Every year, MLB The Show brings waves of excitement as players grind, collect, and compete their way into assembling the perfect roster. And with MLB The Show 25, San Diego Studio doubled down on the philosophy of giving players more options, more parallel paths, and more 99 overall cards than ever before. But with so many endgame cards flooding Diamond Dynasty, the inevitable happened: not all 99s were created equal.

In fact, some of them — depending on who you ask — might feel more like 93s wearing fancy disguises.

In this article, we break down the worst 99 overall cards in MLB 25 Stubs, why they fall short, and how content creators are using them to challenge themselves in ranked play. It's part analysis, part gameplay reflection, and part exploration of why these “bad” cards still matter in the broader design ecosystem of the game.

Whether you love them, hate them, or accidentally lock them into collections, these 99s deserve a real look.

Why Do Bad 99s Exist in MLB The Show 25?

Before jumping into the individual players, it’s worth understanding why weak 99s exist at all.

In The Show 25, SDS has balanced their card ecosystem around:

1. Collection Milestones

Some cards are intentionally not the strongest, because they serve as stepping stones toward better rewards.

2. Swing Animations vs. Raw Attributes

A player’s swing often matters more than their numbers. Some 99s are stat monsters but swing like they’re underwater.

3. Content Diversity

Not every elite card can be meta. If every 99 was cracked, gameplay would collapse into a handful of mirror-match teams.

4. Fan Service

Certain players get love because of real-world popularity, even if their swings or stats don’t justify elite-tier status.

The result? A handful of 99s that look shiny, but reveal their flaws the moment someone loads into Ranked Seasons.

The Worst 99 Overall Cards of MLB The Show 25 — A Deep Dive

Based on player reactions, community discussions, and gameplay testing, here’s a breakdown of the most disappointing 99s in the game — including the exact players from the content you provided.

1. Willie Mays — The Painful Disappointment

Few things in Diamond Dynasty sting more than seeing a legend like Willie Mays listed among the worst 99s. But year after year, SDS refuses to give him the offensive profile fans expect.

Why He Disappoints

Underwhelming hitting attributes for an endgame 99

A surprisingly mediocre swing compared to other legends

Lacks pop compared to Trout, Mantle, or even modern outfielders

For many players, using this card feels like wearing nostalgia goggles while suffering through warning-track flyouts.

Still, he’s Willie Mays, so he looks amazing patrolling centre field — even if he’s not winning many slugfests.

2. Jorge Batista (“Batista Bomb”) — The Swing That Never Works

One of the most hyped collection rewards of the year ended up being one of the biggest letdowns.

What Went Wrong

The attributes suggest elite potential

But the swing is stiff, slow, and produces bad contact

Extremely inconsistent exit velocities

Community consensus is simple: Batista should have been a monster, but SDS gave him one of the most uncomfortable swings in the game. For a collection reward, that’s devastating.

3. Josh Naylor — “Fine” But Not Endgame

Josh Naylor is a perfect example of a player who isn’t bad, but doesn’t justify a 99 overall label.

Problems With the Card

Mid-range defense for a 1B/OF hybrid

Lacks the elite power and discipline required for high-level Ranked

Swing is fine, not great

Naylor lovers will still use him, but competitively? He rarely cracks a lineup.

4. Miguel Rojas — The Luckiest 99 of All Time

Miguel Rojas being a 99 at all is a meme in the MLB The Show community — a card inspired by a key real-life World Series moment.

Why He’s a Weak 99

Middling hitting attributes

Doesn’t bring elite power or speed

Mostly a defensive utility infielder

The player commentary says it well: he’s “lucky.” And in gameplay, that luck runs out quickly.

Still, if you love defence-first shortstops or the Dodgers, he has a role.

5. Patrick Bailey — Decent, But Not Special

At catcher, where swings and contact numbers matter more than any position outside DH, Patrick Bailey falls flat.

The Issues

Good defense

Adequate power

But just not enough to compete with top-tier catchers like Adley, Realmuto, or Posada

He’s simply… fine. But fine isn’t what you expect from a 99.

6. Kerry Carpenter — Great Swing, Mid Stats

Kerry Carpenter presents an interesting contradiction:

Why He’s Divisive

Elite swing, one of the best among lefty outfielders

Middle-of-the-road attributes drag him down

Great for casual players but not strong enough in Ranked Season 8+

Some players say if you could transplant his swing into a 125/125 hitter, he’d be top-tier. But as-is, he’s just a fun mid-tier 99.

7. Caleb Dervin — The Pitcher Who Just Doesn’t Work

Pitchers either dominate or collapse in The Show, and Caleb Dervin falls into the second category.

Why Players Dislike Him

His pitch mix doesn’t generate strikeouts

No elite outlier velocity

Lacks meta off-speed pitches

Extremely hittable, especially on Hall of Fame or Legend difficulty

Even players who tried giving him multiple chances ended up benching him quickly.

8. Luis Aparicio — Great Defence, No Bat

Luis Aparicio is a historical legend of defence, speed, and baseball IQ — but those don’t translate well into Diamond Dynasty’s power-heavy meta.

Why He Struggles

Almost no power

Requires perfect contact to keep up with 110+ mph meta bats

Doesn’t threaten pitchers

He’s a card meant for pure nostalgia, not competitive lineups.

9. Brandon Marsh — Former Angel, Low Power

Brandon Marsh is a fun personality with elite flow, but his card suffers from one fatal flaw:

80 power in 2025 Diamond Dynasty isn’t playable.

Even with decent fielding and versatility, that power cap keeps him out of most competitive builds.

Still, Angels fans will ride with him — sometimes loyalty matters more than meta.

The Bench: Andrew Vaughn, Corbin Carroll, Brett Baty, Andy Pages

These bench players aren’t necessarily bad, but they fall into the category of "meh 99s", overshadowed by other players in their positions.

Andrew Vaughn — solid hitter but lacks standout attributes

Corbin Carroll — very good IRL, but his 99 doesn’t reflect the speed/power combo fans hoped for

Brett Baty — good swing but overshadowed by better 3B

Andy Pages — fun, streaky, unpredictable

They’re all usable — but none make the cut when building a competitive God Squad.

The Challenge Team: Playing Ranked With the Worst 99s

Using these cards together creates a hilarious, chaotic Ranked Season experience.

The starting lineup:

Willie Mays

Kerry Carpenter

Batista Bomb

Patrick Bailey

Brandon Marsh

Caleb Dervin

Miguel Rojas

Josh Naylor

Luis Aparicio

With Paul Skenes on the mound (a rare highlight), the gameplay becomes unpredictable:

Weak swings

Inconsistent contact

Clutch defensive plays

Surprising home runs from unlikely heroes

Even early in the game:

Miguel Rojas makes a clean defensive play

Josh Naylor scoops a tough jam shot at first

The team holds its own despite its flaws

It captures exactly why challenge runs in MLB The Show are so much fun — even when the cards stink, the gameplay moments shine.

Why Bad 99s Still Have a Place in MLB The Show 25

Surprisingly, the existence of these underwhelming cards is good for the game.

1. They Add Variety

Not every card should be an auto-include in Ranked; otherwise, every team looks the same.

2. They Support Themed Builds

All-defense teams

Worst 99 teams

All-former-Angels teams

Collection-only squads

They allow creativity.

3. They Drive Community Challenge Content

Content creators thrive on handicapped lineups — and fans love watching them suffer buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs.

4. They Help New Players Learn

A mediocre 99 is still better than many free or bronze cards.

5. Not Every Player Wants Meta

Some players use their favourites, regardless of stats.

Final Thoughts: The 99 Overall Problem — And The Fun

MLB The Show 25 gives players more 99s than ever before, but quantity inevitably brings variety — including some that fall short of expectations.

Whether you’re:

laughing at Batista’s ugly swing,

disappointed with Willie Mays’ weak bat,

or squinting at Aparicio’s 80 power, wondering how he’s a 99…

…these cards still bring value, personality, and memorable gameplay moments.

And in a baseball game built around both simulation and entertainment, sometimes a flawed card can bring more fun than a perfect one.