Which player should grace the cover of MLB: The Show 2018?

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HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 03: George Springer

From Big Papi to Ken Griffey Jr., baseball’s more fearsome hitters have been placed on the cover of the most famous baseball video game. Fans of MLB: The Show can argue for more than a handful of players, but only a select few should be considered for next year’s honor.

A player’s popularity is typically never up for debate, as they’re either popular or not. But, for those who find themselves on the cover of a video game – that’s different. Especially one like MLB: The Show.

To be featured on the cover of MLB: The Show, the most popular baseball video game throughout the past decade, is nothing short of honor.

Players on the MLB: The Show Cover in the United States:

2006: David Ortiz
2007: David Wright
2008: Ryan Howard
2009: Dustin Pedroia (won MVP in 2008)
2010: Joe Mauer (won MVP in 2009)
2011: Joe Mauer
2012: Adrian Gonzalez
2013: Andrew McCutchen (won MVP that season)
2014: Miguel Cabrera (won MVP in 2013)
2015: Yasiel Puig
2016: Josh Donaldson (won MVP in 2015)
2017: Ken Griffey Jr.

Different countries exhibit a variety of players. Canadian fans see their favorite Blue Jays player on the cover, while Korean and Taiwanese gamers see native players on display.

For the United States, the athletes are typically MVPs from the previous season, with Puig as an exception, who has never finished higher than 15th in the MVP vote. Obviously, they’re also some of the more exalted players as well, gaining popularity throughout the nation.

Surprisingly, only a few of the players featured are deemed entertaining to watch. Young stars like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, and Manny Machado have yet to be put on the cover of these games, despite their eminence in the sport.

But what is clear is that when most of the players star on the front of MLB: The Show, they are typically in the prime of their career.

Four of the players listed above won the MVP the season before they were placed on the cover. Just two won the MVP in the same season that they were featured on the front of the game.

Several players deserve the opportunity to be showcased on the front of a popular video game, with these five players are just the ideal examples for the 2018 version MLB: The Show.

Clayton Kershaw

Give the pitchers some love, especially this one.

Since the MLB: The Show debuted in 2006, only hitters are stamped on the outside of each case. Why not give credit where credit is due?

Most fans may argue it’s more entertaining to witness a game with a multitude of home runs. Surely people feel satisfied when they watch their virtual selves take one out of the park in Career mode or with their favorite players.

But pitching can be fun as well. Also, Kershaw has already made a case for himself to be deemed the best pitcher of all time. Since 2011, he has finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting in every year, and he took home the award three of those seasons.

Consider 2017 a down year for the spirited southpaw. His campaign this season is still better than what most of the today’s pitchers could concoct in 162 games. The lefty owned his highest WHIP since 2012 at 0.949, while allowing a career-high 23 home runs. His 2.31 ERA, which finished atop all NL pitchers, was his highest since 2012.

He already sits in the top 100 in some all-time categories, such as strikeouts at 68th. If he qualified for the ERA category, he would be tied for 12th all-time. That alone should represent how dominance he is on the bump.

He’s strung together seven straight dominant years, and he should be rewarded for them in some way.

Yes, winning a World Series ring is a much more preferable accolade. But who doesn’t want to be featured on the cover of a video game?

Giancarlo Stanton

Fans hadn’t seen a season like this since the end of the steroid era in baseball and neither will MLB: The Show.

The monstrous home-run hitter clocked 59 dingers this year, along with 132 RBIs. His OPS was higher than 1.000 for goodness sakes.

If he earned the honor of being on the cover of 2018’s version of The Show, he would be the only player that tallied 59 homers in a single season. Yes, that includes Ken Griffey Jr.

And nowadays, fans love the young guns. Stanton is still just 27 years old, and he could be on his way out of Miami as well. Nevertheless, when he’s been healthy, he’s been a problem for opposing pitchers.

The right-handed slugger has already posted two complete seasons with a slugging percentage higher than .600. It should have been three, had he not injured his hamate bone in 2015. Through 74 games, he already crushed 27 homers with 12 doubles as well. His slugging percentage that year was a solid .606.

If the Marlins posted a winning record this year, Stanton could have been a major contender for this year’s NL MVP vote. He still could be, even though the last player to win the NL MVP from a losing team was Andrew Dawson in 1987 when his Chicago Cubs finished nine games below .500.

Stanton eclipsed Dawson’s stellar season from that year – 49 bombs and 127 RBIs – and should still be considered in the MVP race. Furthermore, he should be in the running for The Show’s cover because he made 2017 an exceptional year with his plethora of great moonshots.

Aaron Judge

The Yankees’ right fielder is essentially Giancarlo Stanton Jr., except that he’s much taller and has a gap between his front teeth. His power is nearly indistinguishable from that of Stanton, which is perfect for MLB: The Show.

In fact, the Fresno State product might have even more power than the Marlins’ stud outfielder.

Few players garnered more attention than Judge, mainly because while he enjoyed a 50-plus home run campaign, he also endured the most prolonged strikeout streak in MLB history. Its clear fans had more fun gazing at Judge smacking home runs out of the park.

He also put on a show at the Home Run Derby, defeating some of the best power hitters in their own game. The guy clobbered a few 500-foot bombs as well. Every game could seem like a home run derby with Judge in a video game.

That’s not all. Judge also made some fantastic defensive highlight-reel plays. That aspect could add to the overall fun he provides on any video game.

The only issue relates to his contact ability. Unless his owners doctor his statistics, some nights may be difficult, especially on the higher difficulties. But if you’re like some players and enjoy bashing opposing pitchers on the “Rookie” difficulty, then Judge would be one of the best to play with in the game.

As I said, it would be difficult to separate any individual game from a home run derby with Judge at the plate.

Joey Votto

There is no player more efficient at the dish than the Canadian Cincinnati captain.

He could be the first non-Toronto player included on the cover of the game in his native country. And he could join Josh Donaldson as the only player to sit on the front of the game in the U.S. and Canada.

Votto’s supporters have to be wary of the same argument as was presented against Stanton – two guys, two losing teams. The Marlins finished second in the NL East at 77-85, and the Reds finished last in the NL Central at 68-94. But Votto’s overall numbers were much more impressive than Stanton’s, despite the monumental difference in home runs.

The first baseman should have a better shot of winning MVP due to his WAR and excellent offensive ability – he hit .320 with 100 RBIs and owned a .454 OBP and 1.032 OPS. Votto isn’t mentioned often enough when fans talk about entertaining players, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t fun to watch.

When fans watch the Canadian, they witness a guy that can get on base in several ways. Someone with the same amount of discipline in the gaming world could break records playing with Votto, as he considerably is one of the more consistent players in the game.

If someone began a “Road to the Show” using Votto as the ideal example, they could break all-time records in several categories if they played enough seasons.

Jose Altuve

The mini-sized second baseman would likely be the only player fit the actual size on the cover of MLB: The Show.

It doesn’t mean he would be any less fun to pay with on the game. Not only does Altuve deserve the MVP crown from this season, but he’s also the most worthy of this spot for the upcoming version of the game.

He was an All-Star, won the batting title and slugged three bombs in a single playoff game. And he played a critical role on a daily basis for the World Series champions. Few could argue against putting him on the cover of The Show with those accolades.

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Compared to Judge, he would also be much more difficult to strike out, considering their different heights. There is arguably no player with a better contact ability, especially since Altuve has led the AL in hits in each of the past four seasons.

He can also provide some pop as well, as he hit 63 homers combined over the past three years. Along with Votto, he would be one of a complete players in the game to play with. Unlike Votto, Altuve could also swipe bases on a daily basis.

If players want to produce in the most categories possible throughout a franchise mode or in “Road to the Show,” a player like Altuve would be the most suited for it.

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Since that’s the case, no one else deserves to be put on the cover more so than Altuve.

What are your thoughts? Which player should grace the cover of MLB: The Show 2018 for next year?

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