Ambush Hitting in MLB The Show 25, Explained

San Diego Studios has begun to roll out some in-depth breakdowns of various new features set to be in MLB The Show 25. Of these new features, Ambush Hitting is one of the marquee additions that is being advertised as a gamechanger in this year’s title.

But what is Ambush Hitting and how will it effect your gameplay in MLB The Show 25? Here’s what we know so far on the topic.

MLB The Show 25 Ambush Hitting, Explained

In short, Ambush Hitting works similarly to the Guess Pitch function in past MLB The Show titles, except this time, it’s a bit more of a guessing game. Essentially, Ambush Hitting allows you to sit on a pitch on either the inside or outside of the plate. By guessing correctly, you will be rewarded with a bigger Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) and a more generous timing window for your swing. Should you incorrectly guess which side of the plate the pitch will be coming, you will be penalized in similar fashion — your PCI will shrink and your timing window will be less charitable.

Unlike other guessing mechanics featured in the past, Ambush Hitting in MLB The Show 25 does not reveal the exact pitch or location after picking the side of the plate you wish to sit on, even if it’s correct. This means that even if you are sitting on an inside pitch, you will still have to use your discipline and eye if you wish to square it up.

According to the trailer, Ambush Hitting will be available is all modes, meaning it’ll be in Diamond Dynasty as well. I can certainly see how having Ambush Hitting included as part of Diamond Dynasty — or any kind of online mode — could make it so that people are no longer actively identifying pitches and instead only waiting for that inside sinker to not break as much as it should. But then again, the risk-reward factor involved could make for some good battles at the plate. For instance, if you’re facing an opponent who is only sitting on outside pitches, why not try to catch them with something out of the zone? It’s definitely something that might be nerfed after a week or two if it proves too overpowered.

Should the inclusion of the Ambush Hitting feature cover every mode in MLB The Show 25, I expect it to be a gamechanger in terms of strategy, pitch identification, and baseball IQ. And I’m excited to see how it works in practice.