Each year, MLB The Show selects one of the best — and most marketable — players in baseball as the video game’s cover star. So the game’s decision to use Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. for the 2021 edition is a no-brainer.
Tatis is the youngest player to be featured on the cover since the game debuted in 2006. He’s coming off his first career Silver Slugger award with 17 home runs, the second most in the National League last season.
Tatis also showed off his style with plenty of bat flips, such as one after he launched a two-run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in the postseason, one inning after he hit a three-run shot.
Fernando Tatis Jr.: 21 years old 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/RfwVcj4S35
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 2, 2020
.@tatis_jr has arrived. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WlHpFHTG5i
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2020
Tatis joins a star-studded cast of players who have been cover stars for MLB The Show, including Bryce Harper, Ken Griffey Jr., Aaron Judge, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.
The game is also expanding in scope. In past years, MLB The Show was only available to PlayStation users. Now, MLB The Show 21 will be available to Xbox players, too, with cross-platform play compatibility between the competing consoles.
The game is available for preorder and will released on April 20. When the real baseball season is set to begin remains to be seen, so at least there’s a virtual one.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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