Community Forum

I would like to suggest a new feature to enhance the realism of the game: Self-hit foul balls (hitting the ball off one’s own body).

1. Concept and Realism
   In real-life baseball, hitting a foul ball off one's own foot or shin is a common occurrence and a significant risk factor for injuries. Currently, this element is missing from the game's injury logic.

2. Implementation Ideas
   • Trigger Mechanism: When a user swings with specific timing (e.g., "Very Late" or "Very Early" on an inside pitch), a dedicated animation should play showing the ball hitting the batter's leg.
   • Injury Probability: There should be a calculated probability that this event leads to an injury, potentially resulting in the player being removed from the game.

3. Realistic Substitution Timing
   To further increase immersion, I suggest implementing varied injury timelines:
   • Immediate Exit: The player is injured and removed instantly.
   • Delayed Exit: The player manages to finish the current at-bat (perhaps with a temporary attribute penalty), but is substituted out during the next defensive transition due to worsening pain/swelling.

Integrating these mechanics would add a new layer of strategy and realism to the simulation experience of MLB The Show.

I am a dedicated fan of MLB The Show and spend much of my time playing Franchise Mode. To make this mode even more immersive and realistic, I would like to propose two specific features for future installments:

1. Implementation of Multi-season Injuries
   Currently, all player injuries are reset at the start of the off-season. However, in real-life MLB, serious injuries (like Tommy John surgery) often carry over into the following year.

• Request: Please allow injuries sustained late in the season to impact the player's availability for the following season.

• Impact: This would force GMs to consider the depth of their roster and make "rehab assignments" and "early-season replacements" a more strategic part of the game.

2. Team-Specific Front Office Philosophies (Market Size & AI Logic)
   The current AI tends to prioritize signing high-overall players regardless of the team’s real-world identity. Seeing a small-market team like the Rays sign a superstar to a massive FA contract (e.g., Tarik Skubal) breaks the immersion.

• Request: Implement "Team DNA" or "Organizational Philosophy" parameters that dictate how AI GMs behave.
• Big Market (Dodgers/Yankees): Aggressively pursue top-tier FAs.
• Small/Mid Market (Rays/Marlins): Prioritize scouting, player development, and trading stars for prospects before they hit expensive arbitration years.

• Impact: This would ensure that player movement feels authentic to the business side of Major League Baseball.

I believe these additions would elevate the Franchise Mode to a true GM simulation experience. Thank you for your hard work and for considering my feedback.