Team Affinity in MLB The Show 25 has undergone a complete overhaul compared to previous years. Gone are the divisional programs and traditional grinding methods. Now, players must strategize their approach to earning 85-86 overall Jolt Series Diamonds, which serve as both powerful additions to their Diamond Dynasty squads and Captain cards that boost other players from the same team.

In this guide, we'll break down how to efficiently progress through Team Affinity, maximize your rewards, and build a competitive squad without wasting time.

Understanding the New Team Affinity Structure

In previous iterations of MLB The Show, completing Team Affinity was a matter of grinding Showdowns, Conquest maps, and exchanges. However, in MLB The Show 25, the process is entirely different. Now, progression revolves around accumulating Team Affinity (TA) points through various missions and in-game achievements.

Each team has a unique My Journey program that requires players to complete stat-based missions, unlock specific player cards, and accumulate Parallel XP with them. While some players might find this change more tedious, the system encourages the use of specific team players and builds toward team-themed lineups.

The Importance of Captain Cards

The most notable change in MLB The Show 25 is the role of Captain Cards within Team Affinity. Every Jolt Series Diamond available in Team Affinity is also a Captain, which means they provide attribute boosts to other players from the same team. For example, obtaining the 86 overall Jim Kaat for the Minnesota Twins allows you to boost attributes like Contact, Batting Clutch, and Hit Per 9 for other Twins players in your squad.

Each Captain card applies the same types of boosts, but the strength of these boosts varies. This means building a full team of players from one franchise is more rewarding than ever before. Choosing the right Captain cards early in your grind will help you maximize their impact on your squad.

How to Earn Team Affinity Points Efficiently

1. Completing Moment Challenges

Each Team Affinity program includes Moment Challenges, which are short in-game scenarios rewarding 5,000 TA points each. These challenges should be your first priority, as they provide an easy and quick way to gain progress.

2. Utilizing Team Affinity Missions

A significant portion of your TA points will come from stat-based missions, which track performance across all game modes. These missions require you to accumulate stats like:

• Hits

• Home Runs

• Strikeouts

• Innings Pitched

• Stolen Bases

Each mission provides incremental TA points, meaning the more you use specific players, the faster you'll progress.

3. Using Earned Player Cards for More XP

As you progress, you'll unlock various player cards that contribute additional TA points:

• Gold Cards (Earned at 25,000 TA points) – Provide 10,000 TA points after accumulating 300 Parallel XP.

• Diamond Jolt Series Cards (Earned at 55,000 TA points) – Provide 10,000 TA points after accumulating 500 Parallel XP.

Make sure to include these players in your lineup to maximize your progress.

4. Prioritizing the Right Game Modes

Not all game modes contribute to Team Affinity progression. Here's what works best:

Recommended Modes:

• Mini Seasons:

  • Offers extra rewards, such as an 87 overall CC Sabathia for winning the championship.

  • Allows stat tracking, meaning all innings played contribute to TA missions.

• Conquest:

  • Unlike previous years, Conquest has been streamlined into shorter maps with easier objectives.

  • Provides hidden rewards, including exclusive packs and Gold Pipeline cards.

  • Allows stat tracking, making it ideal for grinding innings, hits, and strikeouts.

Modes That Don't Track Stats Well:

• Diamond Quest:

  • Showdowns and Moment Challenges within Diamond Quest do not contribute to TA progression.

  • Stadium Challenges (three-inning games) do track stats and provide some TA progress.

5. Playing on Rookie Difficulty in Small Ballparks

Maximizing stats efficiently means playing on Rookie difficulty. Consider using a small custom stadium like Blank Canvas (270 ft to the foul poles) to increase home run output. This will help accelerate mission completions, especially for home runs and extra-base hits.

To find the Blank Canvas stadium:

• Search for G to Legend as the online ID.

• Look for the stadium named Blank Canvas.

• Identify it by the trees in the left field.

Why Team Affinity Matters Long-Term

One of the most crucial aspects of Team Affinity this year is its long-term rewards. Completing My Journey programs grants vouchers for upcoming All-Star and Finest Team Affinity cards. These vouchers will be redeemable in July (All-Star cards) and December (Finest cards), ensuring that the early grind pays off down the line.

However, unlike previous years, Team Affinity is not cumulative across seasons. This means you do not need to reach 285,000 TA points per team to unlock future cards. Instead, each phase of Team Affinity will introduce new programs with fresh rewards.

If you're focused on getting ahead, aim to at least unlock the Diamond Jolt Series Captains, as these will likely be required for future collections.

Final Thoughts: Is Team Affinity Worth It?

Given the significant changes to Team Affinity in MLB The Show 25, the grinding process is more deliberate and focused on team-based stat tracking. Unlike previous years, where Showdowns and Conquest maps could be completed independently, success in Team Affinity now requires playing with specific players and accumulating stats over time.

For casual players, this means prioritizing teams that align with their Diamond Dynasty goals. If you don't plan on using a full Yankees, Twins, or Dodgers squad, it might not be worth the effort to chase every single Captain card. However, for players who enjoy theme teams and building for long-term rewards, Team Affinity offers some of the best progression paths in the game.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize Moment Challenges first for quick TA points.

• Stack your team with players from one franchise to maximize stat-based mission progress.

• Play Mini Seasons and Conquest for optimal XP and TA points.

• Use low-difficulty settings and small ballparks to accelerate offensive stat completions.

• Focus on unlocking Diamond Jolt Series Captains early for future collection benefits or buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs.

By following these strategies, you'll be able to efficiently progress through Team Affinity, unlock powerful Captain cards, and set yourself up for success in MLB The Show 25's evolving content cycle.

Stay tuned for our upcoming guide ranking the best Team Affinity cards, helping you decide which programs are worth your grind. If you found this guide helpful, be sure to like and share!