MLB The Show 26 Drops Cover Athlete Tradition, Leaving Stars Like Juan Soto Out
In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through the baseball and gaming communities, San Diego Studio, the developer behind the popular MLB The Show series, announced on Monday, January 2026, that MLB The Show 26 will not feature any new cover athlete. This decision marks a significant departure from a tradition that has seen a fresh face grace the cover almost every year since 2006.
Fans React to Unexpected Announcement
The update was shared via an official message on the studio's social media platforms, reaching fans globally. The announcement immediately ruled out several top players who were widely expected to be in contention for the coveted cover spot, including Juan Soto, Bobby Witt Jr., Tarik Skubal, and Cal Raleigh. Despite their outstanding performances in the 2025 season, none will appear on the cover this year.
In its message, San Diego Studio stated, "We wanted to let everyone know that this year, we have decided not to have a new cover athlete. Please stay tuned to all of our social channels for more information to come." The studio did not provide a detailed reason for this change, emphasizing that it was a company choice rather than an issue with any individual athlete.
Notable Players Affected by the Decision
Juan Soto, who had one of the best seasons of his career with the New York Mets in 2025, was a strong fan favorite for the cover. He played 160 games, hitting 43 home runs and joining the exclusive 30–30 club during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Soto also led the National League with 38 stolen bases, making his omission particularly notable.
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals also missed out again, despite a remarkable year. In August 2025, he hit his 100th career home run against the Texas Rangers, becoming one of the fastest players in MLB history to achieve 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. He later won the Platinum Glove Award and finished the season with 23 home runs and 38 steals in 157 games.
Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers pitcher, was rumored to be a top cover option. In September 2025, he struck out 14 batters against the Cleveland Guardians in AL Wild Card Game 1, and over the full season, he recorded 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings, solidifying his reputation as one of baseball's elite pitchers.
Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners catcher, had a historic season, hitting his 60th home run against the Colorado Rockies in September 2025. This made him only the seventh player in MLB history to reach that milestone in a single season, and he finished 2025 leading the American League with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs.
Impact on the Gaming Series
This decision breaks a long-standing tradition for the MLB The Show series, which has featured new cover athletes annually for nearly two decades. None of the four stars mentioned have ever been on the cover, and with the 2026 edition opting out of a new athlete, their wait continues. Fans are left wondering about the future direction of the game and whether this change signals a shift in how sports video games market themselves.
The announcement has sparked discussions among enthusiasts, with many expressing disappointment over the missed opportunity to highlight these exceptional players. As San Diego Studio prepares to release more details, the gaming and baseball worlds will be watching closely to see how this unconventional move plays out.
