This afternoon, San Diego Studio posted a brief statement across MLB The Show‘s social media channels announcing that the upcoming MLB The Show 26 will not feature a “new cover athlete.” While the post was light on details, the wording immediately sparked speculation within the community about what that decision actually means, and whether a legendary player could be set to take center stage.
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) January 26, 2026
Breaking News: There will not be a new cover athlete for #MLBTheShow 26.
pic.twitter.com/xhTW8D3u0g
In the statement, San Diego Studio thanked the MLB The Show community for its continued support before confirming that, despite excitement around the release of MLB The Show 26, the team has made a seemingly odd choice for the cover athlete. Below is the statement in full:
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO OUR MLB THE SHOW COMMUNITY:
First off, we at San Diego Studios want to thank you, the MLB The Show Community, for your continued support and feedback.
We know that you are all just as excited as we are for the release of MLB The Show ’26, so we wanted to let everyone know that this year we have decided that we will not have a new cover athlete.
Please stay tuned to all of our social channels for more information to come.
The phrasing is notable, especially given the franchise’s recent history. MLB The Show 25 featured a trio of rising stars on its cover art — Elly De La Cruz, Paul Skenes, and Gunnar Henderson — marking a shift toward highlighting the league’s next generation. Going from a multi-athlete, future-focused cover to explicitly stating that there will be no “new” cover athlete feels intentional, and pretty on-brand for the series.
Last year, SDS engineered some fun misdirection by having De La Cruz, Skenes, and Henderson individually announce that they would be the cover star for MLB The Show 25, leading to each of them “calling each other out” for the apparent mix-up. Then, it was revealed that all of them would be featured on the cover art, with each of them being granted prolonged “takeover” periods where the digital art had them on the cover by themselves.
Within minutes of the announcement this afternoon, social media and forums began buzzing with theories. For the most part, replies from The Show players reflected some confusion, but the most common assumption is that MLB The Show 26 could feature a legendary player, a returning cover athlete, or a broader tribute rather than a current MLB star.
San Diego Studio has used legends prominently within the series, especially within Diamond Dynasty mode, but a full pivot away from a current player on the cover would be a notable break from tradition. The studio’s choice of words — “no new cover athlete” rather than “no cover athlete at all” — has only added fuel to that interpretation.
Who Will Be The Cover Athlete For MLB The Show 26?
As of now, we don’t have much information to infer who this “old” cover athlete could be. However, allow me a moment to take a crack at it.
MLB The Show 26 has already revealed its official logo, which prominently features orange and black. That color combination is shared by only two Major League Baseball teams: the Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants.
Both franchises are among baseball’s most historic organizations and boast long lists of legendary players. However, the Giants stand out in this context due to one iconic figure who has notably been absent from licensed MLB video games for an extended period.
Without overreaching based on limited information, the combination of the game’s color scheme and the decision to forgo a new cover athlete has led me to believe it’s a possible tribute to a former Giants star. While nothing has been confirmed, it would not be surprising if San Diego Studio ultimately revealed a legendary figure connected to the franchise — potentially even Barry Bonds — as the face of MLB The Show 26. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be Bonds either. After all, Tim Lincecum has been a big ask for Show players for many years now and would be a great choice!
We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m certainly intrigued.
