MLB The Show 26: How to Get 99 OVR Lance Berkman

The September Retro Lightning program has added another 99 OVR card to MLB The Show 26, and Lance Berkman is one of the more interesting rewards available right now. The former Astros star arrived as the headline reward for the September Retro Lightning collection, giving players another high-end switch hitter to consider for their Diamond Dynasty lineup.

Berkman's card looks particularly appealing because he is not limited to one position and brings a strong offensive profile to the lineup. But with 13 eligible players required for the collection, is he actually worth the effort and Stubs?

Lance Berkman Card Overview

Berkman is a 99 OVR Retro Lightning card with RF as his primary position. He can also play 1B and LF, which makes him easier to fit into a crowded lineup.

His basic profile includes:

• 99 OVR
• RF primary position
• 1B and LF secondary positions
• Switch hitter
• Throws left
• 76 Speed
• 72 Fielding

The switch-hitting ability is arguably the biggest selling point. Berkman can face right-handed and left-handed pitchers without forcing you to make a lineup change, which is especially useful in modes where you have less control over the opposing pitcher.

Hitting Is Where Berkman Stands Out

Berkman's offensive attributes are the main reason this card has received so much attention.

He has 125 Contact against right-handed pitching and 113 Power against righties. Against left-handed pitching, he still has 112 Contact and 104 Power.

His other important hitting attributes include 104 Vision and 113 Batting Clutch.

That gives him a very reliable offensive profile. The card is especially dangerous against right-handed pitchers, but the numbers against lefties are good enough that you do not need to worry about platooning him.

The combination of switch hitting, contact, power, and clutch also makes Berkman a good fit for players who prefer a consistent middle-of-the-order hitter rather than a card built entirely around one extreme attribute.

Defense and Speed Are the Trade-Off

Berkman's defense is perfectly usable, but it is not the strongest part of the card.

His 72 Fielding and 76 Speed are good enough to keep him playable, especially when compared with the offensive production he provides. Still, players looking for an elite defensive outfielder have better options.

His secondary positions help compensate for this.

Moving Berkman to first base can make more sense if your outfield already has several premium defenders. He can also fill in at left field when needed, giving you more flexibility when building your roster.

In other words, Berkman is primarily an offensive upgrade rather than a defensive one.

His Quirks Fit the Card Well

Berkman also has several Quirks that complement his hitting style, including First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, Breaking Ball Hitter, Homebody, Fighter, Rally Monkey, Night Player, and Table Setter.

The most interesting ones for many players will be First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, and Breaking Ball Hitter. They fit well with an aggressive approach at the plate and can make the card feel particularly comfortable for players who like to attack hittable pitches early.

The Quirks are not enough to make the card special by themselves, but they add another layer to an already strong offensive profile.

How to Get Lance Berkman

The biggest hurdle is the September Retro Lightning collection.

You need to collect 13 of the 16 eligible September Spotlight players to receive Berkman.

The collection works through several milestones:

5 collected players: September Spotlight Player Pack
8 collected players: 99 OVR Brett Baty
13 collected players: 99 OVR Lance Berkman

One important detail is that Brett Baty does not count toward the 13 players needed for Berkman. He is a separate reward for reaching the eight-card milestone.

The good news is that you do not need all 16 players. Three eligible cards can be left out, which gives you some room to avoid the most expensive cards on the market.

The Most Efficient Way to Complete the Collection

If you want Berkman without wasting Stubs, do not start by buying 13 cards.

Start with the September Spotlight content and collect every eligible player you can earn through gameplay. Open the Spotlight packs you receive before going to the Community Market.

Once you know which cards you already have, look at the prices of the remaining players.

A simple approach is:

Complete as much September Spotlight content as possible.
Open all earned Spotlight packs.
Check how many eligible cards are already in your collection.
Compare the market prices of the remaining cards.
Skip the three most expensive options when possible.
Buy only enough players to reach the 13-card requirement.

This approach can save a significant number of Stubs compared with buying cards immediately.

The market can also change as more players complete the September content, so there is no reason to assume that the first price you see is the final cost of the collection.

Is Lance Berkman Worth Chasing?

For players who already have several September Spotlight cards, Berkman is an easy recommendation.

He offers three things that are always useful in Diamond Dynasty: switch hitting, strong offensive attributes, and positional flexibility.

He is particularly appealing if you need another strong hitter who can play RF, LF, or 1B. His 125 Contact R, 113 Power R, 112 Contact L, and 104 Power L give him enough balance to stay dangerous regardless of the pitcher.

The decision becomes less obvious if you would need to buy almost every eligible card at a high price.

If your current lineup already has several elite hitters and your Stubs are limited, there is no need to force the collection immediately. A 99 OVR card is valuable, but the opportunity cost of spending a large amount of Stubs can be just as important.

Lance Berkman's Retro Lightning card is one of the more useful collection rewards in the September content.

His offensive attributes are excellent, switch hitting makes him easier to use, and the ability to play three positions gives him plenty of lineup flexibility. The weaker defense and only moderate speed are reasonable trade-offs for the bat he brings.

The smartest way to get him is to earn the available Spotlight cards first and spend MLB The Show 26 Stubs only on the remaining pieces.

If you already have a good portion of the collection, Berkman is definitely worth pursuing. If you are starting from zero and would need to spend a large amount of Stubs, it is better to compare the total cost with the players already available in your lineup.

For most players, though, a 99 OVR switch-hitting Lance Berkman is more than just a collection reward. He is a card that can realistically earn a spot in the lineup and stay there.

The U4GM Team