May Spotlight Drop 3 & Rivalry Recap Flood DD With Fresh Talent

Nick Kurtz headlines a stacked week of earnable cards across two programs, a new Conquest map, and a free Memorial Day gift.

The through-line connecting all of this content is real-life baseball performance. SDS continues to lean into the Topps Now philosophy, translating on-field highlights almost in real time into playable cards. That keeps the content feeling fresh and relevant, even if it means some cards carry the kind of raw-prospect volatility you'd expect from players still finding their footing in the majors.

Whether you're a full free-to-play grinder, a Conquest enthusiast, or someone who just wants to snap up the best new reliever on the market, this update has a clear entry point for you. Let's break it all down.

May Spotlight Drop 3

The May Spotlight Drop Three program is a straightforward earn-by-XP path with a modest total XP requirement and a task mix that leans on Moments, XP tasks, and collection tasks in roughly even measure. That combination is generally approachable — Moments can be knocked out in targeted sessions, and collection tasks reward players who have been stacking cards over the course of the month rather than starting fresh.

The reward ladder is well-constructed. Brandon Sproat arrives early as an enticing first milestone, followed by A.J. Ewing at the midpoint, with a pack slot and bonus XP rounding out the path before the headliner Nick Kurtz closes it out. For players who stick through to the end, that Spotlight-series first baseman is a genuinely compelling prize. The path also drops a May Spotlight Week Three Pack along the way, which gives you a shot at the pack-exclusive cards without separate spending.

Is it worth the grind? Emphatically yes for anyone who plays even a moderate amount. Kurtz alone justifies the time investment at the top of the path, and Ewing is a legitimately useful center fielder for squads that need speed and contact coverage. The collection tasks may create a small barrier if your roster is thin, but the overall XP ceiling is low enough that dedicated players should reach the top reward without feeling like they've been asked to climb a mountain.

Bonus appeal: the program also gates access to the Drop Three pack, so completing it gives you a meaningful head start on those pack-exclusive cards before you ever consider buying from the Show Shop.

Cost: 50 program XP to finish · 4 missions · 8 moments · 4 collection tasks

All May Spotlight Drop 3 rewards →

Rivalry Weekend Recap Program

The Rivalry Weekend Recap Program is a pure Moments-and-XP-tasks structure — no collection tasks here — which makes it one of the more accessible program formats in the game. If you enjoy reliving big weekend plays through bite-sized Moments challenges, this is essentially designed for you. The task count across both categories is high, so expect a solid session or two of focused play to push through the full path.

The reward progression here is arguably stronger than Drop Three at each individual milestone. Edgar Quero unlocks early as a catcher with intriguing platoon power from the left side. Tyrone Taylor follows as a speedy outfielder with genuine two-way contact. Munetaka Murakami lands next as a big-time power presence at first base, and Cam Schlittler — a filthy starting pitcher — sits just ahead of the grand prize. The finale is a Topps Now Shohei Ohtani at the DH spot, which is the kind of name that sells programs on its own.

For value-per-time-spent, this program is exceptional. Five cards across the reward path, two chunks of bonus XP, and a Shohei Ohtani card waiting at the end — all locked behind Moments and XP tasks rather than anything requiring Stubs or marketplace engagement. Even if you only grind halfway, Murakami's elite power numbers make the midpoint alone worthwhile.

One consideration: players who already have strong depth at first base and DH may find less roster urgency here, but the pitching and outfield depth cards earlier in the path have broad utility regardless of roster shape.

Cost: 50 program XP to finish · 9 missions · 9 moments

All Rivalry Weekend Recap Program rewards →

May Spotlight Pack – Drop 3

The May Spotlight Pack – Drop Three is the pack companion to this week's program, housing five cards that cannot be earned through the program reward path itself. The headliners are a pair of Spotlight-series cards — Daylen Lile and Aaron Ashby — alongside three Topps Now ninety-two overall options in Henry Bolte, Yohendrick Pinango, and Rodolfo Duran. Completing the May Spotlight Drop Three program earns you access to this pack, which is a meaningful incentive to push through the full reward path before buying from the Show Shop.

This pack suits players who need outfield depth, bullpen firepower, or catching options, and the two Spotlight cards inside are among the best available at their respective positions this week. If Ashby is on your radar, this is the primary avenue to land him for free.

Cards: Henry Bolte (92 OVR), Yohendrick Pinango (92 OVR), Rodolfo Duran (92 OVR), Daylen Lile (94 OVR), Aaron Ashby (94 OVR)
Where to find it: Earnable in May Spotlight Program – Drop 3 and available in the Show Shop

Source: the official post.

May Flowers Conquest Map

The May Flowers Conquest Map is the week's Conquest offering, built around the familiar formula of territory capture, fan stealing, and goal completion. The big draw here is an All-Star Series Jim Rice at left field — a strong historical card for Boston fans and anyone needing a left-handed power bat with solid contact from that side of the plate. Beyond Rice, the map offers XP, packs, and a repeatable final goal that pays out a substantial number of The Show Packs each time you complete it.

Conquest maps tend to reward patient, methodical players more than aggressive rushers, and the repeatable final goal makes this one worth revisiting even after you've claimed the headline card. For free-to-play grinders who want to maximize pack income without spending Stubs, cycling through that final goal multiple times is a legitimate strategy.

Cards: All-Star Series Jim Rice (93 OVR)
Rewards: XP, Packs, player cards, and "20" The Show Packs for repeatable final goal

Source: the official post.

FREE Memorial Day Pack

SDS is marking Memorial Day with a complimentary pack that delivers cosmetic rewards for both Diamond Dynasty and Road To The Show. The contents include a Diamond Dynasty Memorial Day Bat Skin, a Road To The Show Memorial Day Bat Skin, and a pair of Memorial Day CFX Pro Batting Gloves — all themed equipment to personalize your experience in both modes.

This is a pure goodwill gesture with no gameplay impact, but cosmetic collectors and Road To The Show players who want to represent the holiday on the diamond will appreciate the free pickup. There's no grind required — just claim it and equip.

Rewards: Diamond Dynasty Memorial Day Bat Skin, Road To The Show Memorial Day Bat Skin, Memorial Day CFX Pro Batting Gloves

Source: the official post.

Chase Pack 11

Chase Pack Eleven features Prime Series Ted Simmons, a catcher rated at the very top of the overall spectrum for this stage of the game. His contact ratings from both sides of the plate are nearly identical and elite, and his power splits are solid and balanced. As an eight-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, Simmons carries significant historical cachet alongside genuinely competitive in-game attributes for a catching slot that is often underserved in Diamond Dynasty.

The pack is available through the Third Inning XP Reward Path Wheel, in purchases of the fifty-pack bundle, and as a rare find inside individual The Show Packs. It guarantees at least one Diamond player card, with a chance — not a guarantee — at Simmons himself. For players who need a top-tier catcher upgrade and have been spinning the XP wheel, this is an appealing chase target.

Featured player: Prime Series Ted Simmons, 8-time All-Star and Baseball Hall of Famer (96 OVR)
Rewards: Guarantees "1" Diamond player card with a chance to find the featured player

Source: the official post.

Kevin Gausman's 2000 Strikeouts Showdown

The Kevin Gausman Two Thousand Strikeouts Showdown is a standalone event celebrating the Toronto Blue Jays ace becoming just the sixth active pitcher to reach that career strikeout milestone. Players face off in a Showdown format against Gausman to earn his Milestone Series card, a starting pitcher with excellent break and control ratings alongside solid velocity.

Source: the official post.

New cards

Nick Kurtz

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 94.5 · Hall of Fame 93.5 · Legend 87.9
Quirks: Homebody, First-Pitch Hitter, Breaking Ball Hitter, Fighter, Rally Monkey, Situational Hitter, Day Player

Nick Kurtz is the marquee earnable card of the week, and his attribute sheet explains why immediately. His right-handed contact sits in elite territory, and the left-handed number is nothing to dismiss either. What really stands out is his power — both sides of the plate are in the mid-to-upper nineties, making him one of the more balanced power threats available at first base in this tier of the game. His Clutch rating is genuinely exceptional, and Discipline is off the charts, suggesting he'll work counts and punish mistakes deep into at-bats.

The quirk loadout reinforces the narrative: Breaking Ball Hitter pairs with Fighter and Situational Hitter to paint the picture of a disciplined, high-floor hitter who elevates in pressure moments. Homebody and Day Player are situational considerations for lineup construction. His OpScore ratings are strong across all difficulty settings, peaking at the All-Star level but holding up impressively on Hall of Fame as well. The main limitation is speed and fielding, so he's not winning you anything with his legs or his glove — but at first base, that's largely irrelevant. Hard to justify not making the push to earn him.

Shohei Ohtani

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 91.7 · Hall of Fame 91.2 · Legend 87.8
Quirks: Road Warrior, First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, Fighter, Bad Ball Hitter, Night Player, Table Setter

This Topps Now version of Shohei Ohtani arrives as a designated hitter, and while that limits his versatility compared to dual-threat versions of the character, the hitting profile is clean across the board. His contact numbers right and left are balanced and solid, and the power splits are similarly even — slightly favoring the left side — which makes him a consistent threat regardless of pitcher handedness. Vision is respectable, and Discipline is strong, keeping him patient at the plate.

The quirk set is fascinating: Road Warrior is a notable boost for away games, while Dead Red and Bad Ball Hitter give him coverage on both fastball-hunting and chase-pitch situations. Night Player adds context-specific upside, and Table Setter is a rare quirk that helps him create opportunities for the hitters behind him. His OpScores are solid but not elite at the top difficulty, which is worth noting for Legend-level grinders. Still, as a program-earned card, he represents outstanding value and fits comfortably into a wide range of lineup constructions.

A.J. Ewing

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 91 · Hall of Fame 95.2 · Legend 95.1
Quirks: Homebody, Dead Red, Unfazed, Rally Monkey, Day Player, Table Setter

A.J. Ewing might be the sneaky-best earn of the week for players who prioritize center field defense and on-base consistency. His contact splits from both sides of the plate are nearly identical and sit in premium territory, meaning you can slot him in regardless of matchup without hesitation. Speed is elite, which combined with a strong Fielding rating makes him one of the better defensive outfielders you can earn for free right now.

What makes Ewing particularly interesting is his OpScore trajectory — he actually grades out higher at Hall of Fame and Legend difficulty than at All-Star, which is an unusual profile that suggests his skill set scales well as pitcher quality increases. Quirks like Unfazed and Rally Monkey add situational upside, while Dead Red helps him punish predictable fastball-first pitchers. The power numbers are modest, especially from the left side, so he's not going to anchor your middle of the order. But as a leadoff or table-setting center fielder who can cover ground and put the ball in play, Ewing earns his spot on any roster.

Brandon Sproat

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 90.2 · Hall of Fame 92.8 · Legend 93.1
Quirks: Homebody, Pick Off Artist, Stopper, Night Player, Break Outlier

Break Outlier is the quirk that could make Sproat a rotation weapon at higher difficulties, as it magnifies the impact of his already-elite break rating. Pick Off Artist adds a wrinkle for baserunner management, and Night Player gives him a situational edge. The control limitation is real and will show up as walks in tough matchups, but for players who can live with some wildness in exchange for overpowering stuff, Sproat is a free starting pitcher worth slotting in. He's especially appealing as a program-earnable option for squads that haven't invested heavily in pitching on the marketplace.

Henry Bolte

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 88.4 · Hall of Fame 91.1 · Legend 90.3
Quirks: Homebody, Dead Red, Night Player
Market: buy now 7,875 stubs · sell now 0 stubs

Henry Bolte is a pack-exclusive center fielder from the Athletics who profiles as a speed-and-defense outfielder with legitimate pop from the left side. His power splits are notably asymmetric — considerably stronger batting left than right — which is worth accounting for in matchup planning. Contact is good but not exceptional, and Vision is lower than you'd hope for a leadoff-type profile.

His quirk set is lean: just Homebody, Dead Red, and Night Player. That's a limited toolkit compared to other outfielders at this tier, and his OpScores reflect a card that's solid rather than elite. The market price is reasonable for a pack card at this overall, making him an accessible pickup for players who want outfield depth without committing to a top-tier option. He's a fine roster piece but not someone who reshapes your lineup.

Yohendrick Pinango

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 80.4 · Hall of Fame 87.6 · Legend 89.3
Quirks: Road Warrior, First-Pitch Hitter, Rally Monkey, Bad Ball Hitter, Pinch Hitter, Day Player, Table Setter
Market: buy now 7,999 stubs · sell now 4,251 stubs

Yohendrick Pinango brings one of the more striking contact profiles in this entire drop — both his right-handed and left-handed contact ratings are above average and nearly identical, which is rare and valuable. Vision is also excellent, making him a genuine on-base threat who can work counts and find gaps. The issue is speed, which is well below the outfielder average, and power from the left side drops off sharply.

His quirk inventory is surprisingly deep for a pack card at this overall: Rally Monkey, Bad Ball Hitter, Table Setter, First-Pitch Hitter, and Pinch Hitter give him a wide range of situational utility. Road Warrior and Day Player add context-specific value. The Pinch Hitter quirk in particular is worth noting — it makes him a reliable bench option for late-game at-bats even when he's not starting. His OpScores trend upward at higher difficulty levels, suggesting his contact-heavy profile scales better against stronger pitching. At his current market price, he's a reasonable buy for teams that need a disciplined bat off the bench or in a corner spot.

Daylen Lile

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 92.6 · Hall of Fame 93.4 · Legend 93.1
Quirks: Homebody, First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, Rally Monkey, Bad Ball Hitter, Situational Hitter, Night Player, Table Setter
Market: buy now 11,982 stubs · sell now 6,500 stubs

Daylen Lile is a genuinely exciting card — a Spotlight-series left fielder who combines elite right-handed power, premium contact, and near-elite speed into a package that almost no other earnable or affordable card can match at this point in the game cycle. The right-handed power number is among the highest you'll see outside of the most premium endgame cards, and right-handed contact is right alongside it. Speed at this level gives him extra-base hit upside on top of his raw power.

The quirk list is extensive: Dead Red, Bad Ball Hitter, First-Pitch Hitter, Rally Monkey, Situational Hitter, Homebody, Night Player, and Table Setter cover nearly every situational scenario you could encounter. The limitation is a significant drop-off in power from the left side, which means southpaw matchups require attention. But the DiamondOps OpScores are elite across every difficulty setting, and the market price — while elevated — reflects genuine demand. If you can earn him through the pack or afford to buy now, Lile is a roster-shaping card.

Aaron Ashby

DiamondOps rating (OpScore): All-Star 96.5 · Hall of Fame 100.2 · Legend 99.9
Quirks: Homebody, Pick Off Artist, Day Player, Outlier I, Break Outlier
Market: buy now 12,000 stubs · sell now 7,538 stubs

Aaron Ashby might be the most dominant reliever available in Diamond Dynasty right now, full stop. His OpScores are extraordinary — the Hall of Fame and Legend ratings push past what almost any other card in the game achieves, and the All-Star number is similarly elite. The stuff is simple to explain: maximum velocity combined with maximum break, plus Outlier I and Break Outlier quirks that push his pitch movement into a category that hitters simply cannot replicate in practice sessions.

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