The next installment of the baseball video game series MLB: The Show, which was released on March 17, features an alumnus from the Fresno State men’s baseball team, along with 11 new college baseball teams. New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who was previously the cover athlete for MLB: The Show 18, returns to the cover this year. Judge played at Fresno State for three seasons from 2011 to 2013.
Fresno State is now a playable college destination in MLB: The Show’s “Road to the Show” mode. In last year’s game, The Show 25, it was announced that officially licensed college baseball teams would be introduced, debuting on March 18, 2025. That release featured eight teams; with the 11 new additions this year, there are now 19 college baseball teams players can start at before climbing the ranks and aiming for the big leagues.
In “Road to the Show,” players start their careers as custom athletes, often at the high school or college level – now including programs like Fresno State. From there, players’ performances determine their paths. After showcasing their skills, players will enter the MLB Draft, where a team selects them and assigns them to the Minor Leagues. Players can rise through the Minor League levels, from rookie ball to Triple A, with the chance to be called up to the Major Leagues from any level.
MLB: The Show 26 strives to make the journey to the big leagues feel more authentic by adding college-level programs, such as Fresno State. The expansion of MLB: The Show 25’s “Amateur Years” experience, which lets players play as a high school ballplayer and move on to a college program, is intended to let players “experience all the trials and tribulations of a journey to the MLB,” according to MLB: The Show 26’s website.
MLB: The Show 26 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, including compatibility with the Nintendo Switch 2. The standard versions cost $59.99 on Nintendo Switch and $69.99 on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The deluxe version, which was available to players three days early, is $99.99 on all consoles.
