Pitcher. Hitter. MVP. Coverboy. Shohei Ohtani does it all.
The 2021 Sporting News Athlete of the Year can add another accolade to his collection, as the Angels superstar earned the nod to grace the cover of “MLB: The Show 22,” set to hit shelves a few days before the start of the 2022 MLB season.
MORE: MLB offseason grades — Did Angels do enough to morph into contenders?
This year, for the first time, Nintendo Switch fans can partake in the epic moonshots and righteous dingers that the series has to offer, as “The Show” comes to the Switch console, replacing the long-running “RBI Baseball” franchise.
There’s also a new duo in the broadcast booth, as Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Chris Singleton comprise the commentary pairing, replacing Matt Vasgersian, who had been the lead voice of the franchise for 16 years.
Here’s what you need to about “The Show” coming to consoles this April:
MLB The Show 22 release date
- Release date: Tuesday, April 5
- Early access date: Friday, April 1
- Consoles: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Just in time for the start of the 2022 MLB season, “MLB: The Show 22” releases on Tuesday, April 5 for all next-gen platforms.
For those who purchase the digital editions of the game, it will be available via early access on April 1.
It’s the lone console baseball game on the market in 2022, after “RBI Baseball” was discontinued. In turn, “The Show” is coming to Nintendo Switch this year for the first time.
MLB The Show 22 editions
There are two different versions of “MLB: The Show 22” hitting shelves this year. The standard edition, which is available on all consoles, and the MVP version of the game, available on only Sony and Microsoft platforms:
- The standard version of the game, which is $59.99 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch editions, and $69.99 for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S versions.
- The “MVP” version of the game, which is $84.99 for all platforms (excluding Nintendo Switch).
- There’s also a “Digital Deluxe” version of the game, which is $99.99.
Full details for the different upgraded versions of the game are as follows:
| Digital Deluxe Edition | Digital MVP Edition | Physical MVP Edition |
| “MLB: The Show” on multi-console | “MLB: The Show” on multi-console | “MLB: The Show” on multi-console (w/ voucher) |
| Four days’ early access | Four days’ early access | Limited Edition SteelBook case |
| One Diamond Choice pack | One Diamond Choice pack | Four days’ early access |
| One Cover Athlete Diamond Choice pack | — | One Diamond Choice pack |
| Five Gold Choice packs | Two Gold Choice packs | Two Gold Choice packs |
| One Ballplayer pack | One Ballplayer pack | One Ballplayer pack |
| 20 The Show packs | 10 The Show packs | 10 The Show packs |
| Double daily login rewards | Double daily login rewards | Cover Athlete Themed Bat Skin |
| Cover Athlete Themed Bat Skin | Cover Athlete Themed Bat Skin | Double daily login rewards |
| 25K Stubs | 10K Stubs | 10K stubs |
Will MLB The Show be on Xbox?
For baseball and Xbox fans who have been starved for a legitimate baseball sim franchise on Xbox consoles since the days of the MLB 2K series, there is good news: “MLB: The Show 22” will be on Xbox consoles for the second time, following up from the debut of the series on Xbox last year.
There’s more good news: With multiplayer cross-play, Xbox players will be able to play with PlayStation players and vice versa.
MLB The Show 22 preorder
Most major retailers including GameStop, Target, Best Buy and Walmart are accepting preorders on “MLB: The Show 22.” For those looking for the upgraded editions of the game, a preorder is suggested.
You can also preorder the game through The Show’s official site.
MLB The Show 22 cover
Coming off his historic 2022 season, Angels’ phenom Shohei Ohtani gets the nod for “MLB: The Show 22.”
Ohtani was a unanimous selection for the the AL MVP award, the 19th time that’s happened in the award’s history.
It’s Ohtani time. Pre-order #MLBTheShow 22. Available 4/5 on PS5, PS4, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and for the first time ever, Nintendo Switch.
Pre-order: https://t.co/LCivWAsdi4 pic.twitter.com/xekdg9fuhE— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) January 31, 2022
Ohtani joins the following list of players to make it on the cover of “The Show:”
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | David Ortiz | Boston Red Sox |
| 2007 | David Wright | New York Mets |
| 2008 | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 2009 | Dustin Pedroid | Boston Red Sox |
| 2010 | Joe Mauer | Minnesota Twins |
| 2011 | Joe Mauer | Minnesota Twins |
| 2012 | Adrian Gonzalez | Boston Red Sox |
| 2013 | Andrew McCutchen | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2014 | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers |
| 2015 | Yasiel Puig | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2016 | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 2017 | Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle Mariners |
| 2018 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees |
| 2019 | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 2020 | Javier Baez | Chicago Cubs |
| 2021 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres |
| 2022 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels |
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