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Home / Blog / MLB The Show 26

Fernando Tatis Jr. May Retro Lightning Guide - MLB The Show 26

Written by:  U4N
Published: Jun 06, 2026
47

Fernando Tatis Jr. is the new May Spotlight Retro Lightning reward player in MLB The Show. Fans can now unlock a powerful 96 OVR card of the San Diego Padres shortstop. This card celebrates his amazing month from May 2021.

MLB The Show 26 Fernando Tatis Jr.

This guide will show you his crazy real-life stats and exactly how to add him to your Diamond Dynasty squad.

The Historic Month: May 2021

In May 2021, Fernando Tatis Jr. played some of the best baseball of his career. He was hitting the ball incredibly hard and making history at the same time. On May 21, 2021, he hit his 50th career home run. He did this in just 171 games. That made him the fastest shortstop ever to hit that milestone.

Here is a quick look at his mind-blowing stats from that specific month:

Stat TypeFernando Tatis Jr. (May 2021 Stats)
Batting Average (BA).353
Slugging Percentage (SLG).824
Home Runs9
Runs Batted In (RBIs)26
wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus)215 (115% above league average)

How to Unlock Retro Lightning Tatis Jr.

You need to collect special player cards to get this card. You will look for May Spotlight Pack Drops 1 through 5. Trade these cards into the May Retro Lightning Collection menu.

Here are the step-by-step rewards as you collect the cards:

  • Step 1: Get May Spotlight Packs from Drops 1 to 5.
  • Step 2 (10 Cards Collected): Unlock the 95 OVR Spotlight Series Cristopher Sánchez (SP, Philadelphia Phillies).
  • Step 3 (15 Cards Collected): Unlock the grand prize, 96 OVR Retro Lightning Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS, San Diego Padres).

Want to unlock the powerhouse 96 OVR Retro Lightning Fernando Tatis Jr. or boost your squad even faster? Collecting all those Spotlight Series cards takes time, but you can instantly skip the grind by grabbing MLB The Show 26 Stubs Gift Cards right here on our website to land your favorite players immediately!

The Best Game Modes To Grind For May Spotlight Retro Lightning Packs

To get the May Spotlight Packs quickly, you need to target specific Diamond Dynasty game modes. Since these packs are tied to the monthly program drops, you want modes that give high XP, Program Stars, and hidden pack rewards.

Here are the best game modes to grind, ranked from easiest to most rewarding.

1. May Spotlight Conquest Maps (Best for Hidden Packs)

Conquest is the fastest way to get free packs and chunks of program progress without sweating against real players.

  • What to do: Complete the specific May Spotlight Conquest maps as they drop.
  • The Reward: Every map has hidden Spotlight packs on specific territories. You also get big chunks of Program XP for completing the final map goals.
  • Quick Tip: Play only the stronghold games on Rookie or Veteran difficulty to speed up your progress.

2. Spotlight Showdown (Best for Instant Program Progress)

If you are confident in your hitting skills, Showdown is the most time-efficient mode.

  • What to do: Draft a team featuring May Spotlight hitters and beat a series of mini-bosses, leading up to the final boss.
  • The Reward: Success usually rewards you with 1 to 2 Spotlight Packs directly, plus huge progress toward the main May program.
  • Quick Tip: Load your draft with high-power batters. You do not need to worry about defense or pitching in Showdown mode.

3. Mini Seasons: Spotlight Edition (Best for Repeatable Packs)

Mini Seasons is ideal if you like playing full, short games against the computer.

  • What to do: Play a 28-game season against CPU teams using your Diamond Dynasty squad.
  • The Reward: Look at the "Goals" menu inside Mini Seasons. Look for missions like "Win 10 games with Spotlight Series players" or "Hit 20 home runs." These goals reward you with repeatable Spotlight Packs.
  • Quick Tip: You can quit out of away games to speed up the season if you have already won enough games to make the playoffs.

Summary of the Grind Strategy

Game ModeIdeal ForDifficulty LevelRepeatable?
ConquestFree hidden packs & easy XPLow (Play on Rookie)No (One-time rewards)
ShowdownFast program progressMedium (Clutch hitting)No (One-time chunks)
Mini SeasonsGrinding pack-specific goalsLow to MediumYes (Goals reset)
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About the Author

The U4N Editorial Team is made up of dedicated gamers and technical experts. We're not just a trusted marketplace for game assets—we're all about empowering players with top-tier, expert-driven content. Our team produces in-depth guides, strategies, and technical fixes for some of the biggest games out there, like MLB The Show 26, Aion 2, Forza Horizon 6, Arc Raiders, and Path of Exile.

Whether it's mastering market flipping in Diamond Dynasty or optimizing your endgame builds, all of our strategies are tested and proven by in-house experts. At U4N, we don't just follow the meta—we help you stay ahead of it.

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