MLB The Show 25 Jackie Robinson Day Program Content Review
The annual Jackie Robinson Day Program in MLB The Show delivered more NLB players that can be collected to unlock 91 John Donaldson.
The team at The Show Gazette will bring readers content and player reviews whenever new programs release or significant content drops into the game.
Today, we’re going through all the players you can earn through the newest program in MLB The Show 25 — the Jackie Robinson Day Program. This review will only cover the cards found in the program.
ANDY COOPER
- Location: 20 Program Stars
- Overall: 86
- Position: SP
- ShowZone Profile
Perks: Left-handed starting pitching option. Cooper has a five-pitch mix with good variance including a slurve, screwball and sinker. His per nine rates are not extraordinary by any means, but they will play at this point in the game cycle.
Grind Time: Super quick. This card is earned after completing two moments or the first drop Storyline collection (for Cool Papa Bell, Turkey Stearnes and Bullet Joe Rogan). Less than five minutes if you do the moments, less than five seconds if you do the collection.
Drawbacks: His pitch break ratings sit between 74-83, so although his pitches will have some movement to them, none of them will be buckling any knees. Cooper also was not given any quirks.
Verdict: Cooper is definitely worth a shot, but he profiles as a back-end rotation option or a guy to give a spot start to when other options need to regain stamina. Not bad for the first card of a program, though.
RAP DIXON
- Location: 40 Program Stars
- Overall: 86
- Position: RF (Secondary 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF)
- ShowZone Profile
Perks: 90 Speed and 90 Steal ratings make him viable on the bases. His 76 Clutch is also right in line with his Contact ratings (72 vs R, 76 vs L), so you don't lose anything when he steps to the plate with runners in scoring position.
Grind Time: Also super quick at about five minutes of work. Complete all three program moments and get either 42 PXP with Dodgers players or complete the collection for the first drop Storyline players to unlock this card.
Drawbacks: Aside from his aforementioned Speed and Steal ratings, nothing particularly stands out about this card. Most key offensive and defensive ratings sit in the 60s or 70s. Additionally, like Cooper, Dixon has no quirks.
Verdict: He is not a bad card to plug into your lineup, but there are better options readily available. His best usage is likely as a pinch runner.
LEON DAY
- Location: 60 Program Stars
- Overall: 87
- Position: SP (Secondary 2B, CF)
- ShowZone Profile
Perks: Day has a five-pitch mix, including a sinker and a slurve. He also has 80+ Contact against both sides of the plate, and his 85 Clutch allows those numbers to stay steady with runners in scoring position.
Grind Time: 25 minutes by SDS' estimation via the live stream.
Drawbacks: Bad control ratings across the board — the 81 control on his 4-seamer is the highest individual pitch control rating — and a 67 BB/9 combination result in large PAR sizes on every pitch.
Verdict: Day is likely not an option for many. Do not trust the PAR sizes in online play, even on All-Star difficulty.
RUBE FOSTER
- Location: 80 Program Stars
- Overall: 87
- Position: SP (Secondary 1B, RF)
- ShowZone Profile
Perks: Foster is one of only 19 starting pitchers currently in the game that has a Stamina rating of at least 100, so it will take many more pitches thrown for him to tire. He also has high-90s velocity on his four-seamer, and the 92 break on his slurve will help give more bite to the pitch. He also has Contact ratings in the 80s against both sides and decent enough fielding if you need to throw him at first base.
Grind Time: Forty-five minutes by SDS' estimation.
Drawbacks: His low K/9 rate of 65 won't help you put away hitters any quicker, and he will have pretty large PAR sizes with three of his offerings having 75 control or worse.
Verdict: The larger PAR sizes should give you pause for online play, but Foster could be an end-of-rotation or long relief option especially if your opponent has trouble against screwballs.
JACKIE ROBINSON
- 100 Program Stars
- Overall: 89
- Position: SS (Secondary 1B, 2B, 3B, LF)
- ShowZone Profile
Perks: His 90+ Contact ratings against both sides, 95 Clutch and 87 Vision predictably give him the biggest PCI of any card included in this drop. Robinson also has several key quirks, including Dead Red, Breaking Ball Hitter, and Rally Monkey. He also has 90 Speed, 99 Bunt, and 99 Drag Bunting for those who are into that kind of thing.
Grind Time: According to SDS, it should take 60-90 minutes.
Drawbacks: The power isn't great (52 vs R, 60 vs L), but that is honestly to be expected with an early game Robinson card.
Verdict: Robinson is a very good lineup option at this point. He is going to be one of the better options at making regular contact, and he has the ability to play quality defense all across the infield, or even in left field, if you're looking for better defense out there.
Nick is an IBWAA member who has spent time writing for various sports websites over the last 12 years, primarily focusing on baseball. He is also an avid MLB The Show player and is believed to have been the first person in the world to get live series Kyle Hendricks to Parallel 5 every year since the iteration of the parallel system.