MLB The Show 26 has officially revealed its cover athlete — New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge. The short reveal posted to MLB The Show‘s social accounts this afternoon doubles as both a celebration of Judge’s career and quiet roadmap for what’s coming in the game itself.
3X AL MVP
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) January 27, 20262X #MLBTheShow cover athlete
Welcome back, Aaron Judge! @TheJudge44@Yankees @Yankees_Beisbol pic.twitter.com/2l0kOAt7Nu
Before we go any further, yes — this is the part where I acknowledge that I previously speculated that the cover might feature Barry Bonds. Needless to say, that theory aged like milk. However, I would like to request some leniency as I did choose a screenshot of Aaron Judge as the featured image! That counts for something, right? No? OK, moving on.
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Jokes and baseless speculation aside, Judge gracing the cover of MLB The Show 26 should come as no surprise to baseball fans, given the New York Yankees star captain just earned the third AL MVP award of his career. In 2025, Judge slashed a ridiculous .331/.457/.668, combining for an OPS of 1.114, and amassing a 9.7 WAR. Truly insane stat lines. Despite the Yankees being blown away by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS, Judge slashed .500/.581/.662 in 26 postseason at-bats, by far his best October showing. Unfortunately, a lack of help around him — as well as some awful postseason pitching outings — prevented this monstrous performance from meaning much.
This is the second time Judge has made the cover of an MLB The Show title — MLB The Show 18 marked the first time he graced the cover for the series.
In the trailer, Judge is shown wearing a World Baseball Classic uniform, all but confirming that the mode will have a presence in the game this year — likely in Diamond Dynasty as a Program. The logo for the Fresno State Bulldogs (Judge’s alma mater) is shown, confirming the school’s inclusion in Road to the Show.
MLB The Show 26 Announces Release Date
Cover reveals are cool. But when is the game coming out? Luckily for those who don’t care for the theatrics of video game marketing, that information was revealed today as well.
MLB The Show 26 will be available for digital purchase on March 17, 2026. The game will be available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Oddly, the game doesn’t mention the Switch 2 specifically, so stay tuned for more information on that. Also, sorry — no PC release just yet.
Pre-orders for both the Standard and Digital Deluxe editions of MLB The Show 26 will open on February 3, 2026, at 12 PM (EST)/ 9 AM (PST). The Digital Deluxe edition will give players 4-days early access beginning on March 13.
