Towards the beginning of the MLB The Show 25 cycle, the Pipeline series launched. Focusing on current up-and-coming prospects ranked high by MLB, Pipeline gave players some really cool cards to play with. In the same vein, MLB The Show 25 has now dropped Pipeline Past, a similar program built around top prospects from various years over the past decade.
In total, 26 Pipeline Past cards are available and up for grabs, be it through packs, the program, or through the Pipeline Past Collection. But, like any series, not all of these cards are going to be usable — some will be outright trash. So, which of these cards are worth the grind (or the Stubs) at this point in the power creep, and will you need to fork out Stubs to get them?
The Best Pipeline Past Cards In MLB The Show 25
Nate Pearson
Position: Starting pitcher
Overall: 92
Program, Pack, or Collection: Pipeline Past pack
Commemorating his status as one of the Blue Jays’ top pitching prospects back in 2021, this Nate Pearson card is a dog and should make it into several rotations. Not only does he have the outlier quirk on his fastball, but he also possesses a great pitch mix, including a slider, 12-6 curve, circle change, and sinker, all with good speed differentials. He also has a pretty interesting release, meaning he’ll be difficult to pick up for a lot of batters.
The problem with this card is that it’s locked behind the Pipeline Past pack, meaning you’ll have to fork out Stubs if you want it (or get insanely lucky with one of the free packs that drop later). Currently, his price isn’t too high, sitting at about 25k Stubs at the time of writing. But he’s still technically locked behind a paywall.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Position: 3B primary, 1B secondary
Overall: 95
Program, Pack, or Collection: Chase Pack 13
Easily the crown jewel of the entire Pipeline Past card series, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is an absolute beast. He can hit for contact from either side of the plate; has high power and clutch; and he’s decent in the field, too. But unless you’re willing to part ways with a ton of Stubs and/or real money, he’s gonna cost you.
As an exclusive Chase Pack 13 reward, Vladdy Jr. is one of the most expensive cards on the market, going for a whopping 325,000+ at this moment. And if past experience is anything to go by, that price won’t be going down any time soon.
Yes, it’s a great card. But good luck grabbing it.
Corey Seager
Position: SS primary, 3B secondary
Overall: 93
Program, Pack, or Collection: Pipeline Past Collection
Corey Seager has long been an MLB The Show favorite due to his ability to crush it at the plate. This Corey card is no different. Equipped with high contact against both righties and lefties, great power, and high clutch, he’ll rake for sure. And though his primary position is at shortstop, SDS did give him 3B as a secondary position, which will make his 45 speed much more palatable.
Unlike the other two cards we’ve talked about, Corey Seager isn’t locked behind a pack — at least, not technically. To get this Seager card, you’ll need to collect 25 Pipeline Past cards, which isn’t bad. Sure, this means that you will have to use some of your Stubs on the pack cards, but completing the program and buying all of the lower-tier and some mid-tier cards should do.
It’s a fair price for a card that many players will want to use and can slot into most lineups, unless you’ve already gotten the 99 Scott Rolen.
Joey Gallo
Position: 3B primary, 1B/LF secondary
Overall: 92
Program, Pack, or Collection: Pipeline Past Program
Despite sputtering out and now pursuing a Big League career as a pitcher, Joey Gallo was once one of MLB’s most cherished sluggers. Unfortunately, even during his peak, Gallo struck out often. His card is a reflection of that, boasting decent contact, max power against righties, and great power against lefties. But a lowly 31 Vision rating is going to be difficult to work with, especially on higher difficulties.
That said, there are some silver linings. Unlike past Gallo cards, this one has a decent amount of clutch. He plays the corner infield as well, meaning his 65 fielding and 67 reactions won’t be a detriment. Above all, however, he is completely free and can be obtained as the last reward in the Pipeline Past Program, meaning you won’t have to spend a single Stub to obtain him.
Obviously, there are some drawbacks. But with insane power and being a free card, maybe that isn’t as big a deal as it could be.
Xander Bogaerts
Position: SS primary, 3B secondary
Overall: 92
Program, Pack, or Collection: Pipeline Past Pack
Xander Bogaerts has always been a Show favorite, boasting a good swing, cracking power, and being pretty good in the field. As one could predict, this Xander card has all of the tools to play. The contact is a bit underwhelming in the low 80s against both sides, but his high power should make up for that. Honesty, the only real red flag on his card is that lowly 70 Clutch, but that can be mitigated by having him bat leadoff or towards the bottom of the order.
Unfortunately, it’s another Pack card. If you’re starting to sense a pattern, you might be on to something — the undisputed best cards in this new card series are essentially locked behind a paywall, which will negatively impact anyone not willing to fork out Stubs on packs, or real-life money on Stubs. That said, he’s not the headliner of the pack, which is reserved for Kyle Schwarber, so his price will likely be in the low 20k for a bit, making him affordable. But a pack card is a pack card.
