MLB The Show 22 Controls for Nintendo Switch & How to use one Joy-Con for multiplayer

For the first time, MLB The Show 22 comes to Nintendo Switch, and with it come a whole new set of controls and slight changes.

We've got details on all the MLB The Show 22 Controls for Nintendo Switch, including how things will change if you play local multiplayer with only one Joy-Con each.

MLB The Show 22 Controls on Nintendo Switch

After making the major step to branch out on Xbox last year, MLB The Show 22 is the first title in the franchise to hit Nintendo Switch.

This also marks the first portable version in the series since the days of the PSP (PlayStation Portable).

While the vast majority of the game ports over exactly as expected for players used to playing on Xbox or PlayStation, there are some slight differences to controls thanks to the Switch controller designs.

When playing single player, you can use a regular controller or the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, and those controls work the same in handheld mode or if using the Joy-Cons with a controller grip while the Switch is docked.

If you want to check the MLB The Show 22 Controls on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X|S for comparison, we have more details on those here.

First up, we have the MLB The Show 22 Controls for hitting or batting on Nintendo Switch.

MLB The Show 22 Batting Controls for Nintendo Switch:

• Move Plate Coverage Indicator (Zone): Left Stick
• PCI Anchor (Zone): Left Stick (press in direction to anchor)
• Direction and Influence Fly or Groundball (Directional): Left Stick
• Contact Swing: A
• Normal Swing: B
• Power Swing: Y
• Check Swing: Tap and Release
• Sacrifice Bunt (all modes; late): X (hold)
• Drag Bunt (all modes; early): X (hold)
• Influence Bunt Direction: Right Stick → or Right Stick ←
• Select Contact or Power Swing (Pure Analog; before stride): A / Y
• Begin Stride (Pure Analog; if enabled): Right Stick ↓
• Normal Swing (Pure Analog): Right Stick ↑
• Contact Swing (Pure Analog): Right Stick →
• Power Swing (Pure Analog): Right Stick ←
• Check Swing (Pure Analog): Release
• Guess Pitch (if enabled): ZR + Pitch Type
• Guess Pitch Location (if enabled): ZR + Left Stick
• View Defense and Ratings: Right Stick (press)
• Quick Menu: D-Pad ↑
• Pitcher Attributes & Player Quirks: D-Pad ←
• Pitching & Batting Breakdown: D-Pad →
• Call Timeout: D-Pad ↓

Next, we have the pitching controls which will vary a bit based on which pitching interface you choose to use.

MLB The Show 22 Pitching Controls for Nintendo Switch:

• Select Pitch (all modes): B, A, X, Y, R
• Select Pitch Location (all modes): Left Stick (hold in place)
• Pitch (Classic and Pulse): B
• Begin Pitch (Meter): B
• Pitch Power (Meter): B (at top of meter for best velocity)
• Pitch Accuracy (Meter): B (at yellow line for best accuracy)
• Pitch (Pinpoint): Right Stick (trace design)
• Begin Pitch (Pure Analog): Right Stick ↓ (hold until yellow line)
• Release Pitch Accuracy & Velocity (Pure Analog): Right Stick ↑ (toward pitch location)
• Request Catcher’s Call: ZR
• Pitch History: ZR (hold)
• Look at Runner: ZL (hold)
• Deceptive Pickoff: ZL (hold) + Base Button
• Quick Pickoff: ZL + Base Button
• Slide Step: ZL + B (after pitch selection)
• Pitchout: L + A (after pitch selection)
• Intentional Walk: L + B (after pitch selection)
• Step Off Mound: L
• View Defensive Positioning: Right Stick (press)
• Quick Menu: D-Pad ↑
• Pitcher/Batter Attributes/Quirks: D-Pad ←
• Pitching/Batting Breakdown: D-Pad →

Defense can't be overlooked, and next up we have the throwing controls when fielding in MLB The Show 22 on Switch.

MLB The Show 22 Fielding Controls for Nintendo Switch:

• Move Player: Left Stick
• Switch to the Closest Player to the Ball: ZL
• Throw to Base (Pure Analog): Right Stick (in the direction of base)
• Throw to Base (Button & Button Accuracy): A, X, Y, B (hold)
• Throw to Cutoff Man: L (hold in Button & Button Accuracy)
• Perfect Throw (Button & Button Accuracy): A, X, Y, B (hold and release at gold line)
• Fake Throw or Stop Throw: Double-Tap Base Button (if enabled)
• Jump: R
• Dive: ZR
• Jump/Dive with One-Touch Enabled: R

Finally, baserunning can be a true difference maker in a tight game, so you wanna make sure you're not missing out on runs by stealing and advancing when the time is right.

MLB The Show 22 Baserunning Controls on Nintendo Switch:

• Select Runner: Point Left Stick toward the occupied base of the desired baserunner
• Advance: L after selecting baserunner
• Advance All Runners: L
• Steal Individual Runner: Select with Left Stick and then hit ZL
• Steal All Runners: ZL
• Hold and Release Steal: Hold ZL until just before the pitcher begins windup
• Advance or Return Individual Runner (in play): Left Stick + A, X, Y
• Tag Up: (in play) L
• Advance All Runners (in play): Hold L
• Return All Runners (in play): Hold R
• Stop Runner (in play): ZR
• Initiate Slide: Hold L while in Road to the Show or Player Lock with Analog Baserunning
• Any Direction Slide: Point Left Stick in Road to the Show or Player Lock with Button Baserunning
• Slides on the Basepath: Right Stick, then ↑ head-first; → hooking right; ← hooking left; ↓ feet-first
• Slides at Home: Right Stick, then ↑ head-first; ↓ feet-first; 5 o’clock wide right feet-first, 7 o’clock wide right head-first

That wraps up the main controls for MLB The Show 22 on Nintendo Switch, but things can get thrown for a loop if you wanna try local multiplayer.

How to play local multiplayer with only one Joy-Con each

MLB The Show 22 on Nintendo Switch introduces an exciting feature this year in that you can actually play with a single Joy-Con if doing a local multiplayer game.

Using a single Joy-Con for each player is not required, and you are welcome to use other controllers if you choose, but this means players who carry their Switch places can more easily hop into a multiplayer game with a friend.

There doesn't appear to be a way to play any of the single player modes with a single Joy-Con in MLB The Show 22.

The only way to play local multiplayer that we can tell is via the Play Now mode Exhibition, but from there you can setup either a competitive multiplayer or co-op game.

In both cases, enter the mode and when selecting your side press the + button to Change Grip Order and bring up the screen you see below.

Each player needs to grab a Joy-Con, turn it sideways, and press the SR and SL buttons on what is now the top of your controller.

If you wish to play co-op, move both team select icons to the same team, or move them to opposite sides to start a competitive local multiplayer game.

Once using a single Joy-Con, MLB The Show 22 will adapt the controls to be relatively the same with a few minor differences.

First off, all buttons will be indicated on-screen by their direction (↑,→,←,↓) with the following directions corresponding to their previous button:

• B becomes ↓
• A becomes →
• Y becomes ←
• X becomes ↑

SL and SR replace and combine the functions of ZL/L and ZR/R from the control schemes detailed above, and there's one other major change.

When playing with a single Joy-Con, you'll be restricted to the Classic, Meter, or Pulse Pitching Interface and unable to use Pure Analog or Pinpoint Pitching.

If you ever need to check to see how things line up for a specific action, press the + or - button to open the Pause Menu and go to Settings, Controls to view the alternate single Joy-Con controls in more detail.

These single Joy-Con controls will apply whether you're playing a competitive or co-op game.

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