Tuesday marked an exciting day for gamers as the cover athlete for the 2024 edition of MLB The Show was revealed. In the past, Jazz Chisholm, Shohei Ohtani, and Fernando Tatis Jr. graced the cover. Speculations were rife among Texas Rangers fans, hoping to see Corey Seager or Adolis Garcia on the cover, especially after Texas won their first World Series. Some even created mock covers with this hope in mind.

One of the concept covers featuring Corey Seager went viral on social media, capturing fans’ attention and earning many retweets, as they hoped it would become the official cover.

However, during a cover reveal show hosted by David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic, it was announced that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be the cover athlete for 2024. Guerrero is a well-known player and the reigning HR Derby champion, but some questioned the timing of this decision. He had a disappointing season with decreasing home run numbers in 2023, hitting only 26 compared to 48 in 2021 and 32 in 2022.

As a Texas Rangers-oriented site, the author expressed their preference for Adolis Garcia, considering his outstanding performance in the postseason. Corey Seager was also mentioned as a great choice, given his significant contributions and memorable moments during the October games.

Additionally, there were other non-Texas Rangers players who could have been better options, such as Ronald Acuna Jr., the reigning NL MVP, who had an exceptional season. The game could have capitalized on the historical aspect by featuring Shohei Ohtani in a Dodgers uniform, paying tribute to the franchise’s past. They could also have chosen a legendary player like Willie Mays or highlighted superstars like Aaron Judge or Mookie Betts.

It seems that the choice of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the cover is another peculiar decision by MLB The Show. The game should ideally focus on promoting the biggest stars in baseball, similar to how Madden, the flagship football video game, features notable players on its cover each year. The author believes that while Guerrero Jr. has the potential to regain his superstar status with a strong 2024 season, he is presently not in the top tier of baseball superstars. The selection of Jazz Chisholm as the cover athlete for 2023 was also seen as an unexpected move, likely aimed at highlighting the significance of the Negro Leagues.

Despite these concerns, the author anticipates the game’s release on March 19th and hopes that it will include some form of recognition for the Texas Rangers’ World Series win, possibly in the game’s introduction video. Only time will tell.