Around this time every year, a cover athlete is announced for the forthcoming MLB The Show video game. The extremely successful franchise releases an iteration of the acclaimed video game every year, right before the beginning of the MLB season. Since the franchise was rebranded as “The Show” starting in 2006, last year marked a milestone.
Multiple players graced the cover of the game for the very first time, with Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson all sharing the cover. For 2026, San Diego Studio once again made some history. The Sony video game developer tabbed New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge for the MLB The Show 26 cover.
Aaron Judge becomes second player to grace MLB The Show cover twice
Judge was the cover athlete back in 2018. By gracing the cover of the 2026 edition, he becomes the second player to do it twice, joining former Minnesota Twins catcher and first baseman Joe Mauer. The Yankees team captain announced the news, saying: “I’m back! Excited to return to the cover of MLB The Show“.
MLB The Show 26 is scheduled to release on March 17, 2026. Pre-orders will begin on February 3. That will give fans plenty of time to get started on their Diamond Dynasty squads before the real MLB season begins. The first official game of the new year will come on March 25, when Judge and the Yankees take on the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in the Bay Area.
Full list of MLB The Show cover athletes
- MLB The Show 26: Aaron Judge
- MLB The Show 25: Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson
- MLB The Show 24: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- MLB The Show 23: Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- MLB The Show 22: Shohei Ohtani
- MLB The Show 21: Fernando Tatis Jr.
- MLB The Show 20: Javier Baez
- MLB The Show 19: Bryce Harper
- MLB The Show 18: Aaron Judge
- MLB The Show 17: Ken Griffey Jr.
- MLB The Show 16: Josh Donaldson
- MLB 15: The Show: Yasiel Puig
- MLB 14: The Show: Miguel Cabrera
- MLB 13: The Show: Andrew McCutchen
- MLB 12: The Show: Adrian Gonzalez
- MLB 11: The Show: Joe Mauer
- MLB 10: The Show: Joe Mauer
- MLB 09: The Show: Dustin Pedroia
- MLB 08: The Show: Ryan Howard
- MLB 07: The Show: David Wright
- MLB 06: The Show: David Ortiz
Mauer went back-to-back on covers in 2010 and 2011. It took Judge eight years to make it back, but he finally did. It’s a testament to his longevity.
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