MLB The Show 21 is a baseball game with high-quality graphics, it can be played on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PlayStation 5, it is a multi-player game. If you’re a baseball fan, then you’re going to love this game.
In this guide, you’ll find all the Controls to play MLB The Show 21.
Hitting Controls – Zone Interface
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) |
| Press Early and Hold for Sacrifice | Triangle | Press Triangle to Press Early and Hold for Sacrifice |
| Press Late for Drag-Bunt | Triangle | Press Triangle to Late Drag-Bunt |
| Power Swing | Square | Press Square for Power Swing |
| Contact Swing | Circle | Press Circle for Contact Swing |
| Normal Swing | X | Press X to Normal Swing |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) |
| Press Early and Hold for Sacrifice | Y | Press Y to Hold for Sacrifice |
| Press Late for Drag-Bunt | Y | Press Y to Drag-Bunt |
| Power Swing | X | Press X for Power Swing |
| Contact Swing | B | Press B for Contact Swing |
| Normal Swing | A | Press A for Normal Swing |
Batting – Bunt Influence Pre-Pitch
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Cancel Current Influence | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Cancel Current Influence |
| Influence a Drag Bunt | Right Stick Left | Press Right Stick Left to Influence a Drag Bunt |
| Influence a Push Blunt | Right Stick Right | Press Right Stick Right to Influence a Push Blunt |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Cancel Current Influence | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Cancel Current Influence |
| Influence a Drag Bunt | Right Stick Left | Press Right Stick Left to Influence a Drag Bunt |
| Influence a Push Blunt | Right Stick Right | Press Right Stick Right to Influence a Push Blunt |
Batting Misc
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Activate Batter’s Eye Cam | R3 | Press R3 to Activate Batter’s Eye Cam |
| Control the Camera | Right Stick | Press Right Stick to Control the Camera |
| Guess Pitch Type | R2 + X, Circle, Square, Triangle | Press R2 + X, Circle, Square, Triangle to Guess Pitch Type |
| Guess Location | R2 + Left Stick | Press R2 + Left Stick to Guess the Location |
| Quick Menu (Excluding Player Lock) | D-Pad Up | Press D-Pad Up to Open Quick Menu |
| Pitcher Attributes / Player Quirks | D-Pad Left | Press D-Pad Left to Pitcher Attributes |
| Pitching and Batting Breakdown | D-Pad Right | Press D-Pad Right to Pitching and Batting Breakdown |
| Call Timeout (Before Windup) | D-Pad Down | Press D-Pad Down to Call Timeout |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Activate Batter’s Eye Cam | R3 | Press R3 to Activate Batter’s Eye Cam |
| Control the Camera | Right Stick | Press Right Stick to Control the Camera |
| Guess Pitch Type | RT + A, B, X, Y | Press RT + A, B, X, and Y to Guess Pitch Type |
| Guess Location | RT + Left Stick | Press RT + Left Stick to Guess the Location |
| Quick Menu (Excluding Player Lock) | D-Pad Up | Press D-Pad Up to Open Quick Menu |
| Pitcher Attributes / Player Quirks | D-Pad Left | Press D-Pad Left to Pitcher Attributes |
| Pitching and Batting Breakdown | D-Pad Right | Press D-Pad Right to Pitching and Batting Breakdown |
| Call Timeout (Before Windup) | D-Pad Down | Press D-Pad Down to Call Timeout |
Pitching Controls – Meter Interface
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Pitch Type 1 | X | Press X to Pitch Type 1 |
| Pitch Type 2 | Circle | Press Circle to Pitch Type 2 |
| Pitch Type 3 | Triangle | Press Triangle to Pitch Type 3 |
| Pitch Type 4 | Square | Press Square to Pitch Type 4 |
| Pitch Type 5 | R1 | Press R1 to Pitch Type 5 |
| Pitch Out | L1 + X | Press L1 + X to Pitch Out |
| Intentional Walk | L1 + Circle | Press L1 + Circle for an Intentional Walk |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Pitch Type 1 | A | Press A to Use Pitch Type 1 |
| Pitch Type 2 | B | Press B to Use Pitch Type 2 |
| Pitch Type 3 | Y | Press Y to Use Pitch Type 3 |
| Pitch Type 4 | X | Press X to Use Pitch Type 4 |
| Pitch Type 5 | RB | Press RB to Use Pitch Type 5 |
| Pitch Out | LB + A | Press LB + A to Pitch Out |
| Intentional Walk | LB + B | Press LB + B for an Intentional Walk |
Pitching Misc
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Pitch Ball | X | Press X to Pitch Ball |
| Position Ball in the Zone | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Position Ball in the Zone |
| Request Catcher’s Pitch Call | R2 | Press R2 to Request Catcher’s Pitch Call |
| Look at Runner | R2 | Press R2 to Look at Runner |
| Deceptive Mode (Hold) | L2 + Circle, Square, Triangle | Press L2 + Circle, Square, Triangle to Deceptive Mode |
| Slide Step with Runners on Base | L2 + X | Press L2 + X to Slide Step with Runners on Base |
| Pickoff to 1st | L2 + Circle | Press L2 + Circle to Pickoff to 1st |
| Pickoff to 2nd | L2 + Triangle | Press L2 + Triangle to Pickoff to 2nd |
| Pickoff to 3rd | L2 + Square | Press L2 + Square to Pickoff to 3rd |
| Step Off Mound (from Windup / Stretch) | L1 | Press L1 to Step Off Mound |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Pitch Ball | A | Press A to Pitch Ball |
| Position Ball in the Zone | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Position Ball in the Zone |
| Request Catcher’s Pitch Call | RT | Press RT to Request Catcher’s Pitch Call |
| Look at Runner | RT | Press RT to Look at Runner |
| Deceptive Mode (Hold) | LT + B, X, Y | Press LT + B, X, Y to Deceptive Mode |
| Slide Step with Runners on Base | LT + A | Press LT + A to Slide Step with Runners on Base |
| Pickoff to 1st | LT + B | Press LT + B to Pickoff to 1st |
| Pickoff to 2nd | LT + Y | Press LT + Y to Pickoff to 2nd |
| Pickoff to 3rd | LT + X | Press LT + X to Pickoff to 3rd |
| Step Off Mound (from Windup / Stretch) | LB | Press LB to Step Off Mound |
Throwing Controls – Button Accuracy Interface
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Move Player | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Move Player |
| Jump / Dive | Right Stick | Press Right Stick to Jump |
| Throw to 1st | Circle | Press Circle to Throw to 1st |
| Throw to 2nd | Triangle | Press Triangle to Throw to 2nd |
| Throw to 3rd | Square | Press Square to Throw to 3rd |
| Throw to Home | X | Press X to Throw to Home |
| Jump | R1 | Press R1 to Jump |
| Dive | R2 | Press R2 to Dive |
| Throw to Cutoff | L1 | Press L1 to Throw to Cutoff |
| Switch to Closet Player (Without Ball) | L2 | Press L2 to Switch to Closet Player |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Move Player | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Move Player |
| Jump / Dive | Right Stick | Press Right Stick to Jump |
| Throw to 1st | B | Press B to Throw to 1st |
| Throw to 2nd | Y | Press Y to Throw to 2nd |
| Throw to 3rd | X | Press X to Throw to 3rd |
| Throw to Home | A | Press A to Throw to Home |
| Jump | RB | Press RB to Jump |
| Dive | RT | Press RT to Dive |
| Throw to Cutoff | LB | Press LB to Throw to Cutoff |
| Switch to Closet Player (Without Ball) | LT | Press LT to Switch to Closet Player |
Default Base Running Controls
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Point towards the Location to target a Runner | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Point towards the Location to target a Runner |
| Advance / Return Individual | Left Stick + Circle, Square, Triangle | Press Left Stick + Circle, Square, Triangle to Advance / Return Individual |
| Return All Runners | R1 | Press R1 to Return All Runners |
| Return Individual Runner | R1 + L | Press R1 + L to Return Individual Runner |
| Stop Runner | R2 | Press R2 to Stop Runner |
| Lead Off / Advance All | L1 | Press L1 to Lead Off |
| Lead Off Individual Runner | L + L1 | Press L + L1 to Lead Off Individual Runner |
| Steal All Runners | L2 | Press L2 to Steal All Runners |
| Hold and Release to Steal Early | L2 | Press L2 to Hold and Release to Steal Early |
| Steam Individual Runner | L + L2 | Press L + L2 to Steam Individual Runner |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Point towards the Location to target a Runner | Left Stick | Press Left Stick to Point towards the Location to target a Runner |
| Advance / Return Individual | Left Stick + B, X, Y | Press Left Stick + B, X, Y to Advance |
| Return All Runners | RB | Press RB to Return All Runners |
| Return Individual Runner | RB + L | Press RB + L to Return Individual Runner |
| Stop Runner | RT | Press RT to Stop Runner |
| Lead Off / Advance All | LB | Press LB to Lead Off / Advance All |
| Lead Off Individual Runner | L + LB | Press L + LB to Lead Off Individual Runner |
| Steal All Runners | LT | Press LT to Steal All Runners |
| Hold and Release to Steal Early | LT | Press LT to Hold and Release to Steal Early |
| Steam Individual Runner | L + LT | Press L + LT to Steam Individual Runner |
Sliding Controls – Slides at Home
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Straight in Feet First | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Straight in Feet First |
| Straight in Head First | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Straight in Head First |
| Wide Right Feet First | Right Stick Bottom Right | Press Right Stick Bottom Right to Wide Right Feet First |
| Wide Right Head First | Right Stick Top Right | Press Right Stick Top Right to Wide Right Head First |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Straight in Feet First | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Straight in Feet First |
| Straight in Head First | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Straight in Head First |
| Wide Right Feet First | Right Stick Bottom Right | Press Right Stick Bottom Right to Wide Right Feet First |
| Wide Right Head First | Right Stick Top Right | Press Right Stick Top Right to Wide Right Head First |
Sliding Controls – Slides at Bases
PlayStation
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Straight in Feet First | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Straight in Feet First |
| Straight in Head First | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Straight in Head First |
| Hook at the Left | Right Stick Left | Press Right Stick Left to Hook at the Left |
| Hook to the Right | Right Stick Right | Press Right Stick Right to Hook to the Right |
| Break up a Double Play at 2nd | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Break up a Double Play at 2nd |
Xbox
| Actions | Keys | Description |
| Straight in Feet First | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Straight in Feet First |
| Straight in Head First | Right Stick Up | Press Right Stick Up to Straight in Head First |
| Hook at the Left | Right Stick Left | Press Right Stick Left to Hook at the Left |
| Hook to the Right | Right Stick Right | Press Right Stick Right to Hook to the Right |
| Break up a Double Play at 2nd | Right Stick Down | Press Right Stick Down to Break up a Double Play at 2nd |