In baseball, stealing bases is one of the oldest and most effective ways to manufacture runs. Should you be able to steal second (or even third) with a skilled baserunner, you’re essentially guaranteeing a base hit being an RBI. This is true in MLB The Show 25 as well.
I won’t take up too much of your time — if you have a runner on base, pressing the RT/R2 button on your controller will send them once the pitcher enters their delivery. If you have runners on the corners, you can steal second with the runner at first by moving the left analog stick in their direction and clicking RT/R2.
Sounds simple on its face, right? But when should you be stealing bases in MLB The Show 25? And what attributes matter most? Here’s everything you need to know. For simplicity’s sake, this guide will strictly be about stealing bases online. Maybe we’ll put together an offline article should this one prove helpful.
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Tips For Stealing Bases Online In MLB The Show 25
Press R2/RT, Don’t Hold It
I won’t spend too much time on this one. When I was a way less skilled player, I used to think that you had to hold the RT/R2 button and release it as a pitcher was delivering their pitch. This was wrong. Instead, I’ve had the most success when it comes to stealing by simply pressing the button as a player selects their pitch.
More often than not, if a player’s attributes or good enough, they’ll have a decent enough jump and be successful on their steal attempt. Speaking of attributes…
A Player’s Steal Attribute Matters More Than Speed
So, before we get into the actual technique of stealing bags in MLB The Show 25, we must first talk about what attributes play into how effectively a player can steal in the first place. Obviously, the first thing most will take into account is how fast a player is. If a player has speed that surpasses 80, then they’ll be a steal threat whenever they’re on base. But contrary to what you may think, speed isn’t the attribute that matters most when it comes to stealing. It matters for sure, but the most important attribute in the game — at least from my experience — is a player’s steal attribute.
For example, on my Diamond Dynasty squad right now, I’m playing Jasson Dominguez in left field. On paper, he has only 73 Speed. This isn’t bad per se, but it’s not a number you’d associate with someone who’s a legitimate base-stealing threat. Despite this, in the few times I’ve had him steal second after a base hit, he’s never been thrown out. That’s because he has a 99 Steal.
Granted, I haven’t stolen with him a whole lot, so we’ve only got a small sample size to work with. That said, I think Dominguez not being caught stealing once is a testament to how important an attribute it is and how it can boost a player who isn’t necessarily slow, but definitely isn’t Ichiro levels of fast.
Beware Of The Slide Step And Pitch Out
The best defense a pitcher has against a potential base stealer is the slide step. Essentially, a slide step is an abbreviated delivery that forgoes a pitcher’s normal motion in the stretch with the primary goal of keeping a baserunner at bay (though some pitchers will use it to keep hitters off-balance). And even if you get a good jump, a slide step combined with a high-velocity pitch can undo it all. The same can be said about the pitch out, which is a pitch designed to make it as easy as possible for a catcher to spring to their knees and throw out a baserunner attempting to steal.
To avoid getting caught out by a slide step or a pitch out, I find it useful to take a few pitches just to see what a pitcher does or if they are even trying to keep me at bay on first base. Even if it means taking two strikes, I’m not swinging at anything I don’t think I can hit. And typically, on two-strike counts, pitchers are going to try to get you chasing on a pitch outside of the zone. This is when I find stealing to be the most successful.
Stealing Third Base Is Hardly Ever Worth It
If you have a great baserunner on second, be it an Elly De La Cruz or a Bobby Witt Jr., players can be tempted to try to snag third base. And I get it — even though being a second means a runner is in scoring position, getting to third base all but guarantees a run on a long fly ball or a slow ground ball. But I must caution you — it’s hardly ever worth it, especially with no outs or two outs.
One of the cardinal sins in baseball is being thrown out at third for the first or third out. And it’s considered a cardinal sin for a reason. If you have a speedy runner at second, the cons far outweigh the pros of stealing third, as a base hit will typically be good enough to score them.
The only time I’d recommend attempting to swipe third is if it’s late in the game, you’re down, and desperately need to ensure you have a great chance to score. But even though, know that you’re playing with fire.
Published: Apr 4, 2025 12:26 pm