The article by twins_34 provides an overview of the Dev Lab, a training facility for player development programs ranging from Very Easy to Very Hard. It stresses the need for a good development budget and notes that intelligent, hardworking players succeed more. Programs include baserunning, base stealing, new positions, bunting, running mechanics, and various pitching and fielding improvements, plus a Strength and Conditioning Program to reduce injuries. Effectiveness depends on whether a player's overall rating is lower than their potential rating, with outstanding outcomes giving extra boosts.
In the Dev Lab, programs vary in difficulty, ranging from Very Easy to Very Hard. The time needed to complete these programs also varies based on the length of your league's schedule, from 5-6 weeks to 5-6 months (or more if your league has a short schedule).
If your league does have a short season length, the time needed to complete these programs will increase. For example, if your league only plays for 3 months, the programs will adjust accordingly. This means you can only complete one of the longer programs plus one short program, or three to four short programs, during your off-season.
Based on my extensive testing, it is crucial to set a decent development budget; otherwise, your programs may fail slightly more often. Additionally, players with high intelligence and work ethic will have a slightly higher success rate.
IMPORTANT: The Dev Lab will not reduce your stats unless the outcome is poor. Any other lowered stats are a result of natural scouting, which only occurs when the scouting system is active.
An email with no scouting information looks as follows:
Subject: Development Complex Summary
Message:
Here is the short summary about his time at the development complex.
Walker did extremely well at the training facility! Coaches tried him out at RF and he was a natural. He worked on many different drills and exercises with staff, and by the end of his program, nothing was getting by him. He has come out of the practice with great confidence at RF, and I've noticed his fielding abilities at the position have also improved dramatically.
While it's difficult to measure the exact changes specifically due to his time at the facility, here is my best estimate:
Your Development Complex Director
The harder the programs the harder they are to get a successful result. Programs range from Very Easy to Very Hard.
Baserunning (Very Easy) - Helps base running rating. Not speed not stealing. So makes player more efficient on basepath 3 points when successful 5 for outstanding
Base Stealing (Very Easy) - This will improve stealing ability and aggressiveness 3 points for each when successful 5 for outstanding
Learn new position (Easy) - Will train a position your player does not have (Like CF learns 3B) and then will give a small boost to IF ratings from <5 to 5 ratings points (So like 3-5 points)
Bunting Drills (Easy) - yeah ups bunting It ups bunting skill
Running Mechanics (Medium) - This ups speed and with a outstanding outcome can help with injury
IMPORTANT
The following programs will not help your player if their overall rating is the same as their potential rating, UNLESS you achieve an outstanding program result, which will boost their potential by 5 points. This also applies to pitcher ratings, control, and movement.