The 3rd Inning Program kicks off with a wave of new content, restructured XP pacing, and a new round of Cornerstone Evolution cards as well as the Bosses.
Cornerstone Evolution Returns
Three new Cornerstone Evolutions have been revealed:
- Ralph Kiner
- Justin Turner
- Jim Palmer
Each card sits at 90 OVR and can be earned by progressing through the 3rd Inning XP path. Players can also access a Rewind Round for prior Cornerstones they may have missed. This is a huge change for those still working on the Scott Rolen Collection.
- All three Cornerstone packs are unlocked by the time players reach 135,000 XP
- Players will collect 10,000 XP and a few Show Packs along the way in each respective Cornerstone Program.
XP Path Reward Changes
91 OVR Postseason Matt Cain is a free Program card along the Inning Path.
Cain is quite an interesting SP that can be acquired just for progressing in the program. With a fairly solid pitch mix, Cain has exceptional 98 H/9 and solid 83 BB/9 to make him a worthy addition to more budget-seeking rotations.
A notable change to the overall Path pacing is the first Boss pack landing at 245,000 XP. This is significantly sooner than the previous Boss packs, meaning we'll get our hands on them much quicker and provides more time to use the cards. I somehow managed to not earn a single Boss last inning, so I certainly appreciate this change.
Additionally, the second Boss Pack lands at 400,000 XP which again means an earlier acquisition. This pacing should help the Bosses get into the meta a lot sooner.
The full path remains at 575,000 XP, but now includes premium rewards toward the end of the Path and the inclusion of recent Chase Packs added to the Wheel Spin.
3rd Inning Boss Breakdown
92 OVR Postseason CF Bernie Williams (New York Yankees) - #2 CF True Overall
The first of the bunch is Yankees legend Bernie Williams. Williams quickly became one of my favorite legends once he was added to MLB The Show, as the switch-hitter has a buttery smooth swing and absolutely rakes.
This Postseason iteration of Williams absolutely smashes lefties, with 125 Contact, 115 Power, and 111 Clutch to ensure he's still lethal with runners in scoring position. Williams most likely won't be your strongest fielder, but his 70 Fielding and 67 Reaction should hold up ok with 67 Speed.
92 OVR Standout SS Trevor Story (Colorado Rockies) - #1 SS True Overall
Next up is Standout Trevor Story. Featured with the gorgeous Topps Heritage art from 2020, Story debuts as the very best SS in Diamond Dynasty according to True Overall. If that catches you off guard, remember that Fielding is more important than ever and Story also brings a solid bat. Another lefty-killer with 103 Contact and 100 Power, Story also brings Gold Fielding at SS with 86 Reaction and 86 Speed.
This is a very well-rounded card that excels just enough in some key areas to shoot ahead of the pack.
92 OVR All-Star CP Eric Gagne (Los Angeles Dodgers) - #1 CP True Overall
Last and certainly not least, Eric Gagne provides a huge arm out of the bullpen. Relievers are always hugely sought after in the early stages of the game, and Gagne is an absolute beast every single year.
Packed with an Outlier 4-Seamer, 105 H/9, 107 K/9, 101 Clutch and pretty good Control for an early-game reliever; Gagne unsurprisingly lands as the very best Closing Pitcher in Diamond Dynasty.
A notable change with this Gagne is the switch to a Slurve instead of his famous Curveball. The huge speed differential still exists as the Slurve is a ridiculously slow 73 MPH, but the plane of break should be different enough that MLB The Show veterans will have to adjust somewhat to one of the most popular and most used relievers.
Papadell's Picks
I consider Gagne a slam dunk pick, and Williams excites me more as an addition to my squad. I have Live Series Bobby Witt Jr. holding down SS for me and while I like my outfield mix, Williams switch-hitting and smooth swing are enough to win me over. Sorry, Trevor.
Closing Thoughts
The 3rd Inning Program arrives with a trio of top-tier cards, at least according to True Overall. Obviously, card attributes and "goodness" is an endlessly debated topic across the Diamond Dynasty community. We've been seeing some spicy cards locked behind premium packs, which isn't really anything new. However, as the trend continues showing that the truly elite cards are paywalled; really solid grindable cards feel lackluster at times.
I personally think this trio of Bosses is fun, but I'm also someone that probably doesn't get as much game time as the hardcore players. When you're grinding relentlessly and unlocking nearly every card, eventually you'll sour on cards like these and it's understandable.
Not only that, but when the 92 overall Retro Lightning Carlos Santana costs 600,000 Stubs on release, it really muddies the waters when it comes to "worthiness." Ultimately, the fun we have while playing the game and enjoyment from using the cards we want is what it's all about.
How do you feel about these Bosses and Cornerstone cards? Will you be taking advantage of Double PXP and Double XP and earning the first Boss before next week?
Cory Wayne Dell
Cory has been writing about all things baseball and gaming since 2022 and has been featured at Operation Sports as well as cited by Forbes. Cory is also a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Cargocastle. Cargocastle's latest single, "Truth and Reconciliation," is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Cory is also the author of Shadow of a Monster, a personal memoir currently seeking publication.
