Progression Systems Feel Fair in MLB The Show 26: A Player’s Guide

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#1 · February 6, 2026, 6:53 am

Quote from susan harris on February 6, 2026, 6:53 am
MLB The Show 26 has introduced some interesting changes to its progression systems. Whether you're a longtime player or someone just starting with the game, it’s important to understand how these systems work and how they impact your experience. This article will help you understand how the progression systems feel, and how they aim to be fair to players, based on in-game behavior and experience.

What Are Progression Systems in MLB The Show 26?

In MLB The Show 26, progression systems are a key part of how your team and players evolve over time. These systems allow you to level up your players, earn rewards, and unlock new content, like packs, players, and more. Whether you're playing through Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, or other modes, your progress is tracked, and your player’s abilities improve as you put in time and effort.

At the core of these systems are experience points (XP), in-game currency, and rewards, which all work together to create a sense of growth and achievement. The key here is that the systems should feel fair—meaning you aren’t forced to grind endlessly or pay money to get what you want.

How Do Progression Systems Work in MLB The Show 26?

Each mode has its own progression system, and understanding how each one works will give you a clearer idea of what to expect. Let’s break down the most important progression systems you’ll encounter:

Diamond Dynasty (DD) – This is one of the most popular modes, where you build your dream team and compete online. In DD, your progress is tracked through daily missions, programs, and moments that reward you with XP and stubs. The more you play, the more you earn, and as you level up, you unlock new players and items. The progression feels rewarding, as you're consistently getting something for your time, whether it’s stubs, new players, or packs.

Road to the Show (RTTS) – In RTTS, you control a single player and guide them through their career, earning stats, skills, and eventually, a spot on a major league roster. As you play games and complete objectives, you earn XP that levels up your player’s attributes. You can also earn stubs to buy equipment, perks, and items that enhance your performance. RTTS progression feels organic because the focus is on personal improvement and career development, rather than just collecting a bunch of players.

Franchise and Offline Modes – While the focus is more on team management and strategy, these modes also feature progression systems, though they are a bit less direct than in DD and RTTS. You’ll earn stubs for completing goals, and you can spend these stubs on upgrades for your franchise or on your player’s development.

Do You Have to Pay to Progress?

A common concern among players is whether MLB The Show 26 forces you to pay money to progress quickly. The short answer is no, you don’t have to pay to make meaningful progress. The game’s systems are designed so that you can earn plenty of rewards without spending real money.

However, the MLB 26 stubs store is where you can buy stubs if you want to speed things up. Stubs are the in-game currency that can be used to purchase packs, players, or other items. Some players choose to buy stubs because it gives them access to high-level players or rare items more quickly. But that doesn’t mean that without spending money, you’re left behind. You can earn stubs and other rewards through playing the game, completing missions, and leveling up.

In practice, the game is balanced in such a way that free-to-play players can still build competitive teams and progress through the game’s systems just fine. Sure, spending money might give you a quicker path to top-tier players or packs, but it’s not required to enjoy the game or be successful.

How Fair is the Leveling System?

One of the most important aspects of a progression system is whether it feels fair and rewarding. In MLB The Show 26, the leveling systems seem to strike a decent balance.

XP rewards are consistent: Whether you're playing in Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, or Franchise, you’ll consistently earn XP based on your performance and the tasks you complete. This ensures that you’re always making progress toward leveling up, even if you’re not winning every game or completing every objective perfectly.

Missions and Objectives are Varied: Progression feels fair because the game offers different paths to level up. Missions and daily objectives vary in difficulty, which gives players of all skill levels a chance to earn rewards. Even if you’re just starting out or don’t have a ton of time to play, you can still complete smaller tasks to earn XP and stubs.

Pacing: The pace of progression has been adjusted to avoid both extremes—too fast or too slow. Most players report that they don’t feel like they’re grinding endlessly, but at the same time, they don’t hit a wall that leaves them feeling like they’re not making progress. The game is designed to keep you engaged without punishing you for not playing non-stop.

Fair Rewards for Skill and Time Invested: If you’re a skilled player, you’ll notice that the game rewards you for your efforts. High-level plays, difficult challenges, and high-performance games are rewarded with better packs, more stubs, or valuable player items. However, even if you’re not the best player, you still have a shot at meaningful progression.

How Do In-Game Currency and Stubs Affect Progression?

Stubs, the in-game currency, play a key role in MLB The Show 26’s progression system, but it’s important to understand how they function.

Earning Stubs: You can earn stubs by playing the game, completing missions, and selling players or cards you don’t need on the marketplace. This makes it possible to build a solid team without ever spending real money. Most of the time, the stubs you earn through gameplay are enough to buy packs or trade for the players you want.

Using Stubs: You can use stubs in the MLB 26 stubs store to purchase packs, which might contain players or other items. While these packs can be random, they do provide an opportunity to add high-level players to your roster. You can also buy items directly from other players on the marketplace, which can help you fill in gaps in your lineup.

Should You Buy Stubs? This is where things get personal. If you want to save time and are willing to spend a little money, buying stubs might be a worthwhile option. However, many players prefer to grind out rewards through gameplay, which is also completely viable. The progression system ensures that both approaches are balanced, and no one is locked out of content if they choose to avoid spending money.

Is the Progression System Fun?

Ultimately, the progression systems in MLB The Show 26 are designed to keep the game fun and rewarding. They encourage players to improve their skills, collect new items, and unlock new content without feeling like they’re being forced into a pay-to-win model.

The progression feels fair because it offers multiple ways to earn rewards, supports both free and paid progression, and balances the pace of leveling up. Whether you’re in it for the long haul or just playing casually, MLB The Show 26’s systems make sure there’s always something to work toward.

MLB The Show 26’s progression systems are designed to feel fair, and they largely succeed in that regard. You can earn rewards through skillful play, completing missions, or by grinding in different game modes. Stubs and the MLB 26 stubs store give players the option to speed up their progress, but they’re not a requirement to enjoy the game or advance through the systems. The balance between free-to-play and paid progression ensures that all players can have a rewarding experience, no matter how much time or money they invest.

As you continue playing MLB The Show 26, you’ll likely find that progression feels meaningful, and that the game encourages both casual and dedicated players to make steady improvements. Whether you’re grinding for packs or working your way through Road to the Show, there’s always a sense of progress, making the game feel fair for everyone.

MLB The Show 26 has introduced some interesting changes to its progression systems. Whether you're a longtime player or someone just starting with the game, it’s important to understand how these systems work and how they impact your experience. This article will help you understand how the progression systems feel, and how they aim to be fair to players, based on in-game behavior and experience.

What Are Progression Systems in MLB The Show 26?

In MLB The Show 26, progression systems are a key part of how your team and players evolve over time. These systems allow you to level up your players, earn rewards, and unlock new content, like packs, players, and more. Whether you're playing through Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, or other modes, your progress is tracked, and your player’s abilities improve as you put in time and effort.

At the core of these systems are experience points (XP), in-game currency, and rewards, which all work together to create a sense of growth and achievement. The key here is that the systems should feel fair—meaning you aren’t forced to grind endlessly or pay money to get what you want.

How Do Progression Systems Work in MLB The Show 26?

Each mode has its own progression system, and understanding how each one works will give you a clearer idea of what to expect. Let’s break down the most important progression systems you’ll encounter:

Diamond Dynasty (DD) – This is one of the most popular modes, where you build your dream team and compete online. In DD, your progress is tracked through daily missions, programs, and moments that reward you with XP and stubs. The more you play, the more you earn, and as you level up, you unlock new players and items. The progression feels rewarding, as you're consistently getting something for your time, whether it’s stubs, new players, or packs.
Road to the Show (RTTS) – In RTTS, you control a single player and guide them through their career, earning stats, skills, and eventually, a spot on a major league roster. As you play games and complete objectives, you earn XP that levels up your player’s attributes. You can also earn stubs to buy equipment, perks, and items that enhance your performance. RTTS progression feels organic because the focus is on personal improvement and career development, rather than just collecting a bunch of players.
Franchise and Offline Modes – While the focus is more on team management and strategy, these modes also feature progression systems, though they are a bit less direct than in DD and RTTS. You’ll earn stubs for completing goals, and you can spend these stubs on upgrades for your franchise or on your player’s development.

Do You Have to Pay to Progress?

A common concern among players is whether MLB The Show 26 forces you to pay money to progress quickly. The short answer is no, you don’t have to pay to make meaningful progress. The game’s systems are designed so that you can earn plenty of rewards without spending real money.

However, the MLB 26 stubs store is where you can buy stubs if you want to speed things up. Stubs are the in-game currency that can be used to purchase packs, players, or other items. Some players choose to buy stubs because it gives them access to high-level players or rare items more quickly. But that doesn’t mean that without spending money, you’re left behind. You can earn stubs and other rewards through playing the game, completing missions, and leveling up.

In practice, the game is balanced in such a way that free-to-play players can still build competitive teams and progress through the game’s systems just fine. Sure, spending money might give you a quicker path to top-tier players or packs, but it’s not required to enjoy the game or be successful.

How Fair is the Leveling System?

One of the most important aspects of a progression system is whether it feels fair and rewarding. In MLB The Show 26, the leveling systems seem to strike a decent balance.

XP rewards are consistent: Whether you're playing in Diamond Dynasty, Road to the Show, or Franchise, you’ll consistently earn XP based on your performance and the tasks you complete. This ensures that you’re always making progress toward leveling up, even if you’re not winning every game or completing every objective perfectly.
Missions and Objectives are Varied: Progression feels fair because the game offers different paths to level up. Missions and daily objectives vary in difficulty, which gives players of all skill levels a chance to earn rewards. Even if you’re just starting out or don’t have a ton of time to play, you can still complete smaller tasks to earn XP and stubs.
Pacing: The pace of progression has been adjusted to avoid both extremes—too fast or too slow. Most players report that they don’t feel like they’re grinding endlessly, but at the same time, they don’t hit a wall that leaves them feeling like they’re not making progress. The game is designed to keep you engaged without punishing you for not playing non-stop.
Fair Rewards for Skill and Time Invested: If you’re a skilled player, you’ll notice that the game rewards you for your efforts. High-level plays, difficult challenges, and high-performance games are rewarded with better packs, more stubs, or valuable player items. However, even if you’re not the best player, you still have a shot at meaningful progression.

How Do In-Game Currency and Stubs Affect Progression?

Stubs, the in-game currency, play a key role in MLB The Show 26’s progression system, but it’s important to understand how they function.

Earning Stubs: You can earn stubs by playing the game, completing missions, and selling players or cards you don’t need on the marketplace. This makes it possible to build a solid team without ever spending real money. Most of the time, the stubs you earn through gameplay are enough to buy packs or trade for the players you want.
Using Stubs: You can use stubs in the MLB 26 stubs store to purchase packs, which might contain players or other items. While these packs can be random, they do provide an opportunity to add high-level players to your roster. You can also buy items directly from other players on the marketplace, which can help you fill in gaps in your lineup.
Should You Buy Stubs? This is where things get personal. If you want to save time and are willing to spend a little money, buying stubs might be a worthwhile option. However, many players prefer to grind out rewards through gameplay, which is also completely viable. The progression system ensures that both approaches are balanced, and no one is locked out of content if they choose to avoid spending money.

Is the Progression System Fun?

Ultimately, the progression systems in MLB The Show 26 are designed to keep the game fun and rewarding. They encourage players to improve their skills, collect new items, and unlock new content without feeling like they’re being forced into a pay-to-win model.

The progression feels fair because it offers multiple ways to earn rewards, supports both free and paid progression, and balances the pace of leveling up. Whether you’re in it for the long haul or just playing casually, MLB The Show 26’s systems make sure there’s always something to work toward.

MLB The Show 26’s progression systems are designed to feel fair, and they largely succeed in that regard. You can earn rewards through skillful play, completing missions, or by grinding in different game modes. Stubs and the MLB 26 stubs store give players the option to speed up their progress, but they’re not a requirement to enjoy the game or advance through the systems. The balance between free-to-play and paid progression ensures that all players can have a rewarding experience, no matter how much time or money they invest.

As you continue playing MLB The Show 26, you’ll likely find that progression feels meaningful, and that the game encourages both casual and dedicated players to make steady improvements. Whether you’re grinding for packs or working your way through Road to the Show, there’s always a sense of progress, making the game feel fair for everyone.