Sony San Diego Studio has officially revealed that Aaron Judge will serve as the cover athlete for MLB The Show 26, marking the superstar’s return to the franchise after previously appearing on the cover of MLB The Show 18. The announcement represents an early look at this year’s installment and signals a renewed focus on player progression and long-term career building.
The development team says MLB The Show 26 centers heavily on the idea of “The Journey,” emphasizing the path from high school baseball to the highest levels of the sport. Players will once again begin their careers at the grassroots level, steadily improving through dedication and performance with the ultimate goal of reaching the Hall of Fame. According to Sony San Diego, this structure mirrors Judge’s own rise through the baseball ranks, making him a natural choice to represent the game.
Judge’s career milestones are extensive. Since his breakout rookie season in 2017, he has become a 3 time American League MVP, a 7 time All Star, and a 5 time Silver Slugger Award winner. He also holds the American League single season home run record with 62 home runs and is confirmed as the Team USA captain for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. His continued success and visibility on the world stage were cited as key reasons for his selection as this year’s cover athlete.
The cover artwork features Judge wearing his Team USA World Baseball Classic uniform, which ties directly into one of MLB The Show 26’s confirmed features. The World Baseball Classic tournament will return to Diamond Dynasty, with more details about its implementation expected to be shared in the near future.
Sony has also confirmed that the first official gameplay trailer for MLB The Show 26 will premiere on February 3. The trailer will showcase new additions, updates to existing features, and several unannounced surprises.
MLB The Show 26 launches on March 17, 2026, with Early Access beginning March 13 for players who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition. Pre-orders for both the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition open on February 3 at 12 pm EST and 9 am PST.
Alongside the game announcement, Sony revealed the return of the Homage x MLB The Show apparel collaboration. This year’s lineup begins with a cover athlete t-shirt featuring Aaron Judge, available in both adult and youth sizes, with additional apparel drops planned throughout the year.
Players looking to stay informed about MLB The Show 26 can sign up for the MLB The Show Scouting Report, which provides monthly in-game reward packs from April through December. Sony also encourages players to create and link an MLB The Show account, allowing access to a shared card inventory across supported platforms.
At launch, MLB The Show 26 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Sony confirmed that weekly feature reveals, deeper trailer breakdowns, edition details, and additional announcements will roll out in the weeks leading up to release.
