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What’s New With Captains & Theme Teams in MLB The Show 25?

The captains and theme team system in MLB The Show 25 has undergone one of MLB The Show 25 Stubs its most significant overhauls ever. This revamp affects how players build squads, strategize lineups, and manage their stubs. In this deep dive, we will explore everything about the new system — from the core mechanics and new captains’ roles to team synergies, attribute boosts, strategic applications, market impacts, and where this system is headed.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for beginners and veterans alike to understand, evaluate, and maximize the new captains and theme teams, unlocking the full potential of your Diamond Dynasty experience.

1. Introduction to Captains & Theme Teams

In MLB The Show’s Diamond Dynasty mode, theme teams are rosters built around players from the same MLB team, gaining bonus attribute boosts when captains — special cards representing star players — lead the squad. These boosts help level the playing field against higher-rated opponents and reward players for loyalty to their favorite teams.

Before MLB The Show 25, captains provided static and limited boosts with strict eligibility, which made theme teams feel like side projects rather than viable competitive options. This changed radically in 2025 with a strategic overhaul aimed at making captains and theme teams relevant for a broader audience.

2. The History of Captains and Theme Teams in MLB The Show

Since their introduction, captains have functioned as the heart of theme teams, incentivizing players to assemble squads around MLB franchises. Earlier versions restricted captain boosts mostly to players rated 91 overall and below, limiting use to mid-tier or budget squads.

Many players felt theme teams were underpowered compared to all-star lineups filled with meta cards and diamond legends. As a result, theme teams were often used only for fun or limited challenges rather than competitive play.

MLB The Show 25 marks a shift in philosophy — captains are now meant to be impactful and meaningful, even at the highest competitive levels.

3. Key Changes in MLB The Show 25

The latest update introduces several major changes that redefine the captains and theme team system:

Expanded Eligibility: Captain boosts now apply to players rated up to 95 overall, widening the pool of usable cards.

Dynamic Attribute Boosts: Instead of flat boosts, attribute bonuses vary depending on the captain’s and the team’s identity.

Dual Captains: Each team has a hitting captain and a pitching captain, allowing teams to unlock multiple layers of boosts.

Tiered Boost Levels: Boosts scale with the number of players from the same team in your lineup, promoting strategic team building.

New Team Affinity Program: The Color Storm drop introduced 30 new captain cards, one for every MLB team, making the system more balanced and accessible.

4. Understanding the New Captain Cards

Captain cards in MLB The Show 25 come in various versions, typically categorized by their rarity and power. Each captain card is unique to their MLB team and fulfills a specific role as a hitting or pitching leader.

For example, the Minnesota Twins have Royce Lewis as the hitting captain and Jim Kaat as the pitching captain. Each captain's boost profile reflects their real-life strengths and playstyle, bringing authenticity to the virtual diamond.

5. Team Affinity: Color Storm Program Overview

The Team Affinity: Color Storm program is the latest roster and card drop centered around these new captains. Its goal is to:

Refresh the theme team meta with new, exciting cards.

Encourage players to invest in theme teams.

Offer fresh market opportunities through captains and new players.

This program is a significant milestone, delivering 30 new cards (one per team) and making every MLB franchise viable for theme team play.

6. Dynamic and Tailored Attribute Boosts Explained

One of the biggest innovations is the move away from flat attribute boosts. Each team’s captains provide unique boosts that play to the strengths of their rosters. For instance:

Some teams get massive boosts to Power and Clutch, ideal for heavy hitters.

Others receive boosts to Contact and MLB Stubs Plate Vision, rewarding finesse hitters.

Pitching captains may grant boosts to BB/9 (walks per 9 innings) or H/9 (hits per 9 innings), improving pitching control and stamina.

These boosts encourage players to build lineups that make strategic sense, enhancing immersion and replayability.