Player Abilities and Styles Reference

Use This Reference by Situation

Start with batter, pitcher, or fielder.
Narrow the lookup to power, contact, running, defense, pitch quality, count, runners, matchup, relief, or another game state.
Separate positive, trade-off, and negative effects and identify when they activate.
Judge the effect alongside ratings, lineup job, pitching role, and actual game usage.

Abilities and Styles Describe Different Things

An ability changes performance generally or under documented conditions. A Player Style describes behavior or a broader player characteristic, particularly under CPU control. Neither should be read without the player’s ratings, role, and current situation.

Batter Lookup

Begin with the offensive or defensive situation you are evaluating. Core abilities apply broadly; the remaining groups organize effects by the conditions that trigger them.

Core Batter Abilities

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Trajectory	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★★☆☆	Ground, line drive, mid, high, slugger, or power hitting trajectory.
Durability	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Less prone to injury during season.
Adaptive	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Less power loss when hitting balls out of the zone.
All Fields	+ Positive	★★★★★	When hit to the opposite field, the hit delivers less slicing and more carry.
Consistent	+ Positive	★★★★★	More likely to produce hits by contact swings.

⚾ Power Situations

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Run Maker	+ Positive	★★★★★	Power increases when runners are in scoring position.
Cleaner	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased power when bases are loaded.
Clutch	+ Positive	★★★★★	Increased power when the go-ahead runner is on base late in the game.
Clutch Hero	+ Positive	★★★★★	Greatly increased power when the go-ahead runner is on base late in the game.
Comeback	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Increased power when trailing late in the game.
Rally Hitter	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Improves batting when trailing in late innings.
Walk-Off	+ Positive	★★★★★	Increased power in walk-off situations.
Locked On	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased power with no strikes.
Catalyst	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Increased power when pinch hitting.

⚾ Contact & Swing

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Pull Hitter	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★★★☆	Less slicing when pulling but reduced power when late.
Push Hitter	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Less slicing on opposite-field hits.
Tough Out	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased contact when behind in the count.
Easy Out	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	Reduced contact when behind in the count.
Foul Shield	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Can hit fouls using the opposite-field button when timing is tight.
EV King	+ Positive	★★★★★	Harder drives when hitting the sweet spot with a power swing.

⚾ Bunting

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Bunt	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★☆☆☆	Skilled at deadening the ball at bunts.
Bunt Hunter	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Quick reactions to bunts by the pitcher, first baseman, or third baseman.

⚾ Baserunning

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Running	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Skillful base running.
Steal	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Skillful stealing.
Takeoff	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Quick acceleration after hitting, enabling infield hits.
Fearless	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs headfirst slides when stealing bases.
Headfirst	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs headfirst slides when timing is tight at first base.
Ninja	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Occasionally avoids tag plays.
Disruptor	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Aggressive slide into home plate to induce catching errors.
Ball Magnet	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★☆☆☆	More likely to be hit by a pitch on mistake.
Hit by Pitches	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★☆☆☆	More likely to be hit by wild pitches.

⚾ Fielding

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Gold Glover	+ Positive	★★★★★	Displays expert defensive skills.
Home Keeper	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Reliable tagging to prevent runners from scoring.
Laser Beam	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Outfielder throws follow a low trajectory.
Cannon Arm	+ Positive	★★★★★	Outfielder throws are fast and follow a low trajectory.

⚾ Momentum

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Hot Hitter	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased contact ability after two hits.
Power Up	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Increased power after hitting a home run.
Power Surge	+ Positive	★★★★★	Greatly boosts batting power after hitting a home run.
Wildcard	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Unexpected power boost.

⚾ Pitch Matchups

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
VS Breaking	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased power against breaking balls.
VS Fastballs	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased power against fastballs, sliders, natural shoots, and changeups.

⚾ Special Situations

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Table Setter	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased contact ability with no outs and no runners.
Presence	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Overwhelming presence puts pressure on the pitcher.
Prime Time	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Performs well in high-stakes games.
AM Threat	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs well at day games.
PM Threat	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs well at night games.

Style Lookup

Use these tables when the question concerns CPU behavior, condition patterns, fan response, or another listed style effect rather than a situational ability.

Pitcher Styles

Style	Rating	Effect
Fan's Star	★★★☆☆	Highly favored by fans.
Short Term Instability	★★☆☆☆	Condition fluctuates frequently.
Speed Mixer	★★★★☆	Alternates between fast and slow pitches.
Stable Condition	★★★★★	Condition remains stable.
Strike-first	★★★☆☆	Challenges hitters in the strike zone when controlled by the CPU.
Tempo+	★★★★☆	Throws quickly when controlled by the CPU.

Fielder Styles

Style	Rating	Effect
Agg. DEF	★★★★☆	Actively goes for catches.
Agg. Run	★★★★☆	Actively aims for the next base when controlled by the CPU.
Agg. Steals	★★★★☆	Actively attempts steals when controlled by the CPU.
Autumn Performer	★★★☆☆	Peaks during the autumn portion of the season.
Batting Agg.	★★★☆☆	Tends to swing early in the count when controlled by the CPU.
Batting Self-Driven	★★★☆☆	Always sticks to their own batting style.
Batting Team-Driven	★★★★☆	Always performs batting focused on team play.
Contact	★★★★☆	Prioritizes contact hitting when controlled by the CPU.
Fan's Star	★★★☆☆	Highly favored by fans.
Harder Hitter	★★★★☆	Focuses on strong hits when controlled by the CPU.
HR Hitter	★★★★★	Aggressively aims for home runs when controlled by the CPU.
Less Steals	★★☆☆☆	Rarely attempts steals when controlled by the CPU.
Long Term Instability	★★☆☆☆	Condition fluctuates over long periods.
Plate Discipline	★★★★☆	Shows good judgment of balls and strikes when controlled by the CPU.
Predictive	★★★★☆	Batting style based on anticipating pitch location.
Reactive	★★★★☆	Batting style based on adapting to the pitch.
Safe DEF	★★★★☆	Prioritizes preventing the ball from getting past when controlled by the CPU.
Stable Condition	★★★★★	Condition remains stable.
Summer Performer	★★★☆☆	Peaks during the summer portion of the season.
Season Sprinter	★★★☆☆	Peaks immediately after the season begins.

Pitcher Lookup

Start with the pitcher’s role and the game state. Then choose the group that matches pitch quality, count, runners, batter matchup, relief usage, high-leverage situation, or a negative condition.

Core Pitcher Abilities

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Durability	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Less prone to injury during season.
Poise	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Maintains composure even after giving up consecutive hits.
Metronome	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Ability to consistently maintain pitch velocity.
Failproof	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Less likely to throw down the middle on release failure.
Reflexes	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Quick reaction to line drives hit toward the pitcher.

⚾ Pitch Quality

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Auto Heat	+ Positive	★★★★★	Able to throw powerful pitches even without a perfect release.
Brushback	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Increased pitch power when throwing inside.
Razor Sharp	+ Positive	★★★★★	Breaking balls have sharp movement.
Spin Artist	+ Positive	★★★★★	Fastballs have extra carry.
Late Launch	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Holds the ball well, making release timing hard to read.
Wild Heat	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★★★☆	Can throw powerful fastballs but with reduced control.
Fly Fisher	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★★☆☆	More likely to induce fly balls.

⚾ Count-Based

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Dr. K	+ Positive	★★★★★	Increased pitch power when ahead with two strikes.
Strikeouts	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Performance improves with two strikes.
Zone Loss	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	Control decreases when reaching a three-ball count.

⚾ Runner Situation

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
VS Jam	+ Positive	★★★★★	Stability when runners are in scoring position.
Base Lock	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Harder to steal against.
Pickoff	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Skill at pickoff moves.
Gear Shift	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Gets fired up when runners are on base in a tie or close lead late in the game.
Unshakable	− Negative	★★☆☆☆	Stability when a runner is on first or first and third base.

⚾ Matchups

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
VS Lefty	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Performs well against left-handed hitters.
Power Sense	± Positive (Trade-off)	★★★☆☆	Goes all out against strong batters.

⚾ Relief Pitching

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Aura	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Prevents batters from performing well when relieving.
On Call	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Maintains ability even when entering mid-inning as a relief pitcher.
Presence Relief	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Overwhelming presence puts pressure on the batter when relieving.

⚾ Game Situation

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Prime Time	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Performs well in high-stakes games.
Support	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	More likely to receive run support.
Second Wind	+ Positive	★★★★☆	Improves condition as the game progresses.
AM Threat	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs well at day games.
PM Threat	+ Positive	★★★☆☆	Performs well at night games.

⚾ Negative Traits

Ability	Classification	Rating	Effect
Choker	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	Fails to perform when victory is in reach.
Cookie Toss	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	More likely to throw down the middle on release failure.
Slow Start	− Negative	★★☆☆☆	Struggles early when taking the mound.
Spin Leak	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	Fastballs tend to have side spin, making them easier to hit.
Unsteady	− Negative	★☆☆☆☆	Easily loses composure from small triggers.

How to Compare Two Players

Compare the base ratings required for the role.
Identify which abilities activate in the player’s likely situations.
Account for trade-offs and negative traits, not only positive effects.
Use Player Styles where CPU behavior or the listed style effect is relevant.
Recheck lineup position, pitching role, and expected game usage before deciding.

The Repeatable Plan

Search by player type and situation instead of memorizing the catalog.
Separate ratings, abilities, styles, and activation conditions.
Value effects according to the role and frequency with which the conditions actually occur.