Definition
Growth Type determines the shape of a player's long-term career. The official guide presents this using development graphs rather than simple descriptions. Growth Type influences how a player develops over time. It is separate from Growth Period.
Important Distinction
Growth Period answers: When does the player grow? Growth Type answers: How does the player's career develop? These mechanics should never be confused.
Official Growth Types
The guide documents six growth patterns. Each follows a different age curve. The technical appendix contains the complete growth graphs extracted from the official guide.
Evolution
2019 Present. 2021 Expanded with graphs. 2026 Referenced indirectly through Training Settings. No contradictory documentation found.
Definition
Ability Type determines which areas of a player's abilities receive the greatest emphasis during development. Unlike Growth Type, Ability Type does not determine career timing. Instead, it influences attribute specialization.
Pitchers
The official guide documents archetypes emphasizing areas such as: Key points: Velocity; Control; Breaking Balls; Balanced development.
Fielders
Ability Types include archetypes emphasizing: The exact classifications are preserved in the technical appendix. Key points: Contact; Power; Speed; Defense; Utility.
Interaction
Growth Type ↓ Ability Type ↓ Training ↓ Final Development This relationship is implied by the official documentation through the separation of the systems.
Manager Priorities
- Read Growth Type as timing and Ability Type as profile.
- Compare players with similar roles before assuming identical development paths.
- Use these fields together with Development Strategy rather than in isolation.
Common Management Mistake
Using Growth Type as if it described playing style leads to incorrect expectations about the player's eventual role.
Key Takeaways
- Growth Type describes the shape and timing of development. Ability Type describes the kind of player and ability profile involved.
- Read Growth Type as timing and Ability Type as profile.
- Using Growth Type as if it described playing style leads to incorrect expectations about the player's eventual role.
Official Reference Status
Source page 8: player ability and growth factors. These values are transcribed and translated from the supplied 2021 official strategy guide. Treat the exact numbers as legacy-reference mechanics until direct testing confirms that PRO SPIRIT 2026 retained them unchanged.
Growth Curves by Player Age
Compare when each growth type peaks and begins to decline.
- Early: 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 0, -1, -1, -2, -3, -3, -3, -3
- Normal: 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 0, 0, -1, -2, -3, -3, -3
- Late: 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 0, 0, -1, -2, -3, -3
- Super-late: 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 0, 0, -1, -2, -3
- Extreme: 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 0, 0, 0, -2, -3, -3, -3, -3
- Two-stage: 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 0, 0, -1, -2, -3, -3, -3
Higher values indicate stronger growth. Zero is neutral; negative values represent decline.
Ability Type: Attributes That Grow Most Easily
| Player | Ability type | Favored attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | Authentic | Stamina |
| Pitcher | Power pitcher | Velocity and pitch quality |
| Pitcher | Breaking-ball pitcher | Pitch quality and break |
| Pitcher | Control pitcher | Control |
| Fielder | All-rounder | Balanced growth across all attributes |
| Fielder | Contact | Contact vs RHP, contact vs LHP, power |
| Fielder | Power | Power |
| Fielder | Hitting | Contact vs RHP, contact vs LHP, power |
| Fielder | Speed | Speed |
| Fielder | Defense | Arm strength, fielding, throwing, positional aptitude |
| Fielder | Agile offense | Contact vs RHP, contact vs LHP, speed |
| Fielder | Agile defense | Speed and positional aptitude |
Growth Type by Age — Official Growth Modifier
| Type | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | −1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −3 |
| Normal | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 |
| Late | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 |
| Super-late | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | −1 | −2 | −3 |
| Extreme | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −3 |
| Two-stage | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 |