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I still remember the first time I fired up a baseball video game years ago—the excitement of creating my own player and guiding them through their career felt like living out a childhood dream. But let's be honest, the Road to the Show mode had become pretty repetitive lately. It felt like the developers were more focused on pushing players toward Diamond Dynasty, that card-collecting mode that never really clicked with me. I mean, who wants to constantly grind for virtual cards when you're trying to build a baseball legacy? That's why I was genuinely surprised when I tried The Show 25 and discovered they'd completely reworked the experience from the ground up.

The moment you start your career in The Show 25 feels different—you're no longer some generic prospect showing up at spring training. Instead, you begin as a high school student with everything ahead of you. I created my player as a power-hitting shortstop from Florida, and suddenly I was playing in crucial high school games that actually mattered. The three available high school games aren't just warm-ups—they're your first real chance to make an impression on scouts. I remember specifically trying to hit at least two home runs in each game, knowing that performing well could lead to winning a state championship. That championship game felt incredibly tense—the digital crowd roaring, my hands actually sweating on the controller—because I knew what was at stake.

What happens after high school is where The Show 25 really shines. Instead of automatically getting drafted like in previous versions, you get to attend the MLB combine where you can showcase your talents. I made sure my player ran the 60-yard dash in under 6.8 seconds and showed off his arm strength during fielding drills. The game does a brilliant job of making you feel like a real prospect—after the combine, I had offers from three MLB teams and scholarship opportunities from four college programs including Vanderbilt and LSU. This is where you face your first major decision: do you sign with a professional team right out of high school at 18, or do you spend four years developing in college?

I tried both paths during different playthroughs, and each offers unique advantages. Signing immediately with an MLB team means you start your professional career younger—you'll reach the majors potentially by age 21 or 22 if you develop quickly. But choosing college lets you improve your attributes significantly. My player who went to UCLA saw his contact rating jump from 45 to 68 during his freshman year alone, and by his junior year, he was drafted in the first round instead of the fourth round where he would have been taken straight out of high school. The development system in college feels more realistic—you're not just grinding through minor league at-bats but actually participating in college tournaments that affect your draft stock.

The connection to Diamond Dynasty has been completely removed, which I consider a massive improvement. Previously, about 30% of RTTS progress was tied to that mode whether we liked it or not. Now it's purely about your player's journey, and the progression feels more natural. I noticed my player's skills developing organically through actual gameplay rather than being dependent on collecting cards or completing arbitrary missions. The training sessions between games actually feel meaningful too—I could focus on specific areas like plate discipline or fielding reactions based on what my player needed most.

What really makes this mode stand out is how it captures the uncertainty and excitement of a baseball career. When my high school player struggled during the championship game, going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts, his draft projection dropped from the second round to the fifth. But then he performed brilliantly at the combine, running a 6.75-second 60-yard dash and showing impressive power during batting practice, which brought his stock back up. These fluctuations feel authentic—they mirror the real-life draft process where one good or bad performance can change everything.

The college experience adds about 12-15 hours of gameplay before you even reach the minors, but it's time well spent. Playing for Texas felt different than playing for LSU—each program has its own stadium, rivalries, and development focus. I preferred Vanderbilt for developing pitchers and LSU for power hitters based on my experiences. The game incorporates real college baseball elements like the College World Series, which creates unforgettable moments. I still remember hitting a walk-off home run in the regionals that sent my virtual Texas Longhorns to Omaha—the celebration felt as thrilling as any major league moment I've experienced in video games.

If you're wondering about the transition to professional ball, it's smoother than ever. My player who spent four years at college entered the minors with ratings in the mid-70s rather than the low-50s, meaning he spent only one season in AA before getting promoted to AAA. The development curve feels more realistic—attributes grow based on both performance and training rather than just accumulating experience points. I particularly appreciate how the game now tracks your relationships with coaches and teammates, creating storylines that carry through your career.

Having played probably over 200 hours across various baseball games, I can confidently say The Show 25's career mode is the most engaging I've experienced. The addition of amateur baseball—from high school through college—adds depth that was desperately needed. It's not just about reaching the majors anymore; it's about the journey there, the choices you make, and the player you become along the way. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or new to baseball games, this refined approach to career mode offers something genuinely fresh and compelling. Just be prepared to lose track of time once you start building your baseball legacy—I certainly did.