For the first occasion in its near two-decade existence, the widely famous MLB The Show video game will have a Cincinnati Reds standout athlete gracing its cover. The Major League Baseball broadcasted on Tuesday that one of the Reds’ acclaimed shortstops, Elly De La Cruz, would be making an appearance on the much-loved gaming cover.
Elly De La Cruz isn’t the solo athlete on the video game’s emblematic cover though. Joining him are two other sensational athletes that are making waves in Major League Baseball’s landscape. These include an unmistakable hurler from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes, and a tremendous shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles named Gunnar Henderson.
Thus, it has initiated a flurry of inquiries in the Cincinnati Reds’ community, intensely stirred by the commendable recognition of their star player. The most predominant question among fans and supporters is about the game’s release schedule.
As per the tradition set in prior years, the game launch is slated for the heart of March. It will be accessible for the players who are invested in either the PlayStation or Xbox platforms.
Early access, a perennial feature of MLB The Show game release schedule, will commence on the 14th of March. This would give a special set of users the opportunity to dive into the virtual baseball universe before everyone else.
The completion of the full game roll-out is anticipated to happen a few days after, specifically on the 18th of March. This marks the date when the entire gaming community will come together to access MLB The Show fully loaded with its new features and the coveted new cover stars.
Looking back to 2017, we recall a time when another Reds player was featured on the game’s cover. The then honor went to the former Red and Cincinnati local, Ken Griffey Jr., whose cover appearance came in post-retirement.
However, the case with Elly De La Cruz stands out, rendering him a trailblazer in this particular narrarive. With this new reveal, De La Cruz establishes a first as the initial active player from the Cincinnati Reds to have the honor of being on the game cover.
De La Cruz’s success story is a case study of grit, determination, and skill all coming together. Aged 23, his breakthrough season came in 2024 when he hit a whopping 25 home runs accompanied by stealing as many as 67 bases – a stupendous achievement that propelled him into a starring role.
His exceptional prowess didn’t stop there, as De La Cruz ensured his place in the All-Star team in the last season. This was an impressive milestone validating his rapidly rising reputation in the major league.
And if that wasn’t enough, Elly De La Cruz managed to also secure a strong spot in the coveted National League MVP voting. Topping off a laudable season, he rounded up at the eighth position, thereby elevating his already growing prominence in the professional baseball community.