MLB The Show 23 Hitting Controls Guide (2024)

With another annual installment here, getting used to the MLB The Show 23 hitting controls will be the first and likely most crucial task for players both new and old. Much of what players are used to from the past will remain the same, but even veterans can benefit from a refresher.

As you decide which batting interface is right for you, the tips and tricks in this MLB The Show 23 hitting controls guide will help set you up for success. Remember that it takes more than a perfect swing, discipline is just as important in this digital ballpark.

In this guide you will learn:

• The complete MLB The Show 23 hitting controls
• How batting controls have changed from last year
• The best interface and settings to use
• Tips and tricks to improve your swing and hit more home runs

ICYMI: Here is our in-depth MLB The Show 23 Controls Guide

MLB The Show 23 batting controls, hitting interfaces, and settings

When you fire up MLB The Show 23 for the first time, it can be tempting to skip through tutorials and dive right into the action. Unfortunately, especially for players who aren’t annual MLB The Show veterans, some patience is in order.

If you already know which interface you were accustomed to last year and don’t plan to change, you can safely dive into options and start setting things up pretty much exactly as you would’ve in MLB The Show 22.

The only notable change to the MLB The Show 23 batting controls in comparison to last year is a slight upgrade for PCI Anchor. The PCI, or Plate Coverage Indicator, is the set of icons that show when you’re using the Zone Interface and decide where around the strike zone to place your bat during the swing. PCI Anchor allows you to set your bat to anchor somewhere in the strike zone that isn’t dead center, but last year’s version was restricted to a 9-dot grid.

While those dots remain for players who want to use them, you can now set PCI Anchor to “Free” in settings and instead place your anchor anywhere in that small box those dots normally would outline.

The other new option for PCI Anchor is whether you want it to reset each inning, reset with each new batter, or you can choose “game” and the PCI Anchor will stay in the same spot until manually reset or moved.

If you plan to use the timing or directional interface while at the plate, you won’t have to worry about getting the visuals of your PCI settled. While you can still see some success with them, nothing quite compares to the levels you can hit when you’ve finally gotten the hang of the PCI and the quirks of zone interface.

If you’re struggling to get the hang of things, spending some time in Custom Practice could be a huge help especially while deciding on your best settings and options. Before diving into some of the tips and tricks to improve your skills, take a look at the primary batting and hitting controls here to see if there’s anything you’re not familiar with.

MLB The Show 23 batting controls on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

The complete MLB The Show 23 hitting controls on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S are listed below with the applicable interface or input type in parentheses. Any controls without an input type or interface listed apply to all interfaces.

• Move Left Stick (Zone) – Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator / PCI
• Press and Hold Right Stick (Zone) – Place the PCI Anchor in its current location when you release the stick
• Move Left Stick (Directional) – Influence direction of fly or ground ball
• Press B (Buttons Input) – Contact Swing
• Press X (Buttons Input) – Power Swing
• Press A (Buttons Input) – Normal Swing
• Press Y (Buttons Input) – Press early and hold for Sacrifice Bunt, press late for Drag Bunt
• Tap and Release Button (Buttons Input) – Check Swing based on timing of swing attempt
• Move Right Stick Left or Right (Analog Input) – Contact Swing
• Move Right Stick Down Then Up (Analog Input) – Power Swing / Stride and Swing
• Move Right Stick Up (Analog Input) – Normal Swing
• Release Right Stick Early (Analog Input) – Check Swing based on timing of swing attempt
• Move Right Stick Left – Influence a Drag Bunt
• Move Right Stick Right – Influence a Push Bunt
• Move Right Stick Up – Cancel current bunt influence
• Press RT + A, B, X, or Y – Guess Pitch Type
• Move Left Stick and Press RT – Guess Pitch Location
• Press D-Pad Up – Open Quick Menu
• Press D-Pad Left – View Pitcher Attributes and Player Quirks
• Press D-Pad Down – Call timeout, only available before pitcher windup begins
• Press Right Stick – View Defensive Positioning and Ratings, only available before pitcher windup begins
• Move Right Stick – Control the camera when viewing Defensive Positioning and Ratings

MLB The Show 23 hitting controls on PS4 and PS5

The complete MLB The Show 23 batting controls on PS4 and PS5 are listed below with the applicable interface or input type in parentheses. Any controls without an input type or interface listed apply to all interfaces.

• Move Left Stick (Zone) – Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator / PCI
• Press and Hold R3 (Zone) – Place the PCI Anchor in its current location when you release the stick
• Move Left Stick (Directional) – Influence direction of fly or ground ball
• Press Circle (Buttons Input) – Contact Swing
• Press Square (Buttons Input) – Power Swing
• Press X (Buttons Input) – Normal Swing
• Press Triangle (Buttons Input) – Press early and hold for Sacrifice Bunt, press late for Drag Bunt
• Tap and Release Button (Buttons Input) – Check Swing based on timing of swing attempt
• Move Right Stick Left or Right (Analog Input) – Contact Swing
• Move Right Stick Down Then Up (Analog Input) – Power Swing / Stride and Swing
• Move Right Stick Up (Analog Input) – Normal Swing
• Release Right Stick Early (Analog Input) – Check Swing based on timing of swing attempt
• Move Right Stick Left – Influence a Drag Bunt
• Move Right Stick Right – Influence a Push Bunt
• Move Right Stick Up – Cancel current bunt influence
• Press R2 + X, Circle, Square, or Triangle – Guess Pitch Type
• Move Left Stick and Press R2 – Guess Pitch Location
• Press D-Pad Up – Open Quick Menu
• Press D-Pad Left – View Pitcher Attributes and Player Quirks
• Press D-Pad Down – Call timeout, only available before pitcher windup begins
• Press R3 – View Defensive Positioning and Ratings, only available before pitcher windup begins
• Move Right Stick – Control the camera when viewing Defensive Positioning and Ratings

MLB The Show 23 batting tips and tricks to hit more home runs

When you feel you’ve got a grasp of the basics, the next step is really pinpointing the best ways to make MLB The Show 23 work for you and fit your playstyle. Custom Practice is going to be your best friend as you try to pinpoint the right interface and settings, perhaps the most important being which camera view is the right fit.

If you’re struggling with following the ball as it’s thrown, the best bet could be trying out Strike Zone 2 which centers the mound in your field of view. Head into practice mode and spend some time just watching pitches and trying to follow them with the PCI, which you can move into location at the pitcher’s release point to try and better recognize the track it’s taking and differentiate between pitch types.

The other big change you might want to make while in Custom Practice is one that many players may resist, but there might not be a better way to improve your hitting than putting the difficulty on Legend. It’ll be particularly frustrating at first, but working on your swing timing and recognition at the highest level is the best possible way to improve and prepare yourself for online play or some of the tougher parts of MLB The Show 23.

Whether you up the difficulty or simply want to sit on Veteran or even Rookie, it’ll remain important to train your plate discipline. Having the patience to let certain balls go or aiming for a foul ball could go a long way to getting just the right pitch thrown at you. Unless you’re using a particularly skilled hitter with the right quirks, balls closest to the edge of the strike zone are more likely to end up a flyout or groundout even if you do make decent contact.

As a result, you could choose to intentionally foul which will keep that strike from ending your at-bat and force the pitcher to try again. Extending the at-bat is crucial, but you can’t just swing every time and hope to foul your way to success. Learn to recognize out of strike zone pitches so you can stay ahead in the count, and it’ll put pressure on the pitcher to drop one closer to center and open you up for a home run.

Finally, one last thing to consider when at the plate is which type of swing is right for that situation. The biggest impact on this decision should be the hitter themselves. When the hitter approaches the plate, watch for the preview of their card which indicates a Power, Contact, or Balanced hitter. Generally, you want to stick to mostly Normal swings for a Balanced hitter, Power swings for a Power hitter, and Contact swings for a Contact hitter.

You may still have a situation that calls for a Power or Contact swing, or prefer the safety of the Normal swing at times, but it’s always best to utilize each player’s strengths. Similarly, don’t be afraid to bunt if the opportunity calls for it. Whether it’s an attempt to ruin the pitcher’s rhythm or a sacrifice bunt to advance a runner into scoring position, there’s a reason the bunt has remained a mainstay even in today’s game.

It’ll take practice to improve, and sometimes the failures during that process can be especially discouraging. With the tips and tricks from this MLB The Show 23 batting guide, you can trust the process one plate appearance at a time until your house becomes moonshot city.

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