For the first time since 1995, EA SPORTS introduces a new baseball franchise to home consoles and personal computers, one designed to be more realistic than past offerings in the Triple Play Baseball series. The batter-pitcher interface has been revamped to accommodate more strategic play. On the mound, players need to worry about velocity and the release point of each pitch; at the plate, players must decide on the type of swing based on the count and runner situation.
Once contact is made, a picture-in-picture window will show the runner on base so players can see what's happening around them at all times. At the heart of the game is a franchise mode where players can draft rookies, manage injuries, negotiate contracts, and hire or fire coaching staff. San Francisco Giants announcer Duane Kuiper handles the play-by-play with color analysis by Mike Krukow. Design input and advice on gameplay was sought from such big leaguers as Tim Hudson, Trot Nixon, and Torii Hunter.