Smart Baserunning Wins Games – Mastering the Hidden Art in MLB The Show 25

In MLB The Show 25, the difference between winning and MLB The Show 25 Stubs losing often comes down to inches — and no aspect of the game captures that more than baserunning. While hitting home runs and striking out batters might grab the spotlight, smart baserunning is the unsung hero that turns singles into runs and tight games into victories.

With new AI behavior, improved pickoff systems, and realistic sliding mechanics, MLB The Show 25 rewards precision, awareness, and timing on the basepaths. If you want to dominate both offline and online play, mastering baserunning strategy is essential.

Here’s how to take your baserunning IQ to the next level in MLB The Show 25.

Use Situational Awareness to Pressure Opponents

Smart baserunning isn’t just about stealing or taking extra bases — it’s about creating pressure. Runners on base force pitchers to change their rhythm, use slide steps, and split focus between the batter and the runner.

How to apply pressure effectively:

Fake steal attempts: Tap the advance button early, then retreat. It often disrupts the pitcher’s concentration and leads to mistakes over the plate.

Delayed steals: Send your runner after the pitch crosses the plate. It’s especially effective in online games against distracted opponents.

Aggressive tagging: Force outfielders to make throws. Even if you’re out, it can expose a weak arm and affect future defensive positioning.

The key is unpredictability. A good baserunner keeps the defense guessing every pitch.

Perfect Your Slides

Sliding mechanics are far more dynamic in MLB The Show 25. You now control not only when to slide but how to slide. Choosing between a headfirst or feet-first slide can mean the difference between safe and out.

Slide strategy:

Headfirst slides are faster but risk more errors if the fielder’s tag is high. Use them for tight steals.

Feet-first slides are safer for avoiding tags on low throws and for rounding the bases.

Hook slides are perfect for plays at second base — they help you avoid direct tags while still touching the bag.

Practice each type in baserunning drills under different scenarios. Once you get a feel for when to use each, you’ll be turning near-outs into safe calls consistently.

Manage Baserunners Independently

In chaotic moments — such as gap shots or infield misplays — managing multiple runners efficiently is crucial. MLB The Show 25 allows for independent baserunner control, letting you send or hold each runner individually.

For example:

Hold the lead runner at third while advancing the trail runner to second to avoid a double play.

Send the trail runner home if the defense throws to second instead.

The more you master these controls, the fewer runners you’ll lose on the basepaths — and the more runs you’ll manufacture from simple contact.

Practice in Custom Drills

The best way to improve is repetition. Use Custom Practice Mode to simulate baserunning scenarios: steals, hit-and-runs, double steals, and tag-ups. Adjust fielder positioning, arm strength, and reaction time to test your instincts under realistic pressure.

You can even recreate real-game situations — two outs, runners in scoring position, tie game — to build confidence in executing aggressive baserunning when it matters most.

Final Thoughts

Smart baserunning in MLB The Show 25 isn’t just a skill — it’s an art form. It blends instinct, timing, and awareness into one of the most rewarding aspects of baseball gameplay. Whether you’re stealing a key base in the ninth inning or advancing on a throw that misses the cutoff, every smart decision adds up to more runs and more wins.

Master these techniques, and MLB Stubs for sale you’ll quickly realize that games aren’t just won by power — they’re won by brains on the basepaths.