New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has been announced as the cover athlete for MLB The Show 26, marking his second appearance on the iconic video game's cover. This makes Judge only the second player in history to achieve this honor, following Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer, who graced the cover in both 2010 and 2011. The game is set to launch on March 17, with early access available starting March 13.

Unlike his first cover appearance for MLB The Show 18, this year's artwork for MLB The Show 26 is a comprehensive reflection of multiple significant chapters in Judge's illustrious baseball career. While still featuring him prominently in the New York Yankees' iconic pinstripes, the new design also includes a Team USA jersey behind him, symbolizing his upcoming first World Baseball Classic appearance.

The artwork further highlights his roots by featuring the location of his high school on a map of California, alongside his baseball jersey from his time at Fresno State. Judge expressed his astonishment and delight at the design, telling ESPN, "The cover they have for this year is going to be pretty special... Kind of has a lot of different ties to different parts of my life. I think fans are going to enjoy it, and I think even gamers that don't watch much baseball [who] play the game will really enjoy it as well."

The experience of being on the cover for a second time is particularly surreal for Judge, who recounted his childhood dream of playing in the major leagues and then, incredibly, appearing on the cover of the game he grew up loving. He shared a personal anecdote about stumbling upon approximately 50 unopened copies of MLB The Show 18 at his parents' house in California during Thanksgiving, remarking on the goosebumps he got seeing his younger self on the cover. Judge admits to being a lifelong fan, eagerly awaiting the game's March release each year and asking his parents to rush him to the store for a copy.

Judge's ambition to be a video game cover athlete has been a long-standing one. Since his first cover in MLB The Show 18, he has consistently asked his agent if he could be featured again each year. He openly admitted to being "jealous" of golf legend Tiger Woods, who had his name and likeness included in 14 editions of EA Sports' PGA Tour game titles and covers. "I play a lot of video games, so it was always a dream of mine to somehow still be involved and have some type of impact," Judge explained, making the call for his second cover appearance "pretty surreal."

While his first cover was a dream come true, Judge didn't necessarily expect a second opportunity, acknowledging that many other deserving players in MLB have yet to receive the honor. "Getting to do it twice is special," he stated, though he humorously added, "I'd love to do it a third time, but I know there's going to be a lot of other guys out there that are going to don that cover with a lot of humility and excellence and it'll be fun. I'm still going to play the game no matter who's on the cover."

Beyond personal accomplishment, Judge views his presence on the cover as a powerful tool to connect with the next generation of baseball fans through his ALL RISE Foundation. He highlighted the "coolest thing" as seeing children at his camps recognize him from the game, fostering a connection with kids who may not have many opportunities to attend live baseball games. "Seeing the joy it brings them to get a chance to play this game or even the kids at my camp that know me and they're like, 'Hey, I saw you, you're on the cover; I'm playing with you.' That's what it's all about right there -- just connecting with those kids and this next generation," he emphasized.

In 2018, Judge had the unique experience of visiting Sony Interactive Entertainment's San Diego studio, where his walk-up, swing, and various motions were meticulously scanned for the game. He finds it "still spot on" how his batting stance and distinctive quirks are replicated in the video game, marveling at the advanced technology.

He even joked, "I got a better swing on the game than I do in real life." When he plays MLB The Show, Judge typically loads up the "Road to the Show" mode first, eager to check his ratings. Despite the "weird" and "surreal" feeling of playing as himself, he always plays for the Yankees, considering it yet another "pinch me" moment in his extraordinary career.