It is time once again to make video game history. Who will take his place alongside Miguel Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen, David Ortiz, David Wright, Dustin Pedroia, Joe Mauer, Ryan Howard, Yasiel Puig Adrian Gonzalez, and Josh Donaldson as the only MLB players to grace the cover of The Show in the United States? Jose Bautista graced an alternate cover from 2012 thru 2013 in Canada. 2014 saw a different Toronto Blue Jay, Brett Lawrie, grace the cover while in 2015 the honor went to Russell Martin. In 2016, Josh Donaldson became the first athlete to grace both the US and Canadian covers.
In 2014, for the first time in the video game series history, Taiwan received its own cover graced by Wei-Yin Chen who again graced the cover in 2015 and 2016. The Korean cover was graced by Jung-ho Kang in 2016. League agreements and endorsement deals all play a factor in who makes the cover but to me that should not matter. The best choice should be the choice, period!
With the 2016 Major League Baseball season in full swing what better time to create the short list of who should grace the cover of MLB The Show 17. I am breaking down five players that I feel have earned the right to be in the conversation as cover athlete for 2017. But it will be you, the baseball and video game enthusiast, which makes the final call. We are going to vote on it.
I will list all six choices with one option for “other”. If you do not agree with any of my choices then pick other and leave a comment with who you think should be the MLB The Show 17 cover athlete. With some many options it is never easy to create a short list. You will notice that there are no pitchers on this year’s list. I am finally bowing to the fact that the franchise has never put a pitcher on the US cover. If they did it should be Jake Arrieta. Let the voting begin and let’s see if we can influence who becomes the 2017 cover athlete for the cornerstone of MLB video game franchises.
36 Comments
Mejía jr
February 12, 2017 at 4:16 pmMike Trout
RIP Jose Fernandez
December 8, 2016 at 6:32 pmIt’s going to be Mike Trout. Kris Bryant recently entered the league and has lots of time to get on the cover in the years to come. Trout has done lots of hard work and has gotten two MVPs and a runner up finish that he deserved to win. Bryce Harper is in that conversation, too, but he has only won 1 MVP award. Expect him on the cover soon, and same with Kris Bryant. Buster Posey has already been on the cover of the series, so they probably want someone else. He also didn’t have that good of a season compared to his past seasons. Machado is still young with a ton of talent, but he is still improving on his game. He is one of the best offensive players in the MLB and no doubt the best defensive infielder, too. He and Trout are tied for best defensive player. He is still improving and he has no MVP award yet, but I think he’ll win at least one MVP award in the coming years. Jose Fernandez is a great choice. He was a great player and a good candidate for the cover because of his playing. His candidacy only incresed after his sad passing. If Trout is not on the cover, which I believe he will be, it will be Jose Fernandez on the cover of the game.
Tru
November 22, 2016 at 9:50 pmbut david ortiz on the cover he had the best final year in mlb history
Bob
November 17, 2016 at 5:09 pmG…aka everyone is horrible in the MLB
JDF16
October 26, 2016 at 1:30 pmJose Fernandez
Esmundo Lara
October 26, 2016 at 11:01 amFreddie Freeman no offense to not wanting Jose to be on the cover yes he was great but i doubt the people creaters will put him on it, it would be great
Dawson
October 18, 2016 at 11:22 pmPut Nolan Arenado on the cover. He led Nl in HR and led all mlb in RBI and is probably the best fielder in the league. Give him credit even though he may be on a bad team he still improves the overall of the Rockies and for that he should be on the cover
jesse
October 16, 2016 at 12:34 amlets honor jose fernandez.
jesse
October 16, 2016 at 12:24 amlets honor jose fernandez
Bob
November 17, 2016 at 5:06 pmUh no Jose Fernandez stinks