Season 2 is right around the corner in MLB The Show 24, and we are going to make it easier to earn the biggest rewards as we start a fresh Diamond Dynasty season.

As Season 1 ends, we want to help you prepare for the Season 2 launch on Friday, June 7. There are important changes driven by feedback from our fans, and we’re going to help you strategize the final weeks of Season 1. These are a few highlights of what’s coming:

• Progress faster in the Season 2 XP Reward Path & earn S2 XP Bosses earlier 
• Complete Head Start goals NOW to unlock your first Wild Card slot from the Season 2 XP Reward Path on Day 1 
• Build Season 2 squads in Ranked & Battle Royale 
• Use ANY cards in Ranked Co-Op and some Mini Seasons & Conquest Maps 
• Earn Wild Card Slots along the Season 2 XP Reward Path 

WHAT CHANGES ARE COMING TO MLB THE SHOW 24 IN SEASON 2? 

MLB The Show 24 continues to evolve the Seasons concept, first introduced in MLB The Show 23. With our goal to help keep your squads fresh, you will start seeing the “S2” notation on the top of player cards that you earn in Season 2, and that means some modes won’t allow you to have “S1” players in lineups that you earned during Season 1. 

Remember, many cards are “Core” such as all Live Series players, and you can see CORE in the top left corner, which means you can use them in any Season! We will cover how Core cards should be a focus area to prepare for Season 2 later in the blog. 

Of course, we know how much time went into earning your Season 1 players, so some modes during specific times in Season 2 will allow for Season 1 AND Season 2 players on your team. 

This image shows which Diamond Dynasty modes will check for in-Season cards, and you can see that many modes won’t check, which means Season 1 cards can still be in your squad. Let’s dive deeper into each.

The green checkmark means season restrictions are always in place and Season 2 cards (and CORE) will be required in your squad starting June 7. The yellow exclamation mark means the mode will sometimes enforce in-Season cards. If a mode has a red X next to it, that mode does not enforce seasonal cards.

For better context, Solo Ranked will always require an in-Season squad such as Season 2 and CORE cards starting on June 7, but you and your friends can use ANY cards in Ranked Co-Op in 2V2 or 3V3.

For Battle Royale, Events, Mini Seasons, Showdowns, and Conquest maps, sometimes you will have to build a team with in-Season cards. When entering a mode with in-Season requirements, you will be notified if your current squad is ineligible and then you can make changes.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY SEASON 1 PLAYER ITEMS WHEN SEASON 2 GOES LIVE? 

All of your Season 1 player items will remain in your Inventory, and you will not lose any items as the new Season begins. They are still useful in many modes, as we mentioned earlier. 

Note: All cards will become eligible in all modes again in Season 4! 

WHAT IS THE “WILD CARD” PLAYER SLOT? 

The Wild Card slot allows you to add any player item from previous seasons (in this case, Season 1) onto your Season 2 eligible squad.

You can earn and unlock three Wild Card slots from the Season 2 XP reward path starting June 7. Stay tuned for how to earn the fourth Wild Card slot.  

We are creating a quick start in Season 2 so you can earn your first Wild Card slot on the first day of Season 2! Look for: 

• Head Start Rewards that provide big XP amounts (see below for more info) 
• Double XP weekend for Season 2 launch 
• More than 200,000 XP rewards in various programs at the start of Season 2 

WHAT CAN I DO IN SEASON 1 TO HELP ME IN SEASON 2? 

Season 1 Recap Program 

Today, the Season 1 Recap Program dropped with previously released packs and a brand-new Season Awards Byron Buxton! Play this program and earn 30+ of the Season 1 players, which help boost you closer to the Season 1 Collection Boss pack. Willie Mays, Satchel Paige and George Brett are among the best at their respective positions to use in your first Wild Card slot in Season 2. 

Head Start Rewards 

Based on your journey so far through Season 1 content, Season 2 will grant Head Start rewards. 

Completing any of these tasks in Season 1 will jumpstart your progress in Season 2: 

• Completing The Show Classics Program 
• Completing the Season 1 Recap Program 
• Completing the Egg Hunt Program 
• Unlocking Season Awards Mookie Betts through the Season Awards Program Collection 
• Collecting 250 Season 1 cards in the Season 1 Collection for CC Sabathia 

While these tasks give individual rewards, if you complete all five of them together, you will earn enough progress to unlock the first 10 levels of the Season 2 XP Reward path, including your first Wild Card slot! 

Important Note: In order to earn Head Start rewards, these tasks must be completed BEFORE the launch of Season 2 on June 7. They will not grant Head Start rewards if completed after the start of the season around noon PT. 

Storylines 

The Negro Leagues will have its third installment of Storylines on Monday, June 3. As you play through, unlock Core rewards to fill out your starting Season 2 team! There’s even more Core rewards to earn in Storylines: Derek Jeter, and these Core cards are eligible when Season 2 begins. 

More Core Cards 

Find more Core cards in the 30 Live Series Collections, Lou Gehrig Program (scheduled for Friday, May 31), Nation of Baseball Conquest map, Classic Mini Seasons, and in the Jackie Robinson Day Program. 

HOW WILL SEASON 2 IMPACT TEAM AFFINITY, OTHER PROGRAMS, AND XP REWARD PATH? 

Team Affinity & Other Programs 

Only in-Season player items (Season 2, Core) can be used in Team Affinity Season 2 Chapters for program progress. In other words, Season 2 and Core cards will be eligible in all three Season 2 Chapters, but Season 1 cards cannot be used for Season 2 TA Chapters. Additionally, the first Team Affinity (Season 2: Chapter 1) will take less time to complete than our last drop (Season 1: Chapter 3) with more repeatable missions.  

XP Reward Path 

We heard a lot of feedback surrounding the XP Reward Path in Season 1, and you will see big adjustments in Season 2.  

Knowing players will be starting with their Core cards and will be earning new In-Season cards, the XP Reward Path will provide much quicker progress with more XP to be found throughout the different Diamond Dynasty modes. As mentioned earlier, more than 200,000 XP will be available in different areas of Diamond Dynasty at the launch of Season 2. This does not include gameplay XP that you will earn at a faster rate because… 

On June 7, we start DOUBLE XP WEEKEND with a QUADRUPLE gameplay XP cap so that you can start flying through the Season 2 XP Reward path and unlock your first Wild Card! 

It is our goal to improve pacing in the XP Reward Path in Season 2, and for players to have an easier time unlocking rewards in the XP Reward Path than they did in Season 1. 

We want you to build your Season 2 squads as effectively and efficiently as possible so that you can continue enjoying your Diamond Dynasty experience. 

In addition, the first XP Reward Path boss pack will be available earlier in the XP Reward Path than it was in Season 1. 

Note: To help our players’ journeys remain balanced for the start of Season 2, we will be reducing XP that can be earned from older Other Programs that were released during Season 1. However, Season 2 Other Programs and various modes will continue seeing higher XP reward rates compared to Season 1 to help you move faster through the XP Reward Path.  

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR NEW SEASON 2 CONTENT? 

Programs 

Team Affinity Season 2: Chapter 1 (expiring at the end of Season 2) will drop with 89 overall player items, featuring one player from each MLB team. This will be available at the launch of Season 2, alongside a new Ranked, Battle Royale, Event, and more.  

New Season Awards Programs and themed Other Programs will be released throughout the season. Look for the first Other Program shortly after the launch of Season 2, where you can find reinforcements for your Cornerstone Captain team builds. 

2024 MLB Draft, Home Run Derby & All-Star Game 

In July, the MLB All-Star Game takes us to Texas. We’re preparing for an exciting MLB Draft, alongside the must-watch Home Run Derby and All-Star Game! This is one of our favorite times of year to drop new cards for our fans. 
 
Season 2 content will also honor three MLB The Show legends who are going into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, and we’ll have a big content drop to celebrate.  

But those won’t be the only Hall of Famers you will see in Season 2. For now, enjoy this fan-favorite legend coming to the Season 2 XP Reward Path on June 7.