About that Cover Announcement

So, who had Vlad Jr. as the cover athlete for MLB the Show 24?

I sure as hell did not. Like most people, I assumed Acuna would get the nod as the best, exciting young player in the game. If not Acuna, I assumed a large-market star like Mookie Betts, an emerging star like Adley Rutschman, or World Series hero Corey Seager.

The Vlad pick seems just strange. While he is no doubt a good player (although he was tied for 11^th in WAR last year for the Blue Jays) and has his famous father, there is no doubt that Vlad Jr. has fallen down the list of notable professional baseball players over the last two years.

Now, I know there is much more to picking the cover athlete than “this guy is awesome.” There is no doubt a complicated business agreement. Perhaps Acuna or other top choices were simply too expensive. We all know that San Diego Studios has gone the cheap route in recent years, failing to pay the license fees for players they once had like Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby or adding long-omitted legends like Joe DiMaggio or Barry Bonds.

In the end, the cover does not matter. For longtime gamers, things like content, gameplay, and the availability of legends are what will keep them playing. What are your thoughts on Vlad Jr.?

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