspects of RTTS. Most new players swing too often or at bad pitches, which slows development.

For Hitters: Focus on swinging at strikes and learning the timing for different pitch types. Contact ratings improve faster when you’re disciplined.

For Pitchers: Mixing pitch types and locations is key. Don’t just rely on fastballs; adding changeups, curves, and sliders early keeps batters off balance.

In general, the more realistic your approach at the plate or on the mound, the faster your player develops.

Should I Play Solo or Team Games?

While solo performance matters, most players improve faster when they take advantage of team situations.

Fielding and Base Running: These stats improve faster when you actively participate in team plays.

Coaching Feedback: RTTS often gives tips based on team performance. Paying attention to these recommendations helps you grow in stats that you might otherwise neglect.

Final Advice for Early RTTS Success

Focus on one main role (hitter or pitcher) and a few key stats.

Use minor league games to steadily increase XP rather than rushing promotions.

Train smart by prioritizing skills that directly impact your gameplay.

Upgrade equipment when necessary but don’t rely on stubs early on.

Be patient with promotions; consistent performance beats rushing to the majors.

By following these general strategies, most players set themselves up for a smoother climb through the minor leagues and a stronger start in MLB The Show 26.