May 17, 2024 changed the 3rd Inning grind from “log in, do dailies, leave” into an actual roster choice with teeth, and if you're already thinking about cards, XP, and even MLB The Show 26 stubs down the road, the main question is simple: which 99 boss should you take first? Short answer: Pedro Martinez is safest for Ranked, Albert Pujols is the fun power pick, and Jimmy Rollins is the best fit if your infield still feels slow or contact-starved. The whole update is built around the 3rd Inning XP Reward Path, the Weekend Classic event, and three new Diamonds that actually matter.

Best 3rd Inning boss choice in MLB The Show 24

I don't think this is a fake choice, which is rare. A lot of boss packs have one obvious monster and two cards you pretend to consider before taking the meta option. Here, all three can start on a good squad. Pedro gives you a five-pitch mix, a 97 mph four-seamer, and that nasty 78 mph circle change with 99 break, so the speed gap does real work if you tunnel it right. Pujols brings 125 Power vs Left and 118 Power vs Right, which is gross in the best way. Rollins has 99 speed and 115 Contact vs Right, and that combo plays better than it looks if you bunt cheese less than the average gremlin.

Should you pick Pedro Martinez, Albert Pujols, or Jimmy Rollins

Pedro is my pick if you're playing Ranked Seasons and don't already have a starter you trust every fifth game. Pitching depth wins boring games. Boring wins still count. I used Pedro in a couple sweaty Hall of Fame games after getting reps against his Showdown version, and the biggest thing isn't the fastball. It's how early people sit changeup once they get embarrassed by it, then the heater feels faster than 97. If you spam one lane, he'll get crushed, because good hitters aren't NPCs. But if you mix sinker-ish movement, high fastballs, and the circle change below the zone, he's a pain.

99 Albert Pujols review for Diamond Dynasty lineups

Power bats are everywhere, but Pujols still feels special because his card can sit at first or third and turn bad contact into “wait, that left?” moments. That's the kind of card I like in Events, where games are short and one mistake swing can save you from yourself. His downside is pretty clear, though. You're not taking him for range, speed, or cute small-ball stuff. You're taking him because pitchers make mistakes, and Pujols punishes mistakes like the game owes him rent. If your lineup already has heavy bats but lacks a true shortstop, don't force him just because the attributes look loud.

How to get 3rd Inning XP fast with Weekend Classic

Weekend Classic is the part people should not ignore. It usually runs Friday at 12:00 PM PT through Monday at 10:00 AM PT, and the 3rd Inning version uses squad rules like a 92 overall cap plus NL Central and AL East player limits. The big marks are 15 wins for the 3rd Inning Event Choice Pack and 20 wins for 25,000 XP. That's not tiny. While you're in there, stack Henchmen missions instead of treating the event like random warm-up games. I ran 95 OVR Second Half Heroes Gary Carter for parallel progress and mixed in 95 OVR All-Star A.J. Burnett when I could stomach one more event game. Was it pretty? No. Did it move the bar? Yep.

3rd Inning XP Reward Path milestones and hidden value

The boss pack comes at 1,000,000 XP, so don't stare at it like it's the only reward on the track. At 250,000 XP, you get a Classics Choice Pack with 90-93 OVR cards from older games, which helps collections and theme builds more than people admit. At 500,000 XP, there's a 96 OVR Evolution card that grows through player missions. The full path goes to 1,500,000 XP, and after the main stuff, the “Endless” loop kicks in with 5,000 Stubs or a Standard Pack every 25,000 XP. It's not glamorous. It's also free value while you grind Ranked, Conquest, Mini Seasons, or whatever mode you can play without wanting to throw a controller into low orbit.

Team Affinity Season 2 and The Beehive Conquest trick

Here's the sneaky part: Team Affinity Season 2 feeds the 3rd Inning path better than some players realize. If you collect 10 Team Affinity Season 2 players, you get a one-time 50,000 XP boost toward the 3rd Inning Program. That's a big chunk for cards you're probably earning anyway. The 3rd Inning Conquest Map, “The Beehive,” also has a hidden 10,000 XP bonus for taking the central stronghold within the first 3 turns. I missed that on my first run because I played it safe and gobbled up territory like a cowardly Risk player. Don't do that. Push middle early, reinforce smart, and clean up after.

3rd Inning Showdown details players still need to know

Some info is still weirdly thin, so don't build your whole plan around guesses. The final Showdown boss is 99 OVR Pedro Martinez, but the exact entry fee and skip requirements weren't clearly spelled out in the source info I saw. Same deal with the boost cards in the draft pool. If you see perks like Inner Peace or Clear for Takeoff, I like them against Pedro because they help you punish velocity and avoid weak panic swings. Also, don't hoard Weekend Classic vouchers forever unless SDS confirms how they work after the 4th Inning starts. If those vouchers lock to the 3rd Inning, saving them is just inventory cosplay.

Are the Three New Diamonds worth grinding now

The Three New Diamonds are worth chasing early because supply starts tight, and early owners get the best use before the meta shifts again. If these cards later hit Chase Packs, their market price could dip, but that's not confirmed, so I wouldn't treat them like a safe investment play. Pick based on your actual squad. Need an ace? Pedro. Need a corner bat with cartoon power? Pujols. Need speed and contact at short? Rollins. And if you're planning your grind, your time, or your stash of MLB stubs for future cycles, don't sleep on the boring XP sources. The boss choice is fun, but the players who stack events, Team Affinity, Conquest bonuses, and missions get there first.