MLB The Show 22 arrives on Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and XONE with a new pitching feature built around the idea of controlling the ball’s movement with the stick. That pitch control is the headline addition, and it changes how batters face a hurler on the mound.
Trailer, via IGN.
Pitch Control and the Stick
The pitch control system lets players guide each throw with the stick, bending the ball’s path through spin, arm angle and release point. It sounds simple on paper, but it takes real practice to master. A pitcher who can’t find the strike zone early in a count risks giving up free passes, and a batter who can’t read the spin gets walked. The balance between the two is where the game finds its identity.
Fielding also sees a change this year. Players can now choose between a quick response time and a more accurate throw when catching the ball. The game gives players that choice without spelling out exactly what it costs.
Franchise Mode and Road to the Show
Franchise mode remains the centerpiece for players who want to build a full season. It carries over from previous entries, letting players manage lineups, trades and coaching decisions across a full campaign. The road to the show mode, meanwhile, follows a player’s rise through the minor leagues to the big stage. Both modes reward patience, since progress takes real time to see through.
The game’s presentation holds up across its four platforms. Load times vary depending on the hardware, with PS5 offering the quickest experience thanks to its fast storage. Series X|S runs the game at a higher frame rate than PS4, which shows during busy innings with multiple runners on base. PS4 runs the game at a lower frame rate, which shows during busy innings with multiple runners on base.
How It Compares
| Feature | MLB The Show 22 |
|---|---|
| Pitch control | New stick-based system guiding each throw |
| Fielding options | Quick reaction vs. accurate throw tradeoff |
| Franchise mode | Full season management with trades and coaching |
| Road to the show | Player’s climb through the minor leagues |
The pitch control system is the biggest addition, and it’s the feature most likely to draw attention away from the rest of the package. Whether it improves the game depends on how comfortable a player becomes with the stick, since the learning curve is steep.
What Stays the Same
The core of baseball hasn’t changed. Batters still need to time pitches, runners still need to steal bases, and pitchers still need to avoid the walk. That familiarity is a strength, even as the new systems ask for new habits. The game doesn’t reinvent the sport so much as refine how it’s controlled.
MLB The Show 22 isn’t a radical departure. It’s a solid, steady entry in a series that knows what it’s doing. The pitch control system is a genuine improvement, and the franchise and road to the show modes remain deep enough to justify a long stretch of play. It won’t win over anyone who has never cared about baseball, but for those who do, it delivers a refined version of the formula they’ve been playing for years.
The game earns a 7.9 out of 10.
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