New York Yankees Star Aaron Judge Returns To Make History On Cover Of MLB The Show 26
Picture this: It’s Thanksgiving. You’re back at your parents’ house in California, digging through an old closet in your childhood bedroom. You push past the high school yearbooks and the dusty trophies, and you find a stack of video games still in the plastic wrapper.
But this isn’t just any nostalgia trip. For New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, that closet raid turned into a surreal reality check. He found nearly 50 unopened copies of MLB The Show 18—the first time his face graced the cover of the most popular baseball simulation on the planet.
Judge told ESPN that seeing those old games gave him “goosebumps.” It was a reminder of the 10-year-old kid who used to beg his parents to drive him to the store on release day. Well, that kid from Fresno is about to need more closet space. San Diego Studio officially announced on Tuesday that Judge is the cover athlete for MLB The Show 26.
A Historic Repeat For the Yankees Captain
Staying relevant in the modern sports cycle is exhausted. One minute you’re the hero, the next you’re trade bait. That is what makes this announcement so significant. By landing the cover for MLB The Show 26, Judge enters an incredibly exclusive club.
Until now, Minnesota Twins legend Joe Mauer was the only player to ever appear on the cover of the main game twice (back-to-back in 2010 and 2011). Judge has now matched that feat, bookmarking eight years of dominance between his 2018 appearance and the 2026 edition.
It’s a testament to his staying power. Since that first cover, Judge has evolved from a rookie sensation into the face of baseball. We’re talking about a three-time American League MVP, a 62-home run record smasher, and the captain of the most scrutinized team in sports.
The Duality Of the 2026 Cover Art
If you look closely at the new artwork, you’ll notice San Diego Studio isn’t just highlighting Judge the Yankee. They are highlighting Judge the icon.
Sure, he’s rocking the classic pinstripes we all expect. But looming in the background is Judge in a Team USA jersey. This is a massive nod to the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where Judge is set to captain the United States roster.
The game developers stated that this year is all about “The Journey.” The cover reflects that path—from his high school days in California, to Fresno State, to the Bronx, and now to the world stage. It is a cool touch that adds a little more narrative weight than your standard “guy swinging a bat” graphic.
Even Superstars Are Gamers
One of the best parts of this reveal is realizing that Judge is, at heart, just a massive baseball nerd like the rest of us. He admitted to ESPN that ever since his 2018 cover, he’s been secretly hoping to get the call again. He even compared it to Tiger Woods dominating the EA Sports golf covers for over a decade.
“I play a lot of video games, so it was always a dream of mine to somehow still be involved,” Judge said. “So then when they called and said, ‘Hey, we want to have you on there again,’ it was pretty surreal.”
And yes, he plays Road to the Show. And yes, he plays as himself. Although he did offer a hilarious bit of self-deprecation regarding the game’s motion capture technology: “They don’t need my help with that, man. I got a better swing on the game than I do in real life.”
Judge and the Numbers Game
Why him? Why now? Some fans on social media were speculating we might see fresh faces like Juan Soto or Tarik Skubal. But when you look at the resume, the verdict is clear. Judge is coming off yet another monster season where he snagged the AL batting title and posted an OPS of 1.145.
He isn’t just a power hitter anymore; he’s a complete hitter. In an era where batting averages are dropping across the league, Judge continues to mash. He connects with the older generation who love the Yankees tradition, and he connects with the kids at his “All Rise” foundation camps who scream when they see him.
