Summary
The new 99 OVR Eli Willits looks like an exciting free card in MLB The Show 26, but strong attributes do not always translate into strong gameplay. After testing him, his extremely late batting load stands out as the biggest issue. This guide covers his positions, strengths, hitting experience, and whether the Pipeline Series reward is worth the grind. MLB The Show Stubs can also help strengthen your roster.
1. How to Unlock 99 Eli Willits
Eli Willits is one of the major rewards from the new Pipeline Series Program and Collection. The card is completely free, but earning him requires a significant amount of offline grinding.
That makes the card especially appealing to players who do not want to spend Stubs on expensive market options. However, the grind is only worthwhile if Eli can actually perform at a competitive level.
His available positions include:
Shortstop
Second Base
Third Base
Having three infield positions gives Eli plenty of lineup flexibility. Since MLB The Show 26 has released several strong shortstops, however, players need to carefully decide where he fits into their lineup.
2. Eli Willits Has Incredible Attributes
On paper, Eli Willits looks like an elite card. His overall rating and attribute spread suggest that he should be capable of competing with many expensive cards.
His defensive versatility is another major advantage. Moving between shortstop, second base, and third base allows you to build a lineup around other elite players without completely sacrificing defense.
His speed and athleticism can also help with range and baserunning. In theory, this combination should make Eli one of the most complete free infielders available.
Unfortunately, gameplay tells a very different story.
3. The Biggest Problem: His Batting Load
The most noticeable issue with Eli Willits is his extremely late batting load.
During testing, his leg kick and swing preparation appeared to happen far too late. The pitcher can release the ball and the pitch can already be traveling toward home plate before Eli completes his load animation.
This creates a serious timing problem.
Even when the PCI placement looks good, the resulting contact can be surprisingly weak. Balls that appear perfectly hittable may turn into pop-ups, weak grounders, or low-exit-velocity contact.
The problem becomes especially frustrating against fastballs because you have less time to compensate for the unusual animation.
4. Why His Great Stats Do Not Save Him
One of the most important lessons from this test is that attributes are not everything in MLB The Show 26.
Eli can have excellent hitting numbers on his card, but a problematic swing animation can make those numbers difficult to translate into actual results.
Across three games and 12 at-bats, the test resulted in only:
12 At-Bats
1 Hit
.083 Batting Average
That is an extremely small sample size, so it should not be treated as a definitive statistical evaluation. However, the gameplay experience clearly highlighted the timing problem.
5. Defensive and Lineup Value
Eli is not completely useless. His defensive flexibility can still make him valuable for players building a free-to-play lineup.
If you need an additional infielder and already have strong hitters elsewhere, Eli's ability to cover multiple positions gives you useful roster flexibility.
His athleticism can also help defensively, especially when reacting to balls hit into the gaps.
However, if you are looking specifically for an elite offensive shortstop, there are likely better options available.
6. Is Eli Willits Worth Using?
For offline content, experimenting with Eli can absolutely be worthwhile. Since the card is free, there is little financial risk in unlocking and testing him.
For serious competitive gameplay, however, the current swing animation makes him difficult to recommend.
Players who can consistently adjust to unusual batting loads may eventually get better results, but most users will probably find the timing frustrating.
The biggest concern is that the same swing issue was reportedly problematic previously, making players hope that SDS eventually addresses it.
7. Final Verdict
The 99 Eli Willits MLB The Show 26 card is a perfect example of why card attributes cannot tell the entire story. His overall rating, defensive versatility, and free acquisition make him look incredible on paper, but his unusually late batting load severely hurts his offensive performance.
For now, I would treat Eli as a fun free card to test rather than a must-use competitive option. If SDS fixes his swing animation, his impressive attributes could finally make him the dominant card many players expected. If you want to strengthen your roster with more flexibility, buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs can help.
Until then, if hitting consistency is your priority, you may want to keep another elite infielder in your starting lineup.
