{{Short description|2020 video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox video game | title = MLB The Show 20 | developer = [[San Diego Studio]] | publisher = [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] | series = ''[[MLB: The Show]]'' | image = MLB The Show 20 cover.jpg | platforms = [[PlayStation 4]] | genre = [[Sports game|Sports]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] | released = March 17, 2020 }} '''''MLB The Show 20''''' is a 2020 [[baseball]] [[video game]] developed by [[San Diego Studio]] and published by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation 4]]. It is the fifteenth installment in the ''[[MLB: The Show]]'' series and the last to be a [[PlayStation]] exclusive, as its successor ''[[MLB The Show 21]]'' was released on [[Xbox]] consoles while ''[[MLB The Show 22]]'' was released on the [[Nintendo Switch]]. Customers that digitally pre-ordered the game were received the game early on March 13.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2879745-mlb-the-show-20-release-date-top-features-new-modes-and-cover|title=MLB The Show 20 Release Date, Top Features, New Modes and Cover|date=2020-03-08|website=Bleacher Report|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-24|archive-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309154121/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2879745-mlb-the-show-20-release-date-top-features-new-modes-and-cover|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chicago Cubs]] infielder [[Javier Báez]] is featured as the cover star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2019/10/21/introducing-our-mlb-the-show-20-cover-athlete-javier-la-puta-baez/|title=Introducing Our MLB The Show '20 Cover Athlete: Javier "El Mago" Báez|date=2019-10-21|website=PlayStation.Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-03}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Upon release, ''MLB The Show 20'' was generally well-received by critics, who praised the new fielding and hitting mechanics, and new features in the Diamond Dynasty mode, while criticism was given to technical issues at launch.

==Gameplay== For the first time ever, [[Minor League Baseball]] players are fully licensed and have their names and likenesses featured in the game. In previous versions of the game, Minor League players were not licensed and were replaced with generic players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2876019-mlb-the-show-20-to-feature-full-minor-league-rosters-for-1st-time|title=MLB The Show 20 to Feature Full Minor League Rosters for 1st Time|last=Armstrong|first=Megan|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13|archive-date=2020-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213122025/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2876019-mlb-the-show-20-to-feature-full-minor-league-rosters-for-1st-time|url-status=live}}</ref> As well, the team and logo editor that were previously exclusive to Diamond Dynasty were brought over to the game's Franchise mode. [[Matt Vasgersian]], [[Mark DeRosa]] & [[Dan Plesac]] return as play-by-play commentators; [[Heidi Watney]] returns as sideline reporter and Alex Miniak returns as public address commentator.

==Development== New features in the game included online modes such as "Showdown" and "Custom Leagues". "Showdown" is a mode that begins with a player selected in a [[MLB Draft|draft]], and it will use in the "Moments" mode. The "Custom Leagues" mode is another online-only mode that using the choice of 40-man live MLB roster or create a custom team from the ''MLB The Show''{{'}}s "Diamond Dynasty" mode.

Returning modes included "Franchise Mode" (in which the player can take control of any MLB team over the course of several seasons, but with the new customized team and logo creator and franchise relocation option, in which the player will create a team, the team's logo or relocate the team to designated location), "Road to the Show" (in which the user creates a new player and plays out his career through Double-A, Triple-A and the majors), "March To October" (in which the player will select the team for a full MLB season through the regular season, the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], the [[Major League Baseball playoffs|playoffs]], and the [[World Series]]), and "Moments" (which the user relive and recreate famous moments in MLB history).

In addition, the game featured real-life, fully licensed [[Minor League Baseball]] players for the first time in the series, unlike in previous games where the real players were not licensed and were replaced with generic players, in conjunction with Scott Spindler and his Ridin Rosters group.

The game features the new [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] uniforms for the first time, previous games formerly used [[Majestic Athletic]] as their uniform supplier.

The game also included real-life and authentic stadium advertisements for the first time, previous games in the series did not include authentic stadium advertisements and replaced it with fake brands. Advertisements for [[Chevrolet]], [[Chick-fil-A]], [[Coca-Cola]], [[Citgo]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[John Hancock Insurance]], [[PNC Bank]], and [[Wintrust Financial]] could now be seen in these selected stadiums within the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.operationsports.com/mlb-the-show-20-stadium-advertisements/|title=MLB The Show 20: Tracking All the New Authentic Stadium Advertisements|last=Becotte|first=Chase|work=Operation Sports|date=13 March 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-04-04|archive-date=2020-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614172222/https://www.operationsports.com/mlb-the-show-20-stadium-advertisements/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception == {{video game reviews |MC = 83/100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mlb-the-show-20/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=MLB The Show 20 critic reviews for PlayStation 4|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=August 30, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918040150/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/mlb-the-show-20|url-status=live}}</ref> | GI = 8.75/10<ref name="GI">{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |date=March 19, 2020 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/mlb-the-show-20/mlb-the-show-20-review-solid-contact |title=MLB The Show 20: Solid Contact |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917055506/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/mlb-the-show-20/mlb-the-show-20-review-solid-contact |url-status=live }}</ref> | GSpot = 8/10<ref name="Gspot">{{cite web |last=Wakeling |first=Richard |date=March 27, 2020 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mlb-the-show-20-review/1900-6417436/ |title=MLB The Show 20 Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814194108/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mlb-the-show-20-review/1900-6417436/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | IGN = 8/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Gabriel |date=March 13, 2020 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/mlb-the-show-20-review |title=MLB The Show 20 Review |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901140837/https://www.ign.com/articles/mlb-the-show-20-review |url-status=live }}</ref> }}

''MLB The Show 20'' received "generally favorable reviews" from critics, according to [[Metacritic]].

In its 8.7/10 review, ''[[IGN]]'' wrote: "MLB The Show 20 isn't the biggest upgrade the series has ever seen, but it's a solid one with a few good highlights and no real downsides."<ref name=IGN/> ''[[Game Informer]]'' gave the game 8.75/10, praising its new hitting and fielding mechanics and new features in Diamond Dynasty, "Another good outing for the series, complete with additions across the board and gameplay that emphasizes skill."<ref name=GI/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' gave the game 8/10, praising the fielding and hitting mechanics, but criticizing the new custom teams and Online Leagues additions.<ref name="Gspot"/>

During the [[24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]], the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated ''MLB The Show 20'' for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Sports Game of the Year|Sports Game of the Year]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2021&idGameAwardType=126 |title=2021 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{San Diego Studio}}

[[Category:2020 video games]] [[Category:MLB: The Show video games|20]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4-only games]] [[Category:San Diego Studio games]] [[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games]] [[Category:Sports video games with career mode]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Video games set in Canada]] [[Category:Video games set in Maryland]] [[Category:Video games set in the United States]]