MLB The Show 16: How to Get Called Up in RTTS

Every minor league player has the same aspirations: making it to The Majors. The same is true for those with minor league players in MLB The Show 16.

This year, getting that big break is a bit more realistic. However, that also means it is a bit more unpredictable. In MLB The Show 16, there is no list of goals to accomplish over a three-week stretch, but let’s be honest, almost no one liked having to draw eight walks in 18 games.

Often the call comes when an injury has occurred in the AAA or MLB squad, or when the player-controlled character surpasses his counterpart’s overall rating. There are some measures that can be taken to make the journey to big leagues a bit more manageable, though.

Pick a Versatile Secondary Position

The ability to be plugged into multiple spots on the field can be a major advantage when trying to get called up. When creating your player, pick a secondary position that is versatile, either infield, outfield, 2B/SS, or 1B/3B. Being able to platoon on the major league squad means that there is an opportunity for consistent play in different positions around the diamond.

Don’t Simulate Training Sessions

Though spending time fielding ground balls for a session or practicing plate discipline may not seem like the best use of time, the training points that can be received in these can make it all worthwhile. The drills are often relatively easy and achieving gold in a session yields a boost to a specific rating while also rewarding the player with training points that can be spent on any area.

Know What Kind of Player You’re Creating

Specialization is key in the early stages of a career. Corner infielders are generally power hitters with little speed while shortstops and center fielders are speed oriented. At the beginning of a Road to the Show career, the player is allotted 5 points that can be put to particular areas (speed, power, fielding, contact, and arm). Don’t be afraid to dedicate all of those points to only a couple areas relevant to the kind of player you are attempting to create.

Don’t waste points on areas that you will never use. If you’re creating a power-hitting first baseman, there is no point wasting training points on drag bunting or speed.

Get Drafted by a Team that is Shallow at Your Primary Position

After the showcase games, your created player will be drafted. Take note of the players that are ahead of your created player on the depth chart. If there is a young player rated in the 80s overall, there may be a chance of an injury, but in all likelihood, the chances of making the big leagues as a starter are much slimmer. If you get drafted by a team like that, stay in school for a year, develop your talent, and hopefully get drafted by a team that could use your services sooner.

Play Consistent, Fundamental Baseball

This goes without saying, but the bulk of training points are tied to a player’s ability to play fundamental baseball on a consistent basis. Take pitches, make the right throws in the field, and make smart decisions on the base paths, and your path to The Majors is much shorter. Working deep into the count at the plate yields many more training points, even if you don’t make it on base.

Request a Trade or Change Positions

If you’ve been playing well and the team still hasn’t called you up after months of consistent play, it may be time to request a trade or change positions. It could be that there are still players ahead of you playing at a high level. Going from second to short may give you a faster track to the 40-man roster. If you have to request a trade, in all likelihood the team trading for you is in more need of your services.

Still, there seems to be an element of randomness to when a player is called up in MLB The Show 16’s Road to the Show mode, but making sure to implement these strategies will only help on your journey to The Majors.