Half-Price Mullins, Free PCA: The Cheapest June Collection Method in MLB The Show 26

MLB The Show 26 Jul-04-2026 PST

Summary:

Are the new June Lightning cards a trap or a treasure? SDS just confirmed a "shrinkage" patch next week that could completely flip how these cards perform. Plus, you can lock in 98 OVR Cedric Mullins for only 120K MLB 26 Stubs and grab a free 99-speed outfielder right now. Here is your complete, no-nonsense roadmap.

1. "He’s Not a Switch-Hitter" — And That’s Completely Fine

The instant reaction to Cedric Mullins is predictable. Because he isn’t a switch-hitter, many players are discarding him immediately. That judgment ignores one key fact: his swing is widely considered one of the smoothest and most reliable in the game. Pair that with balanced contact, solid power, great speed, and high clutch, and you get a consistent on-base machine on All-Star difficulty. Don’t let the switch-hitter bias blind you before the card even gets a real chance.

2. The “Shrinkage” Fix: Why This Single Update Changes Everything

There is an even bigger reason to pay attention. San Diego Studio openly stated on stream that next week’s game update will directly target the “shrinkage” bug — the same hit-detection issue that makes some player models feel smaller and less effective than they should be. They already patched Josh Hader and Michael King. Once this fix lands for hitters, Mullins’ true plate coverage will return. This 98 OVR card isn’t just good on paper; post-patch, it could become outright dominant. The current lukewarm market sentiment is your buying opportunity.

3. The 120K Blueprint: Free Packs and One Smart Market Flip

You only need 13 of the 16 June Lightning cards to unlock Mullins. That means you can skip three entirely. Do not buy all 13 from the market. Instead, follow this exact path to slash your cost.

First, earn your five guaranteed free cards. The Dog Days event program and the June Player Spotlight missions will hand you these just for playing. Then, apply the profit rule: if any free pack gives you a high-value card like Seiya Suzuki (≈48K Stubs) or Ranger Suárez (≈43K), sell it instantly. None of the remaining cards you actually need cost more than 30K Stubs. Take those profits, buy the cheapest options you are missing, and your total out-of-pocket cost plummets to approximately 120,000 Stubs. You even get a 97 OVR Dansby Swanson included as a bonus.

4. The Free Lightning Haul: PCA, Sandy, and Zero Filler

If spending a single Stub is not in your plan, the June program gives you a huge win for zero cost. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the completely free Lightning reward. He comes loaded with 99 speed, a near-99 arm, elite fielding accuracy, and both the Dead Red and Breaking Ball Hitter quirks. With a few Parallel upgrades, he is a legitimate endgame center fielder. Alongside him, you automatically earn 90 OVR Sandy Alcantara, whose outlier sinker and five-pitch mix become near-perfect at Parallel 5, plus Zach Gelof, who owns one of the crispest free swings in the game. There is genuinely zero filler in this reward path.

5. Should You Lock In? The Final Verdict for Every Player

If you play on All-Star or lower, the 98 Mullins will rake for you, especially after the patch. If you are also chasing the larger Legends & Flashbacks collection, locking him in now for around 120K Stubs using cheap MLB The Show 26 Stubs is a very safe long-term investment. If you strictly play on Hall of Fame or Legend, the Swanson card is not viable, and Mullins alone may not justify the cost unless you believe in the shrinkage fix. For everyone else, the free PCA is a no-brainer. Grind the program, enjoy the upgrades, and keep your Stub balance untouched.

Who This Helps Most

Diamond Dynasty players who want maximum squad upgrades with minimum wasted Stubs. Works equally well for free-to-play grinders and budget-conscious spenders.

Quick Tip

Play two 9-inning CPU games on Rookie first to clear all tally missions at once. Open your earned packs, sell any pull worth more than 30K Stubs immediately, and buy only the cheapest missing collection pieces.