Honestly, I wasn't hyped about this new Featured Program – I'd rather grind MLB The Show 26 Stubs than bang my head against another Showdown. But the Sonny Gray program completely changed my mind. In about ten minutes, I grabbed a diamond pitcher who turned out to be way better than I expected – and he even surprised me in Ranked Seasons. Here's why you shouldn't sleep on this one.

1. The Fastest Diamond Pitcher You'll Unlock This Season

This Featured Showdown is refreshingly simple. Instead of grinding through a gauntlet of frustrating moments, you only need to clear two stages before facing Gray himself to unlock his diamond card. Even better, the entire Showdown is set on Veteran difficulty – far easier than most previous programs. Draft a lineup heavy with left‑handed hitters, and you can wrap it up in roughly ten minutes. This is easily one of the quickest, most beginner‑friendly Showdowns in MLB The Show 26 so far.

2. Sonny Gray Doesn't Throw Heat – But That's His Biggest Strength

At first glance, Gray's attributes don't scream "elite." His fastball sits around 96 MPH, and his cutter is only 89 MPH – pretty average in today's velocity‑obsessed meta. But the real value lies in his pinpoint control and nasty movement. His sinker, sweeper, cutter, and sweeping curve work together beautifully, keeping hitters guessing every pitch. The only real hole is the missing changeup, which makes left‑handed batters a bit more dangerous. Still, if you prefer pitching with finesse over pure gas, this card will blow your mind.

3. Ranked Seasons Proved This Card Is Better Than Expected

Unlocking him was just the first step. Taking him into Ranked Seasons, I was genuinely surprised. His slower cutter repeatedly disrupted opponents' timing, and the sweeper generated tons of weak contact. Most players expected high velocity and swung way too early. Lefties were still his toughest matchup, but smart pitch sequencing – mixing speeds and locations – gave me a quality start and a solid win. This card rewards thinking, not just throwing hard.

4. One Small Complaint: Why Isn't This Card on the Marketplace?

The Showdown itself is great, but there's a common community gripe: right now, the Sonny Gray card is only available through the Featured Program. Many players believe every reward card should also hit the Marketplace. That way, those who hate offline grinding could simply buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs and purchase the card directly, while others could earn it through gameplay. Giving players more flexibility in building their teams would make future programs even more enjoyable.

5. Final Thoughts – Who Should Complete This Showdown?

In short, this Showdown is one of the best Featured Programs in recent weeks – short, beginner‑friendly, and rewarding you with a diamond pitcher who outperforms his velocity.

Here's who benefits most: New players get an easy diamond starter without a long grind. **Ranked Seasons players** gain a control‑oriented pitcher who can catch opponents off guard. **Collectors** can quickly check off another Featured Program. And if you're looking to strengthen your squad, you save time on grinding and can then decide whether to buy Stubs for other upgrades. Basically, there's something here for everyone.

Quick Tip

Before starting, draft as many left‑handed hitters as possible. After unlocking Gray, lean on his cutter, sinker, and sweeper combo instead of trying to overpower with fastballs. Mixing speeds and locations is what makes this card truly effective.

Bottom line: This is a diamond card that rewards smart pitching – and it only costs you ten minutes. If you haven't tried this Showdown yet, fire up the game – you won't regret it.