Creating the Best Diamond Dynasty Roster in MLB The Show 25

In MLB The Show 25, Diamond Dynasty has reached a fascinating point in its evolution. With 99 overall cards now widely available across nearly every position, the challenge is no longer finding elite players—it’s determining which elite players actually perform the best in competitive online play. As any experienced Diamond Dynasty player knows, not all 99s are created equal. Some dominate Ranked Seasons, while others look great on paper but struggle to translate their attributes into real results.

That’s where advanced tools like ShowZone come into play.

In this article, we’re building the best possible Diamond Dynasty lineup in MLB 25 Stubs by using ShowZone’s Meta Overall Rating, a community-driven metric designed to answer one simple but critical question: How good is this card in the current online meta? By relying on this rating rather than traditional overall numbers, we can construct a roster filled with players who truly matter in high-level competition.

What Is ShowZone, and Why Does Meta Overall Matter?

For Diamond Dynasty players who aren’t already familiar, ShowZone is essentially a massive MLB The Show database combined with powerful tools designed to optimize team building. It offers features such as:

A complete player card database

Roster update investment tracking

Collection trackers

Community guides and resources

Advanced player evaluation tools

Most importantly for this exercise, ShowZone assigns a Meta Overall Rating to each card. This rating is not based on SDS’s traditional overall system. Instead, it focuses on attributes and traits that have the biggest real impact in competitive online play.

For hitters, this means heavy emphasis on:

Power

Speed

Switch hitting

Swing quality (now community-sourced in 2025)

Quirks

Clutch

For pitchers, the focus shifts toward:

Effective pitch mixes

Pitch speed differentials

Tunneling potential

Pitch quality

Control and break in practical scenarios

In MLB The Show 25, ShowZone has further refined the system. Fielding and clutch are now weighted more heavily, pitch quality has been introduced as a metric, and swing data is based on large-scale community feedback. The result is one of the most in-depth and realistic performance indicators available for Diamond Dynasty players.

With that foundation set, let’s build the ultimate Meta Overall–optimized lineup.

Catcher: Cal Raleigh (Meta Overall: 109.15)

Starting behind the plate, the best catcher in MLB The Show 25 according to ShowZone is Cal Raleigh. With a meta overall rating of 109.15, he stands comfortably ahead of the competition.

This result shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s used him extensively. Raleigh is arguably one of the best-hitting catchers Diamond Dynasty has ever seen. He combines elite power with a swing that plays extremely well online, especially against both right-handed and left-handed pitching.

The second-best catcher, Shea Langeliers, comes in over a full point behind Raleigh, which is a significant gap at this level. When ShowZone’s data separates players by that much, it’s a strong signal that Raleigh is the clear top option.

First Base: George Brett (Meta Overall: 113.66)

First base brings one of the first surprises on the roster. Instead of a pure power bat, the top meta overall option is 99 George Brett, slotted into first base via his secondary position.

With a meta overall of 113.66, Brett outpaces more traditional slugging first basemen. This result highlights the importance of ShowZone’s updated weighting system. Fielding, clutch, and overall consistency matter more than ever, and Brett excels in all of those areas.

His swing plays beautifully, he delivers elite contact and gap power, and his defensive reliability boosts his overall value. The second-best option at first base is Chase Utley (another secondary position player), but he trails Brett by nearly four points, making George Brett the clear choice.

Second Base: Ketel Marte (Meta Overall: 113.50)

At second base, there’s no debate. 99 Ketel Marte takes the spot with a meta overall rating of 113.50.

Switch hitting is heavily valued in ShowZone’s model, and Marte benefits tremendously from it. Beyond that, he has one of the best switch-hitting swings in the game, excellent power, strong speed, and solid defense at the position.

Interestingly, the second-best second baseman according to meta overall is actually a shortstop, which speaks volumes about how dominant Marte is at this position.

Shortstop: Elly De La Cruz (Meta Overall: 111.15)

At shortstop, the top option is the new 99 Elly De La Cruz, checking in at 111.15 meta overall.

Elly’s value is easy to understand. He offers:

Switch hitting

Elite speed

Strong fielding

Massive power potential

He does everything well, and that versatility is exactly what the meta overall system rewards. Without Ketel Marte blocking him at second base, Elly would actually be the top option there as well.

One of the more surprising outcomes is that Elly beats out Jimmy Rollins by more than half a point. Given Rollins’ popularity and success in past titles, this result underscores how strong Elly’s overall package is in MLB The Show 25.

Third Base: José Bautista (Meta Overall: 115.28)

At third base, the lineup gets a massive power injection with 99 José Bautista, the Legends and Flashbacks collection reward.

Bautista comes in with a staggering 115.28 meta overall, making him one of the best cards in the entire game, regardless of position. His elite power, clutch hitting, and swing effectiveness make him a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

There was never any doubt that Bautista would find his way onto this roster. His meta overall confirms what players quickly discovered after unlocking him—he’s an absolute game-changer.

Left Field: Ted Williams (Meta Overall: 111.54)

In left field, the top option is Ted Williams, posting a 111.54 meta overall.

For many players, Ted Williams has been the best card of the year. His ability to hit for average and power, especially against left-handed pitching, sets him apart. Even players who struggle in lefty-lefty matchups often find success with Ted thanks to his swing and hitting attributes.

Ted narrowly edges out 99 Aaron Judge by less than half a point, which shows just how close the competition is at this position—but Williams’ consistency gives him the edge.

Center Field: Ken Griffey Jr. (Meta Overall: 120.66)

Center field belongs to the best card in the game.

The new Retro Lightning Ken Griffey Jr. boasts a ridiculous 120.66 meta overall, making him the highest-rated player in ShowZone’s entire database. He outpaces the second-best option by more than four points, which is an enormous margin at this level.

Griffey offers elite power, defense, speed, and one of the smoothest swings in MLB The Show history. There is no argument here—he is the undisputed king of Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 25.

Right Field: Carlos Beltrán (Meta Overall: 112.92)

Right field would technically belong to José Bautista again, but since he’s already locked in at third base, the next best option is Carlos Beltrán with a 112.92 meta overall.

Beltrán’s versatility, switch-hitting, speed, and strong defense make him an ideal right fielder. Interestingly, his meta overall would jump to 116 if he were playing center field, but Griffey’s dominance keeps him in right.

Designated Hitter: Kyle Schwarber (Meta Overall: 111.76)

Finally, at designated hitter, we add Kyle Schwarber, the All-Star Game MVP, with a 111.76 meta overall.

Schwarber is the perfect DH: massive power, clutch hitting, and zero defensive concerns. While the exact calculations behind his rating might surprise some players, his in-game performance—especially in high-leverage situations—fully justifies his spot buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs.

Final Thoughts: Trusting the Meta in MLB The Show 25

This lineup demonstrates why relying on tools like ShowZone is so valuable in MLB The Show 25. When nearly every card is a 99, traditional overalls lose meaning. Meta Overall ratings help cut through the noise by focusing on what actually wins games online.

By emphasizing swing quality, power, speed, clutch, fielding, and pitch effectiveness, ShowZone provides a clearer picture of which players truly dominate the Diamond Dynasty meta. Whether you’re pushing for the World Series or just looking to optimize your roster, this approach gives you a competitive edge.

And while this team represents the best possible lineup according to the data, the real magic of Diamond Dynasty is testing these cards for yourself. Stats matter—but confidence, comfort, and feel still play a role. Fortunately, with a roster like this, you’ll have every advantage imaginable stepping onto the field.