Some of the different aspects of MLB The Show 21 hitting can take some getting used to. Among those is learning how to bunt in MLB The Show. It’s a useful technique for getting a runner on base when needed. It can also create a sacrifice bunt situation to advance or score a runner in pressure situations where a run is essential. Here’s how to go about bunting in the baseball video game.
How to bunt in MLB The Show 21 hitting
For MLB The Show 21 hitting, bunt controls are simple with the game. On the PlayStation control, you press the triangle button. On an Xbox controller, press the Y button to bunt the ball. If you press and hold down the button, your player will lower into the bunt stance with the bat extended. Check out the video below for an example.
There are a couple of different types of bunts in the game too. For example, press and hold the button (Triangle or Y) early during the pitch for a Sacrifice Bunt. Alternately, press the button late for a drag bunt. Both of these can come in handy at different times during hitting situations.
You’ll also want to make use of your right joystick on the controller. Press it to the right side before you bunt if you want to try to bunt towards the right, in between the first and second basemen. Tap to the left to bunt to the opposite direction. Going left probably works best when there’s not a runner on third you’re trying to score.
Practice for better bunts or hits in the game
Make sure to know the basics of MLB The Show 21 hitting controls. On PlayStation, press X for a Normal Swing. Press O for a Contact Swing, or press the Square button for Power Swing.
We recommend going to batting practice to work on your hitting. This is found through the Main Menu. Once there, choose Batting Practice. Choose your teams, then choose your preferred batter and the opposing pitcher you’d like to face.
You can go a step further by actually setting the types of pitches you want to try to bunt with. Bunting usually works best with pitches thrown right around the middle of the plate. So set the pitches to the middle and have at it with the bunt controls.
You’ll also want to use bunting on the first pitch of an at-bat or for your first strike. Try to bunt it towards the second baseman, because if done right, it will have the first and second basemen moving off base to try to field it. The pitcher will try to cover first, and that should allow your faster batter to reach first.
The video below covers all of the above in detail, explaining what speed your batter should be to bunt. At best, you’ll want their Speed attribute to be around 88 or 90-plus for the best chance at reaching base before a pitcher can cover.
Check out our guide for how to slide in MLB The Show 21 to give yourself a better chance of getting to bases safely in crunch situations!
For more stories about the baseball game, visit our MLB The Show page.