Newcomers to MLB The Show 21 might find themselves referencing a number of guides to become accustomed to the game, as it came with a number of ways to enhance how well the ballplayers on their team perform. However, the sixteenth entry in the series doesn't let gamers control the catcher which, as experienced by one MLB The Show 21 fan, can lead to some frustrating moments.
This entry in the sports franchise came with an entirely revamped fielding system, which also improved hitting and pitching. That, as well as other long-requested modes made MLB The Show 2 one of the most exciting sports games in years. Still, those quality of life improvements appear to have excluded any focus on the catcher's position. As experienced by MLB The Show 2 player ARPowers99, their catcher demonstrated absolutely no usefulness whatsoever.
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In a clip posted to Reddit, ARPowers99 shows the run-up to the pitch. The player selects a dynamic challenge option and prepares to pitch to the hitter. Despite the catcher positioning himself to receive the ball, once ARPowers99 releases it, the catcher remains motionless. In fact, not only does the ball bounce off of the catcher's head and out of the frame, but the catcher nonchalantly looks at the ball afterward.
Guess Pitch is a feature implemented in MLB The Show 21, although this wouldn't be an example of it. The highly-anticipated sports title hasn't been without some hiccups here and there since release. Paired with the fact that fans already haven't received the single-player campaign well, knowing that their teammate can suddenly choose to not play ball isn't a good feeling.
On the other hand, the entire situation is pretty hilarious. Worst case scenario is that this is some type of an MLB The Show curse, destined to happen to everyone at some point. One might assume that the gamer hadn't upgraded their ballplayer to properly catch the ball, although the NPC's reaction is especially bizarre. It made no attempt to receive the ball, but still reacted to the action in a minor way.
In any case, it appears that MLB The Show 21 might be in need of some more quality of life fixes that focus on catching mechanics for the AI. There's no changing positions in order to relieve the catcher of doing the work, meaning players are otherwise left to deal with the occasional lazy teammate.
MLB The Show 21 is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.