Yankees Superstar Chosen for ‘MLB the Show 26’ Cover
One of baseball's greatest players will be recognized on the cover of the sport's top-selling video game.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge will grace the cover of "MLB The Show 26" - the second time Judge has been featured on the cover in his career. The reigning American League MVP was initially selected for the cover of the 2018 version of the game after his stellar rookie season.
This time around, Judge is on the cover after winning the AL MVP for the third time in his career. He was also selected as captain of this year's United States roster at the World Baseball Classic, a competition he will participate in for the first time in his career.
BREAKING: Captain America has arrived ????
— MLB (@MLB) January 27, 2026
Aaron Judge is your cover athlete for @MLBTheShow 26! pic.twitter.com/e71cprIQsA
The description for the upcoming game focuses on the journey from high school to college to the ranks of professional baseball, and that journey is reflected in the popular "Road to the Show" game mode. Players create their own character, assign a position, and live out the live of a top baseball prospect.
'MLB The Show 26' Highlights Judge's Journey
This year's "Road to the Show" game mode will feature Judge's alma mater, the Fresno State Bulldogs. Players can choose to attend Fresno State (or a number of other top college baseball programs) with the goal of winning a college championship.
3X AL MVP ✅ ️2X #MLBTheShow cover athlete ✅
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) January 27, 2026
Welcome back, Aaron Judge! @TheJudge44@Yankees @Yankees_Beisbol pic.twitter.com/2l0kOAt7Nu
The reveal of Judge on the cover comes after the game's social media accounts said that there would be "no new cover athlete" for this year's edition. Fans predicted that this meant a former cover star would be returning, and those predictions were correct when Judge was announced.
Judge returns to "The Show" cover after last year's three-person cover featured Orioles star Gunnar Henderson, Reds All-Star Elly De La Cruz and Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
Judge Returns to the Diamond
Fans won't have to wait until the Yankees start their season to see Judge back on the diamond, as he's leading a star-studded United States roster at the World Baseball Classic. Judge joins fellow stars like Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, Alex Bregman and Bryce Harper on Team USA, who will look to win the event for the first time since 2017.
First look at Aaron Judge in the Team USA World Baseball Classic uniform
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) January 27, 2026
(via @MLBTheShow) pic.twitter.com/r1Mjg53VTN
"It wasn't the best sitting at home watching Team USA battle. I wanted to be there," Judge said on MLB Network, referring to the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The star outfielder sat out that year's event while participating in free agency negotiations.
"I was in the middle of free agency, but I was looking forward to this opportunity again. Getting the chance to represent and be the captain is something that [Mike Trout] did last time and is a pretty special honor."
The World Baseball Classic is set to begin on March 5, and "MLB The Show 26" is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S & X and Nintendo Switch on March 17.