The 5th Inning has arrived in MLB The Show 21 Diamond Dynasty. Going into today, we knew Nolan Ryan was going to be one of the bosses, but the big announcement was most certainly the arrival of a 99 overall Vladimir Guerrero. Papa Guerrero has sometimes been a Battle Royale award and a little less attainable than he is here. Joining Signature Series Vlad and Milestone Ryan is a Prime Joe Morgan. The final reward here remains the 90+ overall Live series diamond (just like last month). Perhaps one surprise is there is no Home Run Derby or All-Star packs in the rewards track. I still think we’ll start getting those packs in greater quantities at some point, but for now that keeps the price of those cards way up there. This new program will end 28 days from now, and the three new bosses will be available at 350,000 XP.
The 5th Inning Program is live!
Who do you take 💎Signature Vladimir Guerrero, 💎Milestone Nolan Ryan, or 💎Prime Joe Morgan? Read more here: https://t.co/NQZzeKT4eS#MLBTheShow pic.twitter.com/yP5RHkU993— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) July 30, 2021
Looking more closely at the bosses, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to be the pick for many. Joe Morgan is one of the best middle infielders now, but his swing is shaky for many, and he just doesn’t have the brand appeal of Vlad Sr. Vlad Guerrero has 120+ contact from both sides, and then 107 power vs. RHP and 112 power vs. LHP. He has a 99 arm, 113 vision, and 81 speed. He is maybe not the greatest right fielder in the field (minus the maxed-out arm), but he’s still unquestionably one of the three best corner outfielders in the game now.
Milestone Nolan Ryan has solid control with this card, which is the biggest selling point over other versions. He does have a sinker as well, but his 4-seam has 99 control and his 12-6 curve has 91 control, which are both important. He will be able to dance between a 99+ mph fastball and a high 70s circle change as well. All in all, I still don’t think he will be used by a ton of people, but this is the version that you would use if he becomes meta.
With Joe Morgan, he has 118 contact vs. RHP, 102 contact vs. LHP, 102 power vs. RHP, and 74 power against LHP. The power against left handers is the one blemish, but he also has 111 vision, 92 fielding, and 93 speed. It’s an incredible card, and if you vibe with the card it’s very easy to make a case it’s one of your best three options at 2B.
Now, let’s get to the rest of the program.
MLB The Show 21 5th Inning Program Guide
Showdown
The Final Showdown is against Nolan Ryan. You earn two Headliners packs after beating the Final Showdown, plus you secure the 35,000 XP.
Conquest
The first Conquest map is a big ol’ Roman numeral five. You need to take six strongholds and also steal five million fans.
This map is worth 25,000 XP.
The second Conquest map is a big ol’ hand. You don’t have to steal any fans while capturing the strongholds.
This map is worth 25,000 XP.
Missions
There are three online missions to complete as of now. This is standard and more will be added throughout the month.
- Competitive Dubs – Win 10 games in online modes (5,000 XP)
- Hero Work – Tally 21 total bases online with 2nd Half Heroes (5,000 XP)
- Big Boy Bats – Hit 10 home runs online with Home Run Derby or 2021 All-Star players (5,000 XP)
- Popcorn – Tally 10 XBH with any Legend players in online modes (5,000 XP)
- Can O’ Corn – Record 20 putouts with any Chicago White Sox or New York Yankees players in online modes (3,750 XP)
- Walk It Out – Draw 10 walks with any players in online modes (3,750 XP)
- They Come In Bunches – Tally 5 hits in a game with any players in online modes (5,000 XP)
- All-Star Strikeouts – Tally 15 strikeouts with All-Star series players or 2021 All-Star players in online modes (5,000 XP)
- How Much For One Of Them RBIs – Tally 10 RBI with any Flashback players in online modes (5,000 XP)
- It Ain’t Much – Tally 5 sacrifice flies with any players in online modes (3,750 XP)
- But It’s Honest Work – Tally 5 sacrifice hits with any players in online modes (3,750 XP)
Collections And Moments
Note: For any old player programs from prior Innings, they still exist if you have not completed them yet. However, you won’t get the XP for “collecting” the cards in the new Inning, nor do you get XP for the prior Inning Program anymore once it is gone.
The first player program is for Signature Series Roberto Clemente:
The Field of Dreams player program is a long one like we’ve seen a couple other times this year with things like the Acuna Jr. player program.
Moments
- First of Many
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 1 hit
- Inside-The-Parker
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Hit 1 home run
- MVP! MVP! MVP!
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Tally 6 total bases
- Taking Home Some Hardware – 3 games
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Tally 6 hits
- Tally 3 XBH
- Two-Bagger For 3,000
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 1 XBH
- Curtain Call – 3 games
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 4 hits
- Tally 2 XBH
- Always Calm Tom
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Win 1 game
- Strike out 2 batters
- Do not give up 1 run
- Here’s To You, Mr. Robinson
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 2 hits
- Tally 1 XBH
- All Hail The King
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Win 1 game
- Do not give up 1 hit
- Do not walk 1 batter
- Do not hit 1 batter
- All-Time Pinstripes
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Score 3 runs
- All-Time Southside
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Win 1 game
- The A-Maize-Ing Park
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Tally 4 total bases
Missions
- Win 5 games in the Field of Dreams Event (Repeatable – 16 points
- Tally 10 hits online with Yankees – 5 points
- Record 10 strikeouts online with White Sox players – 5 points
- Tally 30 total bases with Yankees – 5 points
- Tally 10 XBH with White Sox – 5 points
- Tally 6 XBH with Awards Series players – 5 points
- Tally 20 total bases with Milestone Series players – 5 points
- Record 15 strikeouts with Signature or Prime Series players – 5 points
- Record 10 strikeouts with Prime Tom Henke – 5 points
- Tally 8 hits with Awards Brooks Robinson – 5 points
- Record 12 strikeouts with Milestone Felix Hernandez – 5 points
Field Of Dreams Showdown
There are 3 mini Showdowns before the Final Showdown. No extra packs here just stubs.
Worth 20 program points.
Field Of Dreams Conquest
You have to steal 3 million fans, but otherwise it’s an easy to follow map.
Completing the map is worth 20 program points.
The next player program is Signature Series Robin Roberts:
Moments
- No Robbery Here
- Difficulty; Veteran
- Win 1 game
- Do not give up 1 run
- Whiz Kids
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Pitch 7 innings
- Do not give up 2 runs
- Not A Kid Anymore
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Win 1 game
- 28 Straight
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Win 1 game
- Do not give up 1 hit
- Do not give up 1 run
- Do not walk 1 batter
- Reliable Robin Roberts
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Win 1 game
- Do not give up 1 hit
- Do not give up 1 run
- Not All About The K’s
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Strike out 13 batters
The next player program is Milestone Ryan Zimmerman:
Moments
- Brand New Season
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 4 total bases
- Zim Hits The Gym
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Hit 1 home run
- Double Trouble
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Tally 8 total bases
- The Fourth Is With Him
- Difficulty: Rookie
- Tally 2 XBH
- One For The Road
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Get on base 2 times
- A Couple Of Accolades
- Difficulty: Veteran
- Tally 3 hits
As for inning collections:
- 5th Inning Collection – Collect all three 4th Inning Bosses (50,000 XP)
- July Monthly Awards – Collect three July Monthly Awards players (20,000 XP)
- Signature Justin Turner – Collect Signature Justin Turner from the Evolution program (20,000 XP)
- Collect 2021 All-Stars – Collect 10 2021 All-Star players (15,000 XP)
- Prime Joe Nathan – Collect Prime Joe Nathan from the Evolution program (20,000 XP)
- Signature Roberto Clemente – Collect Signature Series Roberto Clemente from Field of Dreams program (35,000 XP)
- Signature Robin Roberts – Collect Signature Series Robin Roberts (35,000 XP)
- Milestone Ryan Zimmerman – Collect Milestone Ryan Zimmerman (35,000 XP)
- Milestone Miguel Cabrera – Collect Milestone Miguel Cabrera (35,000 XP)
- August Topps Now – Collect three players from August Topps Now (35,000 XP)
Bosses And Rewards
Here are the three Bosses at 350,000 XP, plus their quirks:
- Signature Series Vladimir Guerrero
- Milestone Nolan Ryan
- Prime Joe Morgan
Here is the first set of players you get in a diamond choice pack. You only get one bite at this apple:
- Veteran Hal Newhouser
- Veteran Jimmy Rollins
- 2nd Half Heroes Greg Holland
I have a longstanding appreciation for that specific Rollins card, but it’s pretty bad this time around. Newhouser remains a legend from his one Signature Series card, but not really sure what the pick is here.
The second set of players you get to choose from comes from a diamond Classics choice pack. You will only get one bite at this apple as well.
- Finest Daniel Vogelbach
- Future Stars Yoan Moncada
- Postseason Aaron Hicks
That Moncada card is another classic, but again, not really sure there is an overwhelming pick here.
Here are the main rewards:
- 5,000 XP – Ballplayer choice pack, 1,000 stubs
- 10,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
- 17,500 XP – Thunder stadium sound
- 25,000 XP – Universal nameplate
- 32,500 XP – Diamond unlockable choice pack
- 40,000 XP – Ballplayer choice pack
- 55,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack
- 70,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
- 85,000 XP – Home run call
- 100,000 XP – 5th Inning diamond choice pack
- 115,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
- 130,000 XP – Cincinnati Reds Home 1934 uniform
- 145,000 XP – Gold Ballplayer choice pack
- 160,000 XP – Ballin’ Is A Habit pack
- 175,000 XP – 5th Inning diamond Classic pack
- 190,000 XP – Universal profile icon, 3,000 stubs
- 205,000 XP – Stadium sound, 5,000 XP
- 220,000 XP – Headliners Set 19 pack
- 235,000 XP – Gold Ballplayer choice pack
- 250,000 XP – Bat skin
- 270,000 XP – The Show pack (x5)
- 290,000 XP – Diamond legend icon, 5,000 stubs
- 310,000 XP – Headliners Set 22 pack (x2)
- 330,000 XP – Texas Rangers Home 1986 uniform, 5,000 stubs
- 350,000 XP – 5th Inning Boss choice pack
- 380,000 XP – Gold Ballplayer choice pack, 5,000 stubs
- 410,000 XP – The Show pack (x10)
- 440,000 XP – Classic stadium choice pack
- 470,000 XP – Montreal Expos Home 1992 uniform
- 500,000 XP – Kitchen Sink 1 pack
- 530,000 XP – Random Headliners pack (x2)
- 560,000 XP – Diamond Ballplayer choice pack, 5,000 stubs
- 590,000 XP – Kitchen Sink 2 pack
- 620,000 XP – The Show pack (x20)
- 650,000 XP – 90+ overall Live series diamond
