Amir Garrett wins first-ever MLB The Show 20: Players Tournament

By Anthony Solis

Amid the coronavirus pandemic that’s brought a halt to the 2020 Major League Baseball season, Players have virtually come together to encourage fans to stay home and practice social distancing -- all while giving them a small taste of the game they’ve been missing.

MLB Players Inc. (MLBPI), in conjunction with Sony and Major League Baseball, hosted the first-ever “MLB The Show 20: Players Tournament.’’ Streaming in from various parts of the country, avid gamers Trevor May, Blake Snell, Amir Garrett and Hunter Pence took part in the four-player bracket, competing head-to-head in Sony’s latest installment of The Show.

Already armed with rosters filled with some of the league’s top talent -- crafted using The Show’s popular Diamond Dynasty mode -- May, Snell, Garrett and Pence were gifted with an additional 99-rated version of themselves. The format set the stage for a spirited and entertaining competition.

Livestreamed on the Player Association’s Twitter account (@MLB_Players) -- as well as MLB The Show’s and the league’s social media accounts, including the streaming site Twitch -- the tournament began with two five-inning semifinals. Snell defeated Pence 8-1 and Garrett edged out May 2-1, setting up a championship round between the two lefty pitchers.

Garrett beat Snell 2-1 in the finale for the Players Tournament title and expressed his gratitude with the following post on Twitter:

As the MLBPA and Players continue to seek out new Esports partnerships and affiliations, the event was a promising sign of the opportunities to come.