MLB The Show 25: Breaking Down the New Finest Program and Its Five Standout Cards

MLB The Show 25 continues its late-year momentum with yet another massive content drop, and this time it’s a full Finest program—complete with five new 99-overall players, a Finest pack, easy progression tasks, and some of the smoothest grinding the game has offered all cycle. Each season, San Diego Studio pushes the boundaries of what endgame cards can look like, and the 2025 Finest collection makes it clear that this year is no exception.

From big bats to shutdown relievers to fan-favorite superstars finally getting their long-awaited 99s, this program adds real depth to the Ranked Seasons lineups across the board. Even better: It introduces players that fill long-standing holes at key positions and delivers a handful of cards that fans have been asking about for MLB 25 Stubs.

Let’s take a full look at each of the five new 99 Finest players, the rewards, how to finish the program fast, and how they perform in competitive play.

The Five New Finest Cards in MLB The Show 25

The highlight of today’s update is, of course, the new quintet of Finest players. While the program contains plenty of XP, packs, and bonuses, the real prizes are these five cards that bring elite power, clutch ratings, and meta-shifting utility.

1. Brian Abreu – 99 Finest (RP)

The program opens with a strong relief option: Houston’s Brian Abreu. At first glance, he’s a right-handed bullpen arm with several strengths and one noticeable weakness. His maxed-out H/9 and max clutch instantly make him deadly in tight games, especially as clutch continues to dictate late-inning at-bats in MLB 25.

His biggest drawback? Control. Abreu’s command can feel shaky and sometimes unpredictable, especially with pitches that tail hard. But what he lacks in precision, he makes up for with a strong pitch mix—including high-velo heat and breaking balls that disappear off the plate. In stressful ninth-inning spots, he’s the type of pitcher who can make hitters second-guess everything.

For players building bullpen depth, Abreu is simply too good to pass on.

2. Ben Rice – 99 Finest (1B/C)

Ben Rice enters MLB The Show 25 as one of the sneakiest gems of the entire program. A left-handed power bat with max power versus lefties, Rice immediately jumps out because the meta heavily favors left-on-left power in Ranked. But what elevates him further is the secondary catcher position—a rarity for a first baseman.

With catchers being a notoriously shallow position this year outside of top-end options like Cal Raleigh, Rice’s flexibility is a huge plus. If players want to shift lineups around or simply prefer a power bat behind the plate, Rice fills that role beautifully.

Even if he never catches a single inning for you, he’s still one of the better bench bats in the program—dangerous, flexible, and easy to plug into nearly any squad.

3. Dansby Swanson – 99 Finest (SS)

Dansby Swanson arrives as what many would call a “very good but tough competition” type of shortstop. His attributes are excellent—elite lefty-crushing power, dependable defense, and smooth animations in the field—yet the biggest issue is simply that shortstop is one of the most loaded positions in MLB 25.

If you already have premier SS options like Witt Jr., Lindor, or Elly de la Cruz, Swanson may have trouble earning a starting job. But in gameplay, his ability to punish left-handed pitchers cannot be overstated. In fact, in actual Ranked experience, Dansby showed exactly why he’s dangerous—turning on inside pitches, carrying opposite-field shots, and consistently putting the ball in play with quality contact.

Players who value reliability will love this card. He may not break the game, but he absolutely gets the job done.

4. James Wood – 99 Finest (RF/OF)

This is the player many fans were waiting for—and one that some expected to appear in Team Affinity. After weeks of anticipation, James Wood finally gets his 99 Finest in The Show 25, and he does not disappoint.

Standing tall with elite hitting attributes, strong fielding, and the type of lefty power swing that thrives in high-difficulty Ranked, Wood is easily the second-best reward in the program. His combination of size, reach, and bat path makes him a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Even mediocre contact tends to carry deep into the gaps.

During gameplay testing, Wood crushed a 404-foot home run that instantly knocked Satchel Paige out of the game. That swing alone showed just how explosive he can be.

While he was expected earlier in the year, his arrival in the Finest program makes up for the wait.

5. Bryce Harper – 99 Finest (RF)

Finally—after months of speculation—Bryce Harper fans can celebrate. The long-awaited 99 Overall Finest Bryce Harper is here, and he’s every bit the superstar people were hoping for.

Harper’s hitting attributes are beautifully tuned for Ranked Seasons. He has elite power, sharp discipline, and one of the best swings in MLB The Show. The only minor complaint is his 105 clutch, which—while good—rests slightly below some of the top-tier Finest hitters this year.

Still, once Harper stepped into a live Ranked game, he immediately delivered. His early-inning RBI double into the gap tied the score and set the tone for a momentum-shifting inning. Harper remains one of the best big-moment hitters in the game, and this card only reinforces his reputation.

For many players, Harper will be the crown jewel of the program.

How to Complete the Finest Program Quickly

One of the biggest surprises is how easy the program is to finish. Some late-year grinds can feel heavy, but this one is smooth and efficient:

Fastest Ways to Finish:

Collect 3 Finest cards from Team Affinity → 20 points instantly

Complete all Finest Moments → short, simple challenges

Finish stat missions & Parallel XP tasks → passive progress

Earn bonus XP from regular gameplay

With minimal effort—and zero need for online grinding—you can finish the entire program in just a couple of hours. This accessibility is a major reason the update has been so well-received.

Taking the New Cards Into Ranked Seasons

Once the program was complete, it was time to put each of the five Finest players into the lineup and test them against real competition. The first matchup? A ranked game against the legendary Satchel Paige—a difficult assignment for any debut.

Despite a frustrating first inning, some bad luck on barreled swings, and even a few PCI misreads, the new Finest cards began to shine as the game progressed.

Key Gameplay Highlights:

Dansby Swanson opened the scoring with a perfect swing and later added an opposite-field home run.

Bryce Harper drove a run-scoring gap shot to tie the game.

Cal Raleigh continued to be unstoppable, delivering multiple rockets at the plate.

James Wood crushed a towering 404-foot bomb that forced Satchel Paige out of the game entirely.

Ben Rice recorded multiple hard-hit balls—including one robbed by Lindor that should’ve been a perfect swing hit.

Brian Abreu closed the door in the ninth for a clean save.

Add in a strong seven-inning performance from Tarik Skubal—eight strikeouts, two earned runs—and the game became a showcase of exactly what these new Finest additions can do.

While not every swing found grass, the power, the consistency, and the late-inning reliability of the new cards were undeniable.

Were Any MLB Players Snubbed From Finest?

Now that almost all Finest cards are in the game—aside from possible one-offs in future drops—players are already discussing which MLB stars deserved a Finest but didn’t get one.

Some examples mentioned by the community:

Zach Neto (though he already has a 99 Player of the Month card)

Underrated relievers and bench utility players

Breakout stars who had strong statistical seasons but didn’t fit into the final structure of the Finest program

These discussions always circle back each year, but they’re part of the fun. Every fanbase has a player they believe should earn the honor, and debates will continue as the final content drops of the year roll out cheap MLB The Show 25 Stubs.

Final Thoughts: One of the Best MLB 25 Programs Yet

The new Finest program for MLB The Show 25 is easily one of the most exciting, well-balanced, and rewarding programs released this year. It brings:

Five elite 99-overall cards

An easy and accessible grind

A free Finest pack

Immediate improvements to competitive lineups

Tons of flexibility for Ranked Seasons

Between Harper’s long-awaited debut, James Wood’s monstrous swing, Dansby’s reliability, Ben Rice’s versatility, and Brian Abreu’s clutch dominance, every card adds value.

And with so many more team builds, all-time teams, and Finest-themed content on the way, December and January are shaping up to be some of the most active months of the MLB 25 content cycle.

Whether you're chasing wins in Ranked, expanding the Cal Raleigh collection, or simply trying out the new studs in Battle Royale or Events, the Finest program is a massive W for the community.