Top Rising Stars Gracing the Cover of MLB the Show 25
With so many up-and-coming stars in baseball, MLB The Show proves it is hard just to pick one. Similar to CFB 25, this year's installment of the latest baseball video game graces three young athletes. From left to right, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds, and Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. Here is what to expect from the three 2024 all-stars and their teams in 2025.
Paul Skenes
The hype around Paul Skenes began long before he was even drafted number one overall in 2023 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a star in college, starting with the Air Force, and got even better when he made the jump to the Southeastern Conference with Louisiana State University. In 2023 with LSU, Skenes struck out over 200 batters with a 1.69 ERA and a 13-2 record, propelling his squad to a College World Series win. Within a year after his collegiate championship, he shot through the Pirates minor league system and found himself in his Major League Baseball debut in May. Despite having a delayed start to the season, Skenes pitched his way into starting the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. He finished the year winning 11 games with a 1.96 ERA, 170 strikeouts, and a Rookie of the Year plaque. He exceeded all expectations at an absolute super speed and even finished third in Cy Young voting.
While the Pirates young core flirted with playoff contention in 2024, they were never really in the conversation and their season was all but over entering the final month of baseball. In 2025, Skenes and the Pirates hope to expand on the moments of success they found the previous year and wreak havoc in the National League. If Skenes’ sophomore year is anything like his rookie year, not only will the Pirates have a shot at the postseason but we all may be witnessing the beginning of what could be an all-time career. At only 22 years old, Paul Skenes will be able to show the rest of the league what his first season in the majors will look like.
Elly De La Cruz
In 2023, Elly De La Cruz burst onto the scene and immediately made waves. In just his second game, De La Cruz hit a ball 458 feet out. At six feet five inches, when Elly De La Cruz steps into the box, everybody takes notice. His arm also stands out, often making difficult plays at shortstop look routine. He has the combination of speed and power akin to the late great Rickey Henderson. In 2024, De La Cruz played his first full season and led the league with 67 stolen bases while bashing 25 home runs, knocking in 76 runs, and finishing eighth in MVP voting. With one of the most electric skillsets and personalities the sport of baseball has ever seen, the Cincinnati Reds expect De La Cruz to keep improving and to do so in the limelight.
The 2024 Reds had a somewhat similar season to the Pirates. However, Cincinnati will have a new manager entering 2025 and it is one of the game’s best. This offseason, Terry Francona agreed to a three-year contract with the Reds. Francona is a two-time World Series Champion as a manager and has had success everywhere he has been. Buster Olney listed the Reds as the most improved squad heading into 2025. The Reds hope to prove that on the field and with a young talented roster around him, at just 23, Elly De La Cruz is searching for his first taste of October baseball.
Gunnar Henderson
The oldest and most experienced of the three cover athletes, Gunnar Henderson already plays like a veteran at 23 years of age. Henderson won Rookie of the Year and won a Silver Slugger just two years ago, he was named an all-star in 2024 and finished fourth in MVP voting. Since making his debut in late 2022, Henderson has already accumulated 69 home runs and 192 runs batted in while playing great defense at shortstop. Henderson’s Baltimore Orioles are coming off two years of impeccable regular season baseball followed by two surprisingly quick postseason exits. The Orioles also have a great young group who seem to be capable of winning baseball games. In 2025, Henderson and the Orioles hope this is finally the year they get over the hump and win a playoff series or two or even find themselves competing for a ring.
Fans of the video game are speculating on improvements in the Road to the Show feature after the LSU logo can be seen on the cover right next to Paul Skenes. The hope is this has hinted at the introduction of colleges and even high schools to the game. Regardless of what the game looks like, MLB The Show 25 is already off to a great start by promoting three of the game's youngest and brightest. The game can be pre-order starting February 4th and will officially release on March 18th.
