San Diego Studios announced on Monday that MLB The Show 26 will not feature a new cover athlete, leaving baseball fans wondering what to expect when the game launches in March.
A Familiar Face-Or No Face At All-For MLB The Show 26
The popular baseball video game franchise is shaking things up by forgoing a new cover athlete this year, a decision announced on January 26, 2026.
Takeaways:
- San Diego studios confirmed on January 26, 2026, that MLB The Show 26 will not have a new cover athlete.
- This isn’t unprecedented; Joe Mauer graced consecutive covers in 2010 and 2011.
- Last year’s edition featured a triple cover highlighting rookies Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, and Elly De La Cruz.
- The studio typically reveals the cover athlete in late January or early February.
“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,” the studio said in a statement. “Please stay tuned to all of our social channels for more information to come.”
🚨Breaking News: There will not be a new cover athlete for #MLBTheShow 26. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xhTW8D3u0g
– MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) January 26, 2026
While a fresh face on the cover is a tradition for the franchise, this isn’t the first time MLB The Show has deviated from the norm. Joe mauer holds the unique distinction of being the onyl player to appear on consecutive covers, featuring on both MLB The Show 10 and MLB The Show 11. Since MLB 06: The Show debuted wiht David Ortiz on the cover, the series has showcased a who’s who of baseball’s brightest stars, including Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Andrew McCutchen, Yasiel Puig, Bryce Harper, javier Baez, Ken Griffey Jr., Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., and vladimir Guerrero Jr.
A Shift After Celebrating Baseball’s Future
Last year marked a first for the game’s standard edition with a triple cover,celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise and spotlighting the sport’s rising stars. Paul Skenes quickly lived up to the hype, winning National League Rookie of the Year after a dominant debut season. Gunnar Henderson finished third in american League MVP voting, solidifying his place as one of the game’s premier all-around players. And Elly De La Cruz electrified fans with 25 home runs, 67 stolen bases, and stellar defense at shortstop in his first full season.
Whether Skenes, Henderson, and De La Cruz will reprise their roles on the MLB The Show 26 cover, or if San Diego Studios will unveil a entirely different direction, remains a mystery.the studio typically announces its cover athlete in late January or early February, building anticipation for the game’s March release.
For now, the announcement leaves fans with more questions then answers, eagerly awaiting further details about what to expect when MLB the Show 26 arrives.
