Ignoring Pitch Spin
The Problem:
Players often focus too much on MLB The Show 25 Stubs ball trajectory and ignore the subtle visual cues of spin.
Why It Hurts You:
Pitch spin gives early hints about movement—without this skill, you’ll recognize break too late, leaving no time to react.
Fix:
During practice, lock in on the ball right at release and note spin patterns (tight backspin for fastballs, tilted red-dot spin for sliders, tumbling spin for curves).
Treating Every Pitch as Equal
The Problem:
Trying to cover the entire strike zone every pitch puts you on defense mentally.
Why It Hurts You:
You’ll swing at pitcher’s pitches instead of waiting for mistakes, and your recognition will feel rushed because you’re scanning too wide.
Fix:
Have a zone plan before each at-bat. Sit on one location and one pitch type early in the count—this narrows your recognition focus and makes reads faster.
Overthinking Instead of Training Instincts
The Problem:
Some players try to consciously “figure out” the pitch while it’s on the way.
Why It Hurts You:
There’s not enough time to logically process every pitch mid-flight. Recognition needs to become automatic muscle memory, not mental math.
Fix:
Repetition is key. The more you expose yourself to different pitches, the more your brain starts recognizing patterns instantly.
Neglecting Game-Like Situations
The Problem:
Only practicing in static drills without simulating in-game pressure.
Why It Hurts You:
Recognition can break down when the stakes rise—runners on base, two strikes, clutch situations—because you haven’t trained your decision-making under stress.
Fix:
Mix recognition drills with situational hitting practice. Simulate counts, pressure moments, and MLB Stubs for sale specific game plans.