Aaron Judge has recorded multiple home runs in 46 MLB games throughout his career, but lately, he’s been making headlines in a different arena. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Judge will grace the cover of MLB The Show 26, marking the second time the New York Yankees star has been featured on the game’s cover, the first being in 2018.
Joe Mauer, a Hall of Famer who played for the Minnesota Twins as a catcher and first baseman, remains the only player to appear twice on MLB The Show’s cover, in 2010 and 2011.
Judge, now 33 years old, is a five-time Silver Slugger and seven-time All-Star. Last season, he hit 53 home runs, drove in 114 RBIs, led the American League with 124 walks, and posted an outstanding .331/.457/.688 slash line, finishing with an AL-best score of 9.7 points over his replacement. This achievement earns Judge his third AL MVP award in four seasons.
Over his nine-year MLB career (2016-2025), Judge has led the AL multiple times in WAR, runs scored, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+ three times each. He has also topped the AL in walks four times and led in RBIs and intentional walks twice.
The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year set an AL record with 62 home runs during the 2022 regular season. Defensively, he has contributed 64 RBI saves from right field over his career.
Looking ahead, Judge will captain Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking his first participation in the tournament.
Fan Take:
Aaron Judge’s second appearance on the cover of MLB The Show symbolizes his growing legacy as one of the game’s modern icons. His role as Team USA captain in the upcoming World Baseball Classic cements his status as a global ambassador for baseball, promising to inspire fans and elevate the sport’s international profile.
