The April Spotlight Collections aren’t going anywhere. However, for those looking ahead, the countdown to the May Lightning in MLB The Show 26 is on. The first May Spotlight drop took place in early May, which included a 93 OVR Mickey Moniak, plus XP and Topps Now cards. And on June 5, the Lightnings were released.
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Lightning & Retro Lightning
For those who are new or didn’t complete the April Lightning Collection, Sony typically releases two Lightning cards per month. One is the Lightning that honors the individual picked for an outstanding performance during May 2026. The other is Flashback/Legend, who is honored for a strong May in the past.
The May Lightning for MLB The Show 26 is a 96 OVR Jacob Misiorowski.
You’ll need the Bellinger, Kurtz, Emerson, Yandy Diaz, and Moniak from the Spotlight Programs to get the Brewers’ ace.
As for the Retro Lightning, that card is a 96 OVR Fernando Tatis Jr.
Fifteen May Spotlight pack cards are needed for the Tatis Jr.
Spotlight Drop 5 path
- 10 Points: 92OVR Topps Now MJ Melendez
- 20 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now Charles McAdoo
- 30 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now Wade Meckler
- 40 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now Jacob Gonzalez
- 50 Points: May Topps Now Choice Pack
- 60 Points: 10,000 XP
- 70 Points: 93 OVR Spotlight Miguel Vargas
- 80 Points: 93 OVR Spotlight Casey Schmitt
- 90 Points: 93 OVR Spotlight Jonathan Aranda
- 100 Points: 94 OVR Spotlight Braxton Ashcraft
- 110 Points: 10,000 XP
- 120 Points: May Spotlight Drop 5 pack
- 130 Points: 94 OVR Spotlight James Wood
- 140 Points: 95 OVR Spotlight Cody Bellinger
- 500 Points: May Spotlight (ANY) pack
How to make progress
- Complete seven Moments (35 combined pts. – 5 pts. each)
- Complete one EXTREME Moment (75 pts.)
- Missions:
- Tally 10,000 PXP with any players (20 pts.)
- Tally 2,500 PXP with Spotlight and/or Topps Now cards (20 pts.)
- Tally 50 total bases with infielders (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS) (20 pts.)
- Tally 30 hits with outfielders (LF, CF, RF) (20 pts.)
- Tally 18 innings pitched with any pitchers (20 pts.)
- Tally 24 strikeouts with SP (30 pts.)
- Tally 500 PXP with 95 OVR Spotlight Bellinger (500 pts.)
- OPTIONAL Spotlight Pack Collection:
- Collect 10 April Spotlight cards from packs (120 pts.)
The Extreme Moment is to score 13 runs in one inning with the Yankees on Veteran difficulty.
You’ll need to do the Bellinger to complete this Program in full. And, theoretically, one can draft the Bellinger in Battle Royale to finish it, even without owning the card.
Spotlight Drop 4 path
- 10 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now Adam Macko
- 20 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now Tommy Troy
- 30 Points: 2,500 XP
- 40 Points: May Spotlight Drop 4 pack
- 50 Points: 94 OVR Spotlight Cole Emerson & 2,500 XP
Adam Macko
Tommy Troy
Colt Emerson
How to make progress
- Complete seven Moments (28 combined pts. – 4 pts. each)
- Complete OPTIONAL Extreme Moment (30 pts.)
- Drop 4 Missions:
- Tally 5,000 PXP with any players (15 pts.)
- Tally 1,000 PXP with Topps Now and Spotlight Series players (15 pts.)
- Tally 20 total bases with outfielders (10 pts.)
- Tally 12 strikeouts with SP (10 pts.)
- OPTIONAL Collections:
- Collect 92 OVR Topps Now Heriberto Hernandez, Bryan Torres, & Reid Detmers (15 pts.)
- Collect 94 OVR Spotlight Colton Cowser & Kyle Harrison (35 pts.)
The Extreme Moment is to score 10 runs in one inning with the Mets on Hall of Fame.
Spotlight Drop 3 path
- 10 Points: 91 OVR Topps Now Brandon Sproat
- 20 Points: 92 OVR Topps Now A.J. Ewing
- 30 Points: 2,500 XP
- 40 Points: May Spotlight Drop 3 pack
- 50 Points: 94 OVR Spotlight Nick Kurtz & 2,500 XP
Brandon Sproat
A.J. Ewing
Nick Kurtz
How to make progress
- Complete seven Moments (28 combined pts. – 4 pts. each)
- Complete OPTIONAL Extreme Moment (30 pts.)
- Drop 4 Missions:
- Tally 5,000 PXP with any players (15 pts.)
- Tally 1,000 PXP with Topps Now and Spotlight Series players (15 pts.)
- Tally 10 home runs with infielders (10 pts.)
- Tally 12 strikeouts with RP/CP (10 pts.)
- OPTIONAL Collections:
- Collect 92 OVR Topps Now Yohendrick Pinango, Henry Bolte, and Rodolfo Duran (15 pts.)
- Collect 94 OVR Spotlight Daylen Lile & Aaron Ashby (35 pts.)
The optional Moment is to score eight runs on Hall of Fame with the Marlins in one inning.
Spotlight Drop 2 path
- 10 Points: 91 OVR Topps Now Sung Mun Song
- 20 Points: 91 OVR Topps Now Spencer Jones
- 30 Points: 2,500 XP
- 40 Points: May Spotlight Drop 2 pack
- 50 Points: 93 OVR Spotlight Yandy Diaz & 2,500 XP
Sung Mun Song
Spencer Jones
Yandy Diaz
How to make progress
- Complete seven Moments (28 combined pts. – 4 pts. each)
- Complete OPTIONAL Extreme Moment (30 pts.)
- Drop 2 Missions:
- Tally 5,000 PXP with any players (15 pts.)
- Tally 1,000 PXP with Topps Now and Spotlight Series players (15 pts.)
- Tally 15 hits with infielders (10 pts.)
- Tally nine innings with any pitchers (10 pts.)
- OPTIONAL Collections:
- Collect 91 OVR Topps Now Ryan Waldschmidt, Walbert Urena, & Bryce Eldridge (15 pts.)
- Collect 93 OVR Spotlight Tyler Glasnow & Travis Bazzana (35 pts.)
The Extreme Moment is to hit three home runs with Andy Pages on Hall of Fame in one game.
Spotlight Drop 1 path
Here’s a look at the May Spotlight Drop 1 path in MLB The Show 26:
- 10 Points: 90 OVR Topps Now Andrew Morris
- 20 Points: 91 OVR Topps Now Drew Romo
- 30 Points: 2,500 XP
- 40 Points: May Spotlight Drop 1 pack
- 50 Points: 93 OVR Spotlight Mickey Moniak & 2,500 XP
Andrew Morris
Drew Romo
Mickey Moniak
How to make progress
Now, a look at the tasks:
- Complete seven Moments (28 combined pts. – 4 pts. each)
- Drop 1 Missions:
- Tally 5,000 PXP with any players (15 pts.)
- Tally 1,000 PXP with Topps Now and Spotlight Series players (15 pts.)
- Tally 10 extra-base hits with infielders (10 pts.)
- Tally 15 strikeouts with SP (10 pts.)
- OPTIONAL Collections:
- Collect 91 OVR Topps Now Jake Bennett, Nathan Church, & Brady House (15 pts.)
- Collect 93 OVR Spotlight Christian Walker & Sean Burke (35 pts.)
The EXTREME Moment is to get 11 total bases in one game with Cody Bellinger on All-Star difficulty. It should be noted that EXTREME Moments, or any Moments, in general, do not need to be done.
Lastly, a helpful hint for those who may need XP down the line. Completing each Topps Now Collection will earn 1,000 XP, and 2,500 XP for the optional Spotlight Collection.
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