Alright, MLB The Show 25 players, we're on a roll today. The new Finest program has officially landed, and it's time to break it all down. I've debuted the cards, tested them online, and now we're doing what every true grinder loves, a Finest tier list.

 

Normally, I split these rankings between Team Affinity drops and Collection cards, but not this time. Why? Because if a card's in the Collection, odds are it's already elite. You don't need me to explain that. Still, let's dive in and rank the best (and worst) cards from the latest drop, from absolute monsters to total disasters.

 

And hey, if you're looking to invest your MLB 25 Stubs wisely, this guide will help you know which cards are worth every coin and which ones belong on the bench.

 

The Elite Tier

 

Let's start at the top, the cards that instantly change your lineup and dominate in Ranked.

 

Cal Raleigh headlines the group, and there's no question about it, he's elite. Max power, incredible swing, strong defense, he's easily the best catcher in the entire drop. No explanation needed.

 

Aroldis Chapman joins him near the top as one of the best bullpen arms you can have. He brings electric stuff with a filthy slider and high velocity. Even though his control can waver, his dominance against lefties makes him a must-have.

 

Bobby Witt Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. are right there too. Witt is a complete five-tool player who crushes both sides of the plate. Tatis, on the other hand, brings elite speed and arm strength, making him a perfect shortstop for competitive lineups.

 

Francisco Lindor is another easy lock for elite. His switch-hitting ability, fielding, and clutch factor make him one of the most reliable shortstops in MLB The Show 25. And let's not forget PCA (Pete Crow-Armstrong), he's overpowered this year, especially versus lefties, and plays outstanding defense in center field.

 

Rounding out the elite tier are Josh Hader and Jimmy Hurst. Hader earns his spot on a technicality, his two-seam fastball is bugged in the game, creating weird contact results that make him borderline unfair. Hurst, on the other hand, doesn't need exploits; he's just that good.

 

The Great Tier

 

These cards are still lineup staples, even if they're not quite top-tier across the board.

 

Cody Bellinger is one of the most complete hitters in this group, smooth swing, good defense, and elite power. If he were a switch hitter, he'd easily be elite. Juan Soto falls into a similar category: incredible at the plate, a little shaky on defense, but still a monster bat.

 

Corbin Carroll and Denis Santana are both strong picks. Carroll's speed and bat control make him a nightmare for opposing pitchers, while Santana has the kind of pitch mix and velocity that keeps hitters guessing.

 

Fernando Tatis Jr. (yes, he's between great and elite depending on lineup) brings elite bat speed and pop, though he faces tough competition from the switch-hitting shortstop crowd.

 

Pitchers like Garrett Crochet also deserve a mention here, one of the best left-handed arms in the drop, throwing gas and missing bats. Hunter Goodman sneaks in as well thanks to his flexibility and balanced hitting stats, making him an excellent utility piece.

 

The Good Tier

 

Now we're getting into the cards that are solid, fun to use, and fine for theme teams, but not necessarily endgame staples.

 

Dylan Dingler, Brian Woo, and Eduardo Escobar all fall here. They're serviceable, but they lack the pitch mix or elite attributes needed to dominate. Machado joins this group too, his defense isn't what it used to be, and he's just too slow to be elite anymore.

 

Cody Montgomery, Hunter Brown, and Logan Gilbert are also decent options on the mound. They won't blow you away, but they can eat innings and keep you competitive in Ranked play.

 

Kyle Schwarber sits at the top of this tier, an amazing bat with poor fielding. If he could defend at even an average level, he'd be an easy "great" card. As it stands, he's a DH-only option.

 

Finally, Nick Castellanos and Yandy Díaz earn "good" ratings for consistent offensive production. Not flashy, but reliable, and sometimes that's all you need to grind out wins (and more MLB 25 Stubs).

 

The Mid Tier

 

The "mid" tier is full of cards that look solid on paper but disappoint in actual gameplay.

 

CJ Abrams has a good bat but weak fielding, making him unreliable at short. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is flashy but underperforms, average contact, average power, and inconsistent defense.

 

Framber Valdez, Carlos Rodón, and Nestor Cortes Jr. also fall here for their mediocre pitch mixes and lack of velocity. They can't overpower top hitters and tend to get hit hard on higher difficulties.

 

Joe Ryan, Tommy Pham, and Rogers are serviceable but don't bring enough to justify a starting spot. These are cards you might use early in your Finest grind, but once you unlock better options, they'll be gone quickly.

 

The Buns Tier

 

Let's be honest, not every drop can be perfect. The Buns Tier is reserved for the cards that just don't work in the current meta.

 

Andrew Abbott tops this unfortunate list. His pitch mix is weak, his velocity low, and his command shaky. He gets shelled online, plain and simple. Carlos Rodón and Gavin Williams also disappoint, inconsistent stuff, poor control, and easily hit when facing strong lineups.

 

Nick Pivetta and Max Fried don't fare much better. Without outlier fastballs or elite breaking stuff, they just don't compete at the top level.

 

Even some relievers like Cade Smith suffer from low clutch ratings and ineffective pitch selections. These cards might work in lower divisions, but against competitive MLB The Show 25 Players, they're liabilities.

 

Final Thoughts

 

All in all, this Finest drop is one of the better ones we've seen in recent years. There's a healthy balance of elite cards and solid depth pieces. Players like Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., and Francisco Lindor headline what could be one of the strongest endgame lineups yet.

 

While some cards are misses, others completely overperform expectations, and for those grinding Ranked or Diamond Dynasty, that means plenty of options to experiment with.

 

If you're looking to spend your MLB 25 Stubs wisely, invest in the elites and greats from this list. They'll hold their value deep into the season and keep your roster competitive in every mode.

 

At the end of the day, whether you're chasing trophies, climbing leaderboards, or just testing cards for fun, this MLB The Show 25 Finest tier list proves one thing: the competition is heating up, and the best players, both in the game and on the field, are here to stay.