A free 95 Overall Jacob deGrom is the sort of reward that makes people stop scrolling and load into Diamond Dynasty. You don't need to drain your MLB 26 Stubs balance for him, either. This Milestone card is tied to the new Extreme Showdown, which means you'll have to earn it on the field. It's not a sleepy grind. You'll face a run of tense moments, a few mini-boss spots, and then deGrom himself at the end. Miss it once? Fine. Go again. That repeatable setup takes some of the sting out of the mode, even if the challenge can still get under your skin.

Why deGrom is worth the trouble

The appeal here isn't just the name on the card. This version of deGrom has the ratings to sit in plenty of rotations right away. His 100 stamina lets him work deep into games, and the 92 control helps if you're the type who likes painting corners instead of just throwing gas. He's strong against both sides of the plate, with 93 H/9 against righties and 92 H/9 against lefties. The strikeout numbers are good too, though not silly. That actually makes the card feel a bit more grounded. You'll still need to pitch, mix speeds, and avoid falling into patterns.

The pitch mix is the real hook

DeGrom's five-pitch mix gives you a lot to play with. The four-seam fastball sets the tone, especially with Outlier in the bag. Then there's the slider, and that's probably the pitch most hitters will worry about. It has heavy break, and when you pair it with the circle change, slurve, and sinker, you can make at-bats feel awkward fast. He also carries useful quirks like Stopper, Homebody, Day Player, Outlier, and Break Outlier. In ranked games, that matters. A starter who can throw hard, hold stamina, and still spot pitches late is always going to get used.

Other content to clear while you are online

The deGrom Showdown isn't the only thing worth doing. The Lou Gehrig Day Conquest map is a nice side grind, especially if you like collecting packs without spending extra. You can pick up a Lou Gehrig Day bat skin, Show Packs, Headliner Packs, Deluxe Packs, Jumbo Show Packs, and 4,000 XP. There are usually hidden rewards tucked around these maps too, so it pays to clear more than just the obvious path. Lou Gehrig also has a temporary 99 Overall supercharge, which is fun if you already own him. For a few days, he's the kind of bat you want in the middle of the order.

Smart moves for the next collection push

There's also a new Headliner Andy Pettitte for players who want another lefty starter. His stamina, control, cutter, sinker, and 12-6 curve make him more than a throwaway pack card. Still, the bigger picture is collections. A lot of players are already grabbing Legends, Flashbacks, and program rewards before prices shift. Cards tied to names like Ketel Marte, Mickey Mantle, Jose Ramirez, and Jolt Series rewards could matter soon. If you'd rather speed things up with cheap MLB The Show 26 Stubs, just be selective and fill the gaps that actually move your team forward.