Five players that should have been on the cover of MLB the Show 24

San Diego Studios choosing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the cover came out of nowhere, surprising a lot of Atlanta Braves fans

Kyle Richardson | Feb 1, 2024

When MLB the Show announced their new cover athlete as Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the 2024 edition of the game, it came as a shock to a lot of people, including fans of the Atlanta Braves. San Diego Studios made claims that the player was a Top 5 player in the league and possibly a Top 3 player. I don't agree with that but to each their own. Today, we are going to look at five players who I think deserved to be on the cover instead of Vlad Jr.

Five players that would have been better options for the MLB the Show 24 cover

#1. Ronald Acuña Jr.

If you are making a baseball game, maybe you should put the best player in baseball on the cover? That would make a lot of sense to me. The Show did not do that last year either, as they had Jazz Chisholm Jr of the Miami Marlins on the cover. Acuña and Shohei Ohtani are the two most electrifying players in baseball right now. Ohtani was already on the cover so he won't make this list, but Acuna should.

(Ed note: Supposedly, an exclusivity deal for Ronald's involvement with the MLB Clutch Hit Baseball video game prevented Ronald from being eligible for the cover, but it's the 5th ever 40/40 season - where there's a will, there's a way.)

#2. Corey Seager

Another great option would have been the guy that won the World Series MVP. Seager was electric for the Rangers and he served as a hero during multiple games on their World Series conquest. The Rangers colors fit the main color scheme for the game as well, and honoring the reigning World Series champion feels right.

#3. Freddie Freeman

If you just want to make a first baseman the cover athlete, how about the guy that was ranked as the No. 1 first baseman in baseball? Freddie Freeman is the best player on the L.A. Dodgers and he is a machine at first base.

#4. Julio Rodriguez

For MLB the Show 23, they chose a player that oozed star power to be on the cover in Jazz Chisholm Jr.. If they wanted to remain on that route, one of the top choices should have been Julio Rodriguez. J-Rod has star written all over him and he oozes confidence and swagger. He would have been a great cover athlete.

#5. Mike Trout

What if I told you that one of the greatest players in the history of baseball has never graced the cover of the best MLB video game? Trout has been in the MLB since 2011 and has NEVER been on the cover of the show. Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., and Mo Vaughn are the only Angels players to ever be on the cover. Here is a list of players that appeared on the cover during Trout's career (we aren't counting 2011 because he only played 40 games):

2012: Adrian Gonzalez
2013: Andrew McCutchen
2014: Miguel Cabrera
2015: Yasiel Puig
2016: Josh Donaldson
2017: Ken Griffey Jr.
2018: Aaron Judge
2019: Bryce Harper
2020: Javier Baez
2021: Fernando Tatis Jr.
2022: Shohei Ohtani
2023: Jazz Chisholm, Jr.
2024: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

You are telling me that all of those guys are more deserving than one of the greatest to ever play the game?

I understand that Vlad Jr. is a legacy player and he is cool, but the only thing he has really won in his career is the Home Run Derby. Again, I am not the deciding factor on who is on the cover, but my two cents is that there were better options.

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Published Feb 1, 2024

KYLE RICHARDSON