What’s New With Captains & Theme Teams in MLB The Show 25?
The captains and theme team system in MLB The Show 25 has undergone one of MLB The Show 25 Stubs its most significant overhauls ever. This revamp affects how players build squads, strategize lineups, and manage their stubs. In this deep dive, we will explore everything about the new system — from the core mechanics and new captains’ roles to team synergies, attribute boosts, strategic applications, market impacts, and where this system is headed.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for beginners and veterans alike to understand, evaluate, and maximize the new captains and theme teams, unlocking the full potential of your Diamond Dynasty experience.

1. Introduction to Captains & Theme Teams
In MLB The Show’s Diamond Dynasty mode, theme teams are rosters built around players from the same MLB team, gaining bonus attribute boosts when captains — special cards representing star players — lead the squad. These boosts help level the playing field against higher-rated opponents and reward players for loyalty to their favorite teams.

Before MLB The Show 25, captains provided static and limited boosts with strict eligibility, which made theme teams feel like side projects rather than viable competitive options. This changed radically in 2025 with a strategic overhaul aimed at making captains and theme teams relevant for a broader audience.

2. The History of Captains and Theme Teams in MLB The Show
Since their introduction, captains have functioned as the heart of theme teams, incentivizing players to assemble squads around MLB franchises. Earlier versions restricted captain boosts mostly to players rated 91 overall and below, limiting use to mid-tier or budget squads.

Many players felt theme teams were underpowered compared to all-star lineups filled with meta cards and diamond legends. As a result, theme teams were often used only for fun or limited challenges rather than competitive play.

MLB The Show 25 marks a shift in philosophy — captains are now meant to be impactful and meaningful, even at the highest competitive levels.

3. Key Changes in MLB The Show 25
The latest update introduces several major changes that redefine the captains and theme team system:

Expanded Eligibility: Captain boosts now apply to players rated up to 95 overall, widening the pool of usable cards.

Dynamic Attribute Boosts: Instead of flat boosts, attribute bonuses vary depending on the captain’s and the team’s identity.

Dual Captains: Each team has a hitting captain and a pitching captain, allowing teams to unlock multiple layers of boosts.

Tiered Boost Levels: Boosts scale with the number of players from the same team in your lineup, promoting strategic team building.

New Team Affinity Program: The Color Storm drop introduced 30 new captain cards, one for every MLB team, making the system more balanced and cheap MLB The Show 25 Stubs accessible.