The latest Diamond Quest drop in MLB The Show 25 includes two cards that should turn heads, at least initially. One reward is former Astros pitcher J.R. Richard, and the other is Brewers Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.
But before you grind through Diamond Quest in order to be able to earn them (they’re both Epic-tier rewards), what are their attributes? And are they worth having on your team at this stage of the game?
Milestone Series J.R. Richard
J.R. Richard is the definition of a power pitcher. His 99 Velocity and 99 Break work with a pitch mix that includes an outlier 4-seamer, outlier slider, 2-seam fastball, and a cutter. With 112 Stamina and elite hit/strikeout prevention, he can dominate games for as long as he’s on the bump. At least, on paper (we’ll get to that).
His 80 Control is solid, but not elite by any means, so hitters might need to respect his raw stuff more than pinpoint location. Still, his 116 Pitching Clutch gives him an edge in high-leverage situations.
Here are some of Richard’s key attributes:
- Stamina: 112
- H/9: 106
- K/9: 108
- Pitching Clutch: 116
- Velocity: 99
- Break: 99
- Outlier fastball and slider
Hall Of Fame Series Paul Molitor
Paul Molitor is the epitome of an elite contact hitter. His 125 Contact against lefties and 119 Contact against righties guarantee he’ll be spraying hits all over the field, while his 125 Clutch makes him deadly with runners in scoring position. His power numbers are certainly lacking at just 74 and 79 against righties and lefties, respectively. But his 115 Vision means he will be a nightmare to strike out.
Defensively, Molitor brings a 77 Fielding and 74 Arm, solid enough to handle third base while also offering flexibility at first and second. His 90 Speed makes him a solid defensive choice should you choose to play him at second. And combined with his 81 Steal, he’ll be viable on the basepaths, too.
Here are his key attributes:
- Contact R/L: 119 / 125
- Clutch: 125
- Speed: 90
- Defense: 77
Are J.R. Richards And Paul Molitor Worth Getting?
Now for the real question: Are these cards worth getting? In my opinion, not really. And let me explain.
Diamond Quest is a grind. And if you want a good shot at getting the best rewards, you have to play the Stadium Games on high difficulties. Now, if your goal is to repeat the Diamond Quest map to farm some Stubs, then yeah, it works. However, if you’re looking for options to bolster your team, I’m afraid there are better options elsewhere.
Richard only throws fastballs. Maybe, just maybe, the speed differential between the cutter and outlier slider is good enough to fool some hitters. But without a changeup in his arsenal, better hitters in the game will be able to adjust to him easily, and your Ranked game will turn into BP really quickly.
As for Molitor, a contact-hitting corner infielder is kinda passe at this stage of the game. There are plenty of better options out there, such as Joe Torre, Jose Ramirez, Ted Simmons, Nick Kurtz, Chase Utley, and Edgar Martinez (just to name a few) who can fill any void that Molitor would. If you want him to be a platoon lefty you can bring off the bench in high-leverage situations, then maybe he’s worth the effort. But he’s certainly not starter worthy.
