It’s been a busy day for Diamond Dynasty players. Not only have we provided some guidance on what to do when first opening up Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 25, but we’ve also given you some suggestions for some “budget beasts” who you can insert into your team early on. But what about the hidden gems?

Every year, MLB The Show has a steady diet of players whose attributes don’t look all too great. But when in action, these players are as good as any player you’ve seen. MLB The Show 25 is no different in this regard and boasts plenty of hidden gems who will surprise you with how good they are.

Here’s a list of a few of these hidden gems, as well as some honorary mentions.

Jaison Chourio (80 OVR Pipeline)

As the first card unlocked through the Pipeline program — and only an 80 OVR to boot — it’s easy to write Jaison Chourio off as Collection or XP fodder. But he’s anything but. A switch-hitting outfielder with good speed, Chourio (yes, he and Jackson are related) chews up a lot of ground in center and will seldom put a foot wrong. And with the bat, he’s just as impressive.

Though he lacks in the power department, his 72+ contact against righties and lefties, good swing, and speed on the basepaths will consistently produce base hits. In 41 total at-bats for me in Diamond Dynasty, Chourio has 22 hits (that’s a .537 BA by the way) and has even slugged three home runs in the process. Some will think he noodle bats too much, but if he’s finding grass, who cares?

Shohei Ohtani (84 OVR Tokyo Series)

Despite him being one of baseball’s premier talents, San Diego Studio did Shohei Ohtani no favors with his 84 OVR Tokyo Series card. None of his contact goes above the 73 threshold, and while he does possess some power, his 68 clutch and 81 speed feel a bit low for a player who just had a historic 50-50 season.

So obviously, this is a downgraded Shohei made for people who want a Shohei that doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg. It’s also exclusively a DH and can’t play the field. But downgraded or not, this card still rips at the plate. Shohei’s signature sweet swing is intact and anyone familiar with his timing window will still mash with it. Maybe this version of Shohei doesn’t find itself in your lineup after a month, but it’s certainly a handy card that will always punch above its weight.

Mike Trout (79 OVR Topps Now)

Mike Trout is Mike Trout, no matter which version of his card you have. His swing is immaculate, he’s always strong on the basepaths, and typically a good outfielder. His 79 OVR Tops Now card in the Angels’ Team Affinity program certainly lacks in the fielding department despite his 83 speed. And on paper, he’s really only strong against right-handed pitching. But he still performs at a decent level.

The biggest issue with this card is that it’s completely incapable of playing in the field. Because SDS has decided to be a bit more stingy when it comes to secondary positions this year, Trout only plays center field — not ideal for a player with 51 reactions and 61 fielding. Granted, his 2017 fielding stats weren’t stellar, but this still feels like an injustice.

Nonetheless, if you’re playing Events or even low-level Ranked matches, Trout will produce hits despite his low OVR.

Enrique Hernandez (73 OVR Live Series)

Anyone familiar with Battle Royale or Ranked Co-Op can attest to Enrique Hernandez being one of the best examples of a player playing above their rating. The Dodgers’ utility man has that notorious “slap swing” animation that makes him incredibly effective when pulling the ball. And if you’re playing at a stadium with a big righty power alley — such as left-center at Yankee Stadium — he’s gonna be a doubles machine.

This card really isn’t viable against better pitching, which means he’s a bit of a no-go when it comes to Ranked. So maybe his inclusion on this list is borne out of sentimentality rather than merit. But if you’re playing BR or a similar mode, he’s going to hit better than you would think. Also, he can play anywhere in the infield (apart from shortstop) to a decent standard. So he’s incredibly economical in that regard.

Carlos Pena (79 Contributor Series)

In MLB The Show, Carlos Pena is a god among men. He’s viable defensively at first base, and his swing must have some kind of voodoo curse attached to it. Because every time he swings the bat and it makes flush contact with the ball, it’s being hit hard.

This can probably be explained by his high-power, low-contact attributes, which were meta just a few years ago. However, for one reason or another, Pena has continued to be a budget beast and punch way above his weight at the plate. And unlike other players of this particular archetype, he isn’t a slouch in the field either. All of his defensive attributes are solid, and he plays first base which is arguably the least demanding position on the field.

If you are slapping together a quick squad to farm XP and PXP in single-player modes, or even want a really good lefty bat in your lineup when starting out in Ranked, Pena isn’t a bad option in the least and will constantly surprise you with how he destroys opposing pitching.

Honorable Mentions

• Jerry Hairston Jr (78 OVR Veteran)
• Jason Giambi (79 OVR Veteran)
• Gil Hodges (79 OVR Veteran)
• Konnor Griffin (83 OVR Spring Breakout)
• Brandon Sproat (81 OVR Pipeline)