Should you wish to do a “no money spent” playthrough in Diamond Dynasty, finding value is the name of the game in MLB The Show 25. To do this, you’re gonna be required to grind a bit for free rewards achievable through programs and the like. And Team Affinity is a great place to start.

Grinding for these cards won’t be fun. But if you can stomach it, many of the rewards are well worth it. For this list, we’ve chosen the 10 best players you can currently get through Team Affinity at the time of writing. Keep in mind, there are 30 teams in Team Affinity. Therefore, players that aren’t mentioned aren’t being omitted on account of them being bad per se. Instead, this is just the opinion of one guy who plays Diamond Dynasty. For simplicity’s sake, the list is in no particular order.

10 Best Team Affinity Cards In MLB The Show 25

Babe Ruth – New York Yankees

One of the most prolific power hitters in baseball history, not having Babe Ruth on this list would be a travesty. The Babe’s 85-rated card has odd hitting attributes, having better contact against lefty pitching (despite being a left-handed hitter himself), but better power against righties. And it is certainly far from the best Babe Ruth card we’ll get this year. That said, in the early goings, the “Sultan of Swat” will be a strong addition to your lineup, with him having some of the best hitting perks in the game. Babe also has first base as a secondary position, making him less of a liability in the field should your DH spot be occupied.

Justin Martinez – Arizona Diamondbacks

I’ve said it countless times, but I’ll say it again — bullpens are extremely thin around this stage. Therefore, finding quality relievers who can shut down opposing bats in a pinch will be paramount to sustained success. Justin Martinez’s 85 is a great tool in that regard. The young Dominican pitcher has an outlier sinker as his primary pitch, meaning righty batters are going to struggle massively against him. Additionally, Martinez’s card comes equipped with a slider, splitter, and 4-seamer, which will make it extremely viable for a prolonged period for anyone who can effectively tunnel their pitches.

George Brett – Kansas City Royals

Arguably the greatest player to don a Royals uniform, George Brett is one of the most consistent hitters ever. MLB The Show 25 acknowledges this by giving him high contact against both righties and lefties, as well as excellent vision. He’s a third baseman as well, meaning his 47 speed won’t be a hindrance in the field, even if his arm power and accuracy are a bit low for the hot corner. Like Ruth, Brett also has some of the best hitting quirks in the game, making him ideal for being a platoon third baseman or DH.

Rollie Fingers – Milwaukee Brewers

Remember what I said about relief pitching not having tons of depth right now? Well, Rollie Fingers will surely solve that problem. Not only does Fingers possess one of the strongest pitch mixes a reliever can have, but his unconventional delivery and high pitching clutch rating make him a must-have for your bullpen. Tunneling the sinker with the forkball will be challenging for both righty and lefty bats. His “Stopper” quirk will also help to stop the bleeding if you find yourself in a jam you can’t get out of.

Andrew Miller – Cleveland Guardians

Yes, I know — another relief pitcher. But Andrew Miller has long been one of the best relievers in MLB The Show due to his devastating sinker-slider-fastball combo in addition to his weird delivery. With over 100 H/9 and 117 pitching clutch, Miller will surely close the door on any tightly contested game in the late innings. His 57 BB/9 is a bit low, but it will seldom matter when your opponent is so confused that they resort to flailing at any pitch close to the zone.

Hank Thompson – San Francisco Giants

At face value, Hank Thompson doesn’t possess too many eye-catching attributes. But he’s good at hitting the fastball, driving in runs, and brings some much-needed versatility. Primarily a third baseman, Thompson is also capable of playing second base and either corner outfield position. With 73 speed and most of his fielding attributes surpassing the 80 threshold, he’s viable at each of those positions as well. Thompson is a classing “jack of all trades, master at none” type of card. But at this stage of the game, that’s an incredibly important tool to have.

Frank Thomas – Chicago White Sox

As of right now, the number of “elite” level position player cards in MLB The Show 25 is predominantly made up of lefties. So if your lineup desperately needs a right-handed slugger, Frank Thomas is at your service. “The Big Hurt” is certainly better against lefty pitching from a power perspective, but his incredibly balanced hitting attributes are darn solid against any pitcher. Like other elite hitters in the game, Thomas is quirked up too, possessing Dead Red, Breaking Ball Hitter, Fighter, First-Pitch Hitter, Situational Hitter, and Bad Ball Hitter. You literally cannot go wrong.

Max Muncy – Los Angeles Dodgers

Max Muncy isn’t a guy who will be perpetually on base. But God, is he a great power bat! Capable of playing at third or first base, Muncy’s 100+ power against both righties and southpaws — as well as his solid defensive attributes — make him a great choice for a platoon bat that can make magic happen any time he’s at the plate. He also has one of the better swings in the game and can give a small Captain boost to any Dogder below a 91 overall. That means that fan favorites such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, and Tommy Edman will be viable in your lineup in the early stages. Win-win as far as I’m concerned!

Craig Biggio – Houston Astros

Finding good catchers in MLB The Show is always tough. Finding catchers who are arguably good at everything, including baserunning? That’s nearly impossible. But Craig Biggio changes that. Capable of playing catcher and the corner outfield, Biggio is one of the stronger hitters available through Team Affinity. His sub-par fielding stats leave a bit to be desired, but with 88 speed, he should have enough juice to make up for them in the outfield. And if you keep him in your lineup and get him to a higher Parallel, he’ll only get better. I’ve always loved Biggio’s swing and I’m sure you will too.

Kyle Schwarber – Philadelphia Phillies

When it comes to having a strong leadoff hitter, a player of Kyle Schwarber’s makeup might not immediately come to mind. But the decision to have him leadoff has certainly worked for the Phillies in real life, and he is more than equipped enough to do it in MLB The Show 25 as well. The lefty slugger isn’t a good outfielder, so anything but DH for him will be a bust. But his high power and Table Setter quirk make him prime for a spot early in the lineup. He also surpasses 80 Clutch on Parallel 3, meaning he could be a viable cleanup bat as well.