MLB The Show 21: How To Hit Home Runs | Game Rant
The is an art to clobbering home runs in MLB The Show 21. Gamers with loads of fans in their livestreams can crank the difficulty to the Hall of Fame level and put on dazzling performances that would make Babe Ruth blush. Five-hundred-foot home runs, grand slams in clutch moments, games with multiple moonshots; these all combine to create a feeling that makes the entire game worth it.
So, how do these players manage to smack so many long balls over the fence? If it were easy, then it wouldn't be as rare and exciting. The art takes time, practice, maybe some fiddling with the settings, and a whole lot of knowledge. Gamers can mess around with the sliders and difficulty at their own discretion, but here are some tips that will help with any level of experience.
Updated on August 11th, 2021 by Hodey Johns: Adherents to the advice in this guide were well-rewarded. Some are breaking the single-season home run record in their first or second year in the majors and others are breaking the all-time home run record by year four or five. This is hardly surprising, given how many veteran players put their combined knowledge into all the tips and tricks here. Still, there is always room for improvement, so after even more tinkering, a few more sections have been added to help players hammer even more balls into the nosebleed section of the park.
- Adjust the height of the stance
- Adjust the forward foot of the stance
- Select a one-handed swing from the animations screen
Contrary to the batting stance animator appearing in the "appearances" screen, this actually matters on a statistical level; this is not just for looks. One-handed swings have greater Power and less Contact than two-handed swings.
The forward foot will direct the direction of hit balls. If too many balls are being pulled foul, move the front foot toward the plate. If too many balls are being fouled to the opposite field, move the front foot away from the plate.
After a few games, if balls higher in the zone or lower in the zone are more problematic, adjust the height of the stance. Taller stances hit high pitches better while a squatted stance will do better with balls lower in the zone.
- Take all Power and Batting Clutch attributes on equipment
Equipment is a simple way to smack balls with more velocity and ideal trajectories. Power is a given, but Batting Clutch will further increase Power in high-pressure situations. The right gear takes a slugger from good to one of the best players in the game.
- Take the Slugger archetype
- Add the Power specialization
Even pitchers who have added a fourth pitch to their arsenal can't account for the Slugger specialty, which will add 30 to power against righties and lefties.
After this selection, there are a few minor specializations. The Power specialty will boost Power but decrease a few other attributes. It's worth it, just select a few attributes that aren't too much of a difference-maker.
It's possible that playing a slugger in the "wrong" position won't be an issue, but it can be. Sometimes players are cut or traded away from their ideal situation simply because the game's general managers don't want a slugger in that particular spot; they'd prefer a speedy shortstop or a second baseman focused on defense.
To avoid being traded out of the perfect spot, choose either first base, second base, catcher, or any outfield position. The game recognizes that sluggers belong in these positions on the diamond.
Is the character already made but in the wrong spot? It is possible to change positions after making the character. Now, if everything seems to be working out fine, it's alright to stay in place, but just be aware that sometimes the team's wacky AI will trade a 99 player if they are technically "out of position." Just something to watch out for.
- Choose a home field with short fences, small outfields, and high altitudes
For Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty gamers, pick a stadium and home team that compliments the long ball strategy. Coors Field is a smart choice because of how homer-friendly it is, but U.S. Cellular Field and Great American Ballpark are also solid selections.
- Press RT/R2 to see the pitcher's possible pitches
It's hard to tell the difference between a curveball and a changeup, but if a pitcher only has one of these two pitches, users can tell exactly which one is being released. Fastballs can also travel left-right and right-left, and these pitches will be revealed with the quick click of a button.
- Swing early on inside pitches
- Swing late for outside pitches
Despite the way it sounds, a "perfect" swing timing score can often result in a very imperfect foul ball. By swinging a little bit early on inside pitches and late on outside pitches, players can hit home runs all over the park.
Even with a pitch right down the middle, swinging early or late can be preferable. Center field is the deepest part of the park and aiming for the closer fence (left or right) makes for fewer pop-outs on the warning track.
- Use power swings for pitches low in the zone
- Use normal swings for pitches high in the zone
Players who use the power swing all of the time are going to be in for a rude awakening; power swings at pitches high in the zone will result in fly ball outs to the infield.
Power swings are best used for pitches down in the zone, turning grounders into monster home runs. Home run hitters have to have their fingers ready to click either button when the pitch comes in.
- Let pitches outside of the zone go by
While it is possible to hit home runs on balls outside of the zone, the likelihood is drastically reduced. Even a ball close to a sweet spot won't have much hope of being anything except a ground out or a pop fly.
Aside from this, high-ball counts mean the pitcher is more likely to throw pitches closer to the middle of the plate. The is the proverbial wheelhouse of the power hitter and more of these pitches means more home runs for the batter.
Swinging at the first pitch is wise, but make sure that the first pitch is a nice, meaty strike before unloading.
- Do not hold back on the first pitch
Speedy baserunners might feel compelled to let several pitches go by so they can work the count and get a walk or a lucky single. Letting the first pitch go is great advice for such a player, but the slugger should do exactly the opposite. Oftentimes, the player with a power hitter has disabled baserunning so they can focus exclusively on batting.
The first pitch of the at-bat has a higher likelihood of being a fastball that is closer to the middle of the plate. Stay disciplined if it's a garbage pitch, but do not feel any obligation to let hittable pitches go by. Some of the best sluggers in baseball history made careers off of the first-pitch fastball, and this possibility is alive and well in MLB The Show 21.
- Swing too early or too late against tough pitches
Even the perfect stance and timing can't hit a home run off of every single pitch, even in the strike zone. High and inside and low and outside pitches are common kryptonite for athletes with a tendency for clout.
With two strikes, swing at these tough pitches too early or too late intentionally. Make the pitcher throw a better ball or miss with a pitch, then send it out of the yard.
Players can't hit as many home runs if they don't have more plate appearances. Plenty of gamers are disappointed when their stacked dude hitting monster home runs is batting seventh or eighth in the lineup because of a sub .250 batting average.
Don't be afraid to smack a few easy singles when the situation calls for it. Adding speed and base stealing will also convince managers to place the player in the team's first four spots on the lineup instead of the last five.
Hitting for contact also increases the size of the area that is considered solid. That means more room for error and will expand size just enough to put more balls over the fence that would have been fly-outs to the outfield.
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