With MLB The Show 22 Diamond Dynasty packs, the pre-order collections are unique this year, and the new Chase Set (1) is a fresh twist on The Show packs. Otherwise, Headliners (Set 1) have returned, and we’re getting tiered packs once again built around themes (the first being the Big Dog Set 1 choice pack).
MLB The Show 22 Diamond Dynasty Packs
Big Dog Set 1
Much like the Kitchen Sink packs or whatever other curated set SDS released, Big Dog Set 1 is the first of the themed packs in MLB The Show 22. These packs are tiered, with the top tier being 90+ overall choices, and the base tier being 85+ overall. You can buy two of these packs for 30K stubs each.
Top Tier (1:5 odds)
- Prospect Anthony Volpe
- Breakout Corey Kluber
- All-Star Todd Helton
Base Tier
- Prospect Jack Leiter
- All-Star Curtis Granderson
- Breakout Pablo Sandoval
- Veteran Adam Ottavino
- Prospect Jordan Walker
Headliners Set 1
Headliners have returned, so we’ll presumably start getting 1-2 cards a week once again. The one slight change to Headliners seems to be pack odd changes. On top of being able to buy five Headliners packs (for 7.5K stubs each), you now can get one “choice” pack for 25K stubs. In the choice pack, you are guaranteed at least a gold player, and your odds are 1:3 of getting the Headliners player (rather than 1:10 like the base pack), plus you are guaranteed the diamond jersey.
- Prospect Spencer Torkelson
Chase Set 1
The one all-new aspect in The Show Shop right now is the Chase Set. It’s not even really its own card set, rather just a pack within a pack that can show up in normal The Show packs. You can guarantee yourself a Chase Set pack (but not necessarily the Albert Pujols) by purchasing the 50 The Show packs bundle for 75K stubs in The Show Shop. Otherwise, the Chase Set pack can pop up in any normal The Show pack.
- Awards Albert Pujols
Bottom Line
Thinking back to the initial offering from years past at launch, the Awards Albert Pujols certainly stands out as a strong card, but it’s also the least likely to be pulled so it makes sense. Otherwise this feels “by the book” for the SDS team. I would expect Granderson and Sandoval to rake, and Kluber to be a menace for some folks. Outside of them, the Prospects are a wild card for now until we get more hands-on time with them.
Todd Helton is someone I’ve liked in the past, but he can be hit or miss for some folks. Lastly, Adam Ottavino has had some solid cards over the years, but it really comes down to whether or not your opponent can handle the delivery. If they can deal with it, then Ottavino is generally easy enough to battle against.
With the Headliners, it’s my favorite set every year because I just like the singular card focus. Torkelson is an all-bat option, but he can fake it at 3B at least, so he’s a terrific starter option (not totally unlike a Donaldson from a prior launch year).
