The captain is here—and no, we don’t mean Derek Jeter.
Jason Varitek makes his debut in the Multiplayer Program as part of Drop 2 in MLB The Show 25, giving Red Sox fans and catcher connoisseurs a new toy to build around. Known for his grit, leadership, and, yes, punching A-Rod in the face, Varitek is a fan-favorite addition with sneaky meta appeal.
C Jason Varitek (Boston Red Sox) Breakout
True Overall: 91.90 - #4 Catcher
Meta Overall: 82.42 - #5 Catcher
Varitek joins Diamond Dynasty as an 87 OVR catcher with his first Diamond of the year.
Offensively, Varitek is fairly balanced outside of the paltry 66 Clutch. That probably settles him into the lower portion of an optimized DD lineup. Still, the switch-hitting capability will make him plenty popular especially in the early portion of the year.
Defensively, Varitek will be a bit of a risk. Passed balls are more frequent with lower-rated fielding Catchers and Varitek's 60 Blocking gets a big yikes in that department. The fun dynamic with more focus on Fielding simply means you might need to adjust your approach on the mound. Trying to bury off-speed in the dirt relentlessly actually gets punished this year, and it's a welcomed change that creates a new fluidity to the game.
Whether you’re chasing Red Sox theme team synergy or just need a glue-guy in Ranked Co-Op, Tek fits the mold.
How to Unlock Varitek
Jason Varitek is available by progressing through the Multiplayer Program added in Drop 2. Earn XP and complete missions however you see fit to unlock him alongside packs and Stubs. No need to grind Conquest maps or play against CPU—this one’s all about online reps.
Earn 85 program stars in the Multiplayer Program to add Varitek to your squad.
Closing Thoughts
Looking at the ShowZone database, Varitek’s Drop 2 card slots in nicely between other early-game catchers. The switch-hitting utility and Dead Red pump up Varitek into the top 5 in both True Overall and Meta Overall. With the power creep back, cards like this feel impactful upon release versus being empty additions into the void.
Right when I seemed to settle on Napoli as my Catcher, we get Varitek vying for reps behind the dish.
Will Varitek be your starting Catcher? Let us know in the comments—and keep those mitts ready. More legends are surely on deck.
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.
