1. Major Recurring Programs
XP Reward Path (1st & 2nd Inning)
This is your main progression track. Complete missions and earn XP to unlock packs and rewards.
2nd Inning Bonus: At 500,000 XP, you can grab a Boss Choice Pack, featuring legends like Randy Johnson or Babe Ruth.
Team Affinity (Season 1)
Divided by MLB divisions, this program is one of the fastest ways to improve your starting squad early.
Rewards include 30 Diamond-level, team-specific players.
World Baseball Classic (WBC)
Split into four pool-specific programs (Pools A–D), each with international stars.
High-value cards: Bryce Harper (Pool B), Nolan Arenado (Pool A).
Complete 10 Moments, the WBC Showdown, and Mini-Seasons for pool-specific rewards.
Monthly Spotlight Programs
Each month features "Drops" highlighting standout performances.
April examples: Jo Adell (91 OVR), Mike Trout (92 OVR).
2. Program Types & High-Value Rewards
Program Type Notable Rewards How to Progress
New Threads Pete Alonso (90 OVR), Dylan Cease (89 OVR) Use 2026 team-change players for Parallel XP (PXP) missions.
WBC Programs Bryce Harper (89), Nolan Arenado (89), Didi Gregorius (89) Complete 10 Moments per pool, WBC Showdown, and Mini-Seasons.
Cornerstone Carlos Correa (91 OVR) Complete specific Moments and Missions tied to cornerstone players.
Starter & Player Albert Pujols (Gold), Travis Hafner (Diamond) Target introductory missions or player-specific tasks, e.g., the Bill Mazeroski path.
3. Collections & Long-Term Goals
Collections are about gathering specific sets of cards to unlock some of the highest-rated players:
Live Series (MLB) – Complete all 40-man rosters for 99 OVR Troy Tulowitzki.
American League – Unlock 99 OVR Felix Hernandez.
National League – Includes historical stars like Manny Ramirez and David Wright.
Collections are essential for players chasing top-tier cards and completing your Diamond Dynasty hall of fame.
4. Earning Rewards Through Game Modes
Mini Seasons
Choose 7 or 28 games, and play 3 or 9 innings.
Winning a championship usually gives 10 Show Packs plus a "Ballin’ is a Habit" pack.
Conquest Maps
Maps like April Showers or Cityscapes hide packs, Stubs, and players.
Example rewards: Ryan Weathers (90 OVR), Richie Sexson (90 OVR).
Battle Royale (BR)
Going undefeated earns the "Flawless 10-0" pack and 50,000 Stubs.
5. Progression & Efficiency Tips
Parallel Mods
Customize attributes like speed or power using Silver, Gold, and Diamond Parallel Mods.
Mods unlock after hitting Parallel levels P1–P5.
Stack Missions
Combine Mini Seasons, Team Affinity, and XP Path tasks at the same time to maximize rewards.
Following expert guides (like ShowZone) can save hours of grinding.
Difficulty Multipliers
Online All-Star difficulty earns PXP ~3× faster than offline Rookie mode.
Plan your sessions to balance challenge and efficiency.
Final Tip
Programs in MLB The Show 26 are your gateway to elite players, Stubs, and packs. Focus on stacking missions, collecting cards, and hitting the right difficulty, and your team will grow faster than ever.