WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS action heating up
The Olympic Esports Series 2023 qualifying rounds for baseball are in full swing. The global qualifier final round kicks off next week. You can watch the action on Olympic Channel.
The qualification process for the baseball event at the Olympic Esports Finals 2023 is heating up.
Two more spots will be up for grabs during the global qualifier final round, scheduled to take place 17 - 23 April.
The best WBSC eBASEBALL™ POWER PROS player on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation respectively will join the six top ranked players which were determined at the Japan-only qualifier on 8 April in Tokyo.
Who will make it to the first ever Olympic Esports Finals finals from 22 to 25 June in Singapore streamed live right here on Olympics.com?
Check out some expert tips below. Hopefully they will help you improve your skill level!
- Find out more on Olympic Esports here.
WBSC eBASEBALL POWER PROS: Keep your eyes on the pitcher
Just like other baseball games and real-world baseball, it's important to keep your eyes on the ball. A lot of players will have their eyes glued to the strike zone while they wait for the ball to line up for the perfect hit. You're likely setting yourself up for failure if you're doing this!
There are several visual and audio indicators that'll help you get ahead of the pitch, literally. You'll be able to instantly see hints whether the ball will be fast, slow, high, low, inside or outside as soon as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. After that you can see the direction of the ball and whether or not it'll be suitable for a hit.
You'll also want to keep an eye out for exclamation points above the pitcher's head. If you see this it means the opposing player missed their initial mark. These pitches are far easier to hit and you should swing for them whenever possible.
BASEBALL™ POWER PROS: Invest in ball skills
Just like any other POWER PROS tournament, the Olympic Esports Series Global Qualifiers have a cost limit of how many players you can bring onto your team. Players are rated by their various skills. Players with higher stats will cost more.
You'll want to invest those points in the position that will touch the ball most. That includes your pitchers, second base, shortstop, and center field. Make sure your second base, shortstop, and center field players have strong fielding skills so you aren't exposed when the ball comes flying their way.
Pitchers, on the other hand, are the most vital element within POWER PROS. Here are a couple we recommend you try out as well as how many points they'll cost to bring onto your team:
- Aoba - 6 points
- Horusrun - 6 points
You'll have 55 points to build your team for the Olympic Esports Series Qualifiers, so it's important to get the most out of your team. Try investing in players who excel in one area as they may be cheaper to use compared to players who are strong in multiple areas.
POWER PROS: Infinite Batting Practice
The only way to win is to get on base. Hitting is key in POWER PROS, so you'll want to get as much practice as possible. Use the batting practice mode within Practice Mode in order to get as much swinging repetition as possible.
You can even set up batting practice so that the opposing team never gets a turn at bat, so you can practise hitting until your hands are one with the swing.
It's also important to have players with strong batting skills in your lineup. Sendoh, who costs 5 points, is more than worth the investment. His S hitting stat should bring a few of your runners home.
The Olympic Esports Series also allows players to choose a batting Lock On setting from within the options menu. We recommend you stick with Lock On 3 in order to make the most of your time at bat.
WBSC eBASEBALL™ POWER PROS: Tackle the mind games
Roster building and practice is essential to prepare for the tactical challenges you'll run into while playing POWER PROS. A huge part of baseball is the duel between the pitcher and batter, and you'll need to win that battle if you want a chance at POWER PROS glory.
Olympic Esports Series matches are only three innings long, so you won't have a lot of time to digest your opponents' mannerisms and patterns. You should head into every game with a strategy, but use the first inning as a way to take the temperature of the match. Adjust to that temperature in the second inning.
Even if you aren't competing in the Olympic Esports Series, maybe these tips have helped you. Don't get discouraged if you take some losses. Just remember, practice makes perfect.