Aaron Judge Being Named Cover Star of MLB The Show 26 Sparks Mixed Reactions from Fans

Aaron Judge will be on the cover of MLB The Show 26, making him the second player to feature as the cover athlete more than once.

Aaron Judge Being Named Cover Star of MLB The Show 26 Sparks Mixed Reactions from Fans

Aaron Judge is the cover star for MLB The Show 26 (Image via MLB)

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On Tuesday, Aaron Judge was revealed as the cover star for the upcoming MLB The Show 26 video game. This marks the second time the New York Yankees star has been named as the cover athlete of this game, having previously done so in 2018.

Developed by the San Diego Studios, the MLB The Show series is a massive hit among baseball fans. Last year, the game introduced several significant changes.

While some game modes like “Road to the Show” were enhanced a bit with the introduction of high school and college baseball, it marked the first time 3 players were on the cover. Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson, and Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes headlined as the cover stars.

In a press release on Monday, the MLB The Show franchise announced that there would be no new athlete on the cover. This caused a huge speculation among fans as they wondered what the company had in store for them.

Well, they stayed true to their words. Judge is not a new athlete to grace the cover after all. Following a historic 2017 season where he smashed 52 home runs as a rookie, the outfielder was named as the cover athlete for MLB The Show 18.

The cover features Judge in both his Yankees pinstripes and his Team USA uniform. The slugger will be the captain of his country at the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March after missing the previous edition in 2023.

The game will launch on March 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S and Nintendo Switch. As for early access, fans can get their hands on the game on March 13. Preorders for this begin on February 3.

Speaking of Judge, he had another fantastic season last time out. The 33-year-old smashed 53 home runs and had 114 RBIs while batting with a .331 average in the regular season.

Despite another playoff disappointment, he was named the American League MVP. This marked his 3rd MVP honor and his second successive win, having won this honor in 2024 as well.

Social media reacts to Aaron Judge being named cover athlete for MLB The Show 26

Aaron Judge will grace the cover of an MLB The Show game once again. The New York Yankees captain was named as the cover star for MLB The Show 26 on Tuesday. This development sparked mixed reaction among fans.

Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge (Image via X/@YankeesMuse)

While some fans were left excited to see him return on the cover, some trolled him and mocked him over his postseason performances.

Check out some of the fan reactions regarding this below:

Judge is just the second player in history to feature as the cover star more than once. Former Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was the other one. The MLB Hall of Fame featured on the cover in back-to-back games in 2010 and 2011.

Aaron Judge sent a 3-word message to Cody Bellinger following return to Yankees

Last week, Cody Bellinger finally returned to the Bronx. After several speculations, the 2-time MLB All-Star agreed to re-sign with the New York Yankees. On Monday, Aaron Judge would sent him a 3-word message.

Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge
Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge (Image via MLB)

Bellinger, who joined the Yankees through a trade from the Chicago Cubs in December 2024, would have a stellar season in 2025. He hit 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in 152 games with a .272/.334/.480 slash line. Defensively, he would play in all three outfield positions, showcasing his versatility.

After a very a slow offseason, the Yankees and Bellinger finally reached an agreement. The 2019 National League MVP penned down a 5-year, $162.5 million deal with opt-out options after the 2nd and 3rd season.

On Monday, the 30-year-old shared a reel about his 2025 season with the Yankees on Instagram. Judge would reply to this with a 3-word reaction.

You never left!!

Aaron Judge wrote under Cody Bellinger’s post on Instagram
Aaron Judge's message to Cody Bellinger
Aaron Judge’s message to Cody Bellinger (Image via Instagram/@cody_bellinger)

Judge and Bellinger will now be hoping to do one better than last season. After reaching the World Series in 2024, the Bronx Bombers suffered an American League Division Series (ALDS) exit against the Toronto Blue Jays, as they lost the best-of-five series 3-1.

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