Summary:
Carlos Beltrán has quickly become one of the most desirable collection rewards in MLB The Show 26. Thanks to his switch-hitting ability, elite speed, strong defense, excellent arm strength, and consistent power, he's widely considered one of the best outfielders in Diamond Dynasty. While unlocking him requires a significant investment in MLB The Show Stubs, smart planning can dramatically reduce the overall cost. This guide covers the best collections to complete, which ones to skip, and the fastest way to earn Beltrán without overspending.
1. Why Carlos Beltrán is worth unlocking
Beltrán stands out because he excels in nearly every area that matters.
His biggest strengths include:
Switch hitter with balanced matchups against both lefties and righties.
Smooth swing that performs well in online and offline play.
Near-elite speed for both defense and baserunning.
Excellent throwing arm for right field.
Reliable power and contact ratings.
Fits almost any competitive lineup.
If you're building an endgame roster, Beltrán is one of the strongest long-term investments currently available.
2. Collection requirements
To unlock Carlos Beltrán, you'll need to complete 30 Legends & Flashbacks collections.
Fortunately, you don't have to finish every collection because the program allows two skips. That means your goal isn't completing everything—it's choosing the most affordable collections while avoiding the most expensive ones.
3. Wait before buying expensive cards
One of the biggest mistakes players make is purchasing every required card immediately.
A better approach is to wait for market prices to settle.
Several collections are likely to become cheaper after content updates, pack releases, and marketplace fluctuations. Many high-priced cards tend to drop in value during the middle of the week, especially after new programs launch.
Patience can save hundreds of thousands of Stubs.
4. Best collections to prioritize
These collections generally offer the best value for most players:
All-Star
Second Half Heroes
Standouts
Milestones
Home Run Derby
Summer Collection
City Escapes
Breakout
Contributor
Cornerstones
Hall of Fame
St. Patrick's Day
Most of these collections are relatively affordable or contain cards that many players already own through previous programs and rewards.
5. Collections worth skipping
Since you have two skips, use them wisely.
The best candidates are:
Awards
World Baseball Classic
Spotlight
These collections often require expensive cards and provide poor value compared to other options. Unless you've already collected most of them, they're usually not worth completing.
6. Collections that can wait
Some collections have strong potential to become cheaper over time, including:
Postseason
Signature
Prime
Topps Now
Instead of buying overpriced cards today, monitor the marketplace and wait for future content drops that increase supply.
7. Fastest way to complete the program
Buying cards alone isn't enough. You'll also want to complete the accompanying program as efficiently as possible.
Finish Moments first：
Moments provide quick program progress with very little investment.
They're easy to complete and offer one of the fastest ways to earn program points early.
Complete Missions naturally：
Most missions involve simple objectives such as:
Getting hits with switch hitters.
Recording total bases.
Collecting hits.
Completing baserunning goals.
These can be finished during normal gameplay without requiring special lineups.
Play Mini Seasons：
Mini Seasons remains one of the best offline modes for grinding rewards.
Benefits include:
Fast program progress.
Bonus XP.
Extra packs.
Additional player rewards.
If you're farming home runs, choose Rookie difficulty and a smaller stadium to speed up completion.
Don't ignore Conquest：
Many players skip Conquest, but it's one of the most rewarding modes in the game.
It offers valuable rewards such as:
Vault Packs.
Mid-Summer Classic Packs.
Rising Choice Packs.
Additional premium packs.
Opening these packs may reduce your overall collection cost by pulling cards you would otherwise need to purchase.
8. Budget-friendly priority list
If you're trying to minimize spending, follow this order:
Highest Priority
All-Star
Second Half Heroes
Standouts
Milestones
Summer Collection
City Escapes
Home Run Derby
Complete Later
Postseason
Signature
Prime
Topps Now
Skip if Possible
Awards
Spotlight
World Baseball Classic
This approach gives you the most efficient path toward unlocking Beltrán while keeping your total investment under control.
Final thoughts
Carlos Beltrán is absolutely worth unlocking if you're looking for an elite outfielder in Diamond Dynasty. His combination of switch-hitting, speed, defense, and power makes him one of the strongest collection rewards in MLB The Show 26.
The key is to avoid rushing into expensive purchases. Prioritize affordable collections, skip the overpriced ones, complete Moments, Mini Seasons, and Conquest for extra rewards, and wait for the market to cool before buying costly cards. If you want to buy MLB 26 Stubs to speed up your progress, waiting for favorable market conditions can also help you maximize their value. With the right strategy, you can unlock Beltrán while spending far fewer Stubs than players who rush the collection.
