This second annual ‘Creator Showdown’ will take place on Tuesday, March 24, beginning at 6 p.m. and feature 16 of the top MLB The Show content creators across North America and Asia competing with the Tampa Bay Rays live roster in MLB The Show 26.

Players will be placed into four groups, with the top player in each group advancing towards the semifinals and finals. The winner of the tournament will receive $1,000, with an additional $1,000 being donated towards a charity of the winner's choice.

This event will be broadcasted live on the Rays Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube Channels.

2025 Winner: YourFriendKyle (CA)

This season, Rays Gaming will host the fourth annual “Sunburst Invitational,” an MLB The Show tournament featuring four (4) online tournaments, eligible for players of age 13+ in the US and Canada.

For the first time ever, players will have the chance to compete with all 30 MLB teams on day 1 of the qualifiers. All players who advance to day 2 (round of 16) and the Finals will compete using the Tampa Bay Rays live roster.

All qualifier winners will be flown to St. Petersburg, FL as they compete on July 16 for a share of a $12,000 CASH PRIZE in the Sunburst Invitational Championship.

• Qualifier #1 Finals: Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET
• Qualifier #2 Finals: Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET
• Qualifier #3 Finals: Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET
• Qualifier #4 Finals: Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m. ET

On Thursday, July 16, the four (4) qualifier winners will be flown to compete in person for the Sunburst Invitational Championship, live from Coastal Creative in St. Petersburg, FL.

The Semifinals will begin at 12 p.m. ET in a best-of-three format with the winners advancing to the best-of-three Finals beginning at 7 p.m.

• 1st Place: $8,000
• 2nd Place: $2,500
• T-3rd Place: $750

Format: All registered and eligible participants will be entered into this MLB The Show 26 tournament. All games are 9 innings with a 10-run mercy rule after 5 innings.

All day 1 and 2 matchups will be single elimination games played on ‘Hall of Fame’ difficulty. Players who advance to day 3 will be entered into a double-elimination format played on ‘Legend’ difficulty. All Qualifier Finals will be a best-of-three played on ‘Legend’ difficulty. All Qualifier finalists will be required to use a different starting pitcher for each of the best-of-three matches.

The following settings are to be used in all Match play during the Online Qualifier Rounds and Finals Event:

• Cross play: ON (network setting)
• Add friends: ON (network setting)
• Messaging: ON (network setting)
• Mode: Exhibition
• Qualifier Day #1 Team: Tampa Bay Rays Live Roster or Matchup proposed by lower seed
• Qualifier Day #2 Team: Tampa Bay Rays Live Roster
• Qualifier Finals + LAN Team: Tampa Bay Rays Live Roster
• Qualifier Day #1 Hitting/Pitching Difficulty: Hall of Fame
• Qualifier Day #2 Hitting/Pitching Difficulty: Legend (Round of 16)
• Qualifier Finals + LAN Hitting/Pitching Difficulty: Legend
• Stadium: Tropicana Field
• Guess Pitch: OFF
• Quick Counts: OFF
• Strike Zone: ON
• Hot Zone: OFF
• Balks: OFF
• Umpire Accuracy: Perfect
• Umpire close plays: OFF
• Ejections: OFF
• Injuries: OFF
• Presentation mode: Fast Play
• Created ballplayers are not permitted.