MLB: The Show is an American baseball video game series created and developed by San Diego Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series has received critical and commercial acclaim, and since 2014 has been the sole Major League Baseball simulation video game on the market for consoles.

The series debuted in 2006 with MLB 06: The Show for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, following the MLB series from 989 Sports. There has been a new release in the series every year since 2006.

The series was released on PlayStation 2 from 2006's MLB 06: The Show through 2011's MLB 11: The Show and was available on the PlayStation 3 from MLB 07: The Show through MLB The Show 16. Portable versions of the series for either the PlayStation Portable or PlayStation Vita accompanied every entry from MLB 06: The Show through MLB 15: The Show. The series started releasing on the PlayStation 4 with MLB 14: The Show.

After over two decades of exclusivity with PlayStation consoles, MLB: The Show ceased to be released only on PlayStation, and started to be released on other consoles by MLB Advanced Media, though the edition of the game at the time—MLB The Show 20—was a PlayStation 4 exclusive. MLB The Show 21 is the first title in the series to be released on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S; MLB The Show 22 is the first game of the series to be on a Nintendo console, released on the Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay Gameplay simulates a game of professional baseball, with the player controlling an entire team, a team's manager, or a select player. The player may take control of one of 30 Major League Baseball teams in any game mode and also is able to chose from 6 special team including NL and AL all star teams (excluding Road to the Show) and use that team in gameplay. The Series has variable game modes in which a player takes control of a team for a single game, one season, or a franchise (multiple seasons).

The online gameplay mode Diamond Dynasty allows users to create teams through collecting cards of current players and MLB legends. Players take their teams into various online matches to earn rewards to continue upgrading their team.

The offline gameplay mode Road to the Show allows users to take control of their own ballplayer on their journey through high school, college, the minor leagues, and on to the MLB. Players earn upgrade tokens and equipment packages to level up their player.

Predecessors from 989 Sports

GameRelease dateCover AthletePlatformsStarTeamMLB Pennant RaceOctober 14, 1996David JusticeAtlanta BravesPlayStationMLB '98July 1, 1997Bernie WilliamsNew York YankeesMLB '99March 31, 1998Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore OriolesMLB 2000February 28, 1999Mo VaughnAnaheim AngelsMLB 2001February 29, 2000Chipper JonesAtlanta BravesMLB 2002May 7, 2001Andruw JonesMLB 2003June 17, 2002Barry BondsSan Francisco GiantsMLB 2004April 30, 2003Shawn GreenLos Angeles DodgersPlayStation, PlayStation 2MLB 2005March 4, 2004Eric ChavezOakland AthleticsMLB 2006March 8, 2005Vladimir Guerrero Sr.Los Angeles AngelsPlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable

Games GameRelease dateCover AthletePlatformsStarTeamMLB 06: The ShowFebruary 28, 2006David OrtizBoston Red SoxPlayStation 2, PlayStation PortableMLB 07: The ShowFebruary 27, 2007 (PS2/PSP)David WrightNew York MetsPlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation PortableMay 15, 2007 (PS3)MLB 08: The ShowMarch 4, 2008Ryan HowardPhiladelphia PhilliesMLB 09: The ShowMarch 3, 2009Dustin PedroiaBoston Red SoxMLB 10: The ShowMarch 2, 2010Joe MauerMinnesota TwinsMLB 11: The ShowMarch 8, 2011MLB 12: The ShowMarch 6, 2012Adrián GonzálezBoston Red SoxPlayStation 3, PlayStation VitaMLB 13: The ShowMarch 5, 2013Andrew McCutchenPittsburgh PiratesMLB 14: The ShowApril 1, 2014 (PS3/Vita)Miguel CabreraDetroit TigersPlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VitaMay 6, 2014 (PS4)MLB 15: The ShowMarch 31, 2015Yasiel PuigLos Angeles DodgersMLB The Show 16March 29, 2016Josh DonaldsonToronto Blue Jays PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4MLB The Show 17March 28, 2017Ken Griffey Jr.Seattle Mariners PlayStation 4MLB The Show 18March 27, 2018Aaron JudgeNew York YankeesMLB The Show 19March 26, 2019Bryce HarperPhiladelphia PhilliesMLB The Show 20March 17, 2020Javier BáezChicago CubsMLB The Show 21April 20, 2021Fernando Tatís Jr.San Diego Padres PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SMLB The Show 22April 5, 2022Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles Angels PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo SwitchMLB The Show 23March 28, 2023Jazz Chisholm Jr.Miami MarlinsMLB The Show 24March 19, 2024Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Toronto Blue JaysMLB The Show 25March 18, 2025Paul SkenesElly De La CruzGunnar HendersonPittsburgh PiratesCincinnati RedsBaltimore OriolesPlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo SwitchMLB The Show 26March 17, 2026Aaron JudgeNew York YankeesPlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Special Edition covers GameStarTeamMLB The Show 21Jackie RobinsonBrooklyn DodgersMLB The Show 22Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles AngelsMLB The Show 23Derek JeterNew York Yankees

International covers +CanadaGameStarTeamMLB 12: The ShowJosé BautistaToronto Blue JaysMLB 13: The ShowMLB 14: The ShowBrett LawrieMLB 15: The ShowRussell MartinMLB The Show 16Josh DonaldsonMLB The Show 17Aaron SanchezMLB The Show 18Marcus Stroman +KoreaGameStarTeamMLB 06: The ShowChan Ho ParkSan Diego PadresMLB 14: The ShowShin-Soo ChooTexas RangersMLB 15: The ShowMLB The Show 16Jung-ho KangPittsburgh PiratesMLB The Show 17Hyun-soo KimBaltimore Orioles +TaiwanGameStarTeamMLB 13: The ShowWei-Yin ChenBaltimore OriolesMLB 14: The ShowMLB 15: The ShowMLB The Show 16Miami MarlinsMLB The Show 17

Commentators Commentator 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 242526 Total appearances Matt Vasgersian 16 Dave Campbell 7 Rex Hudler 6 Eric Karros 6 Steve Lyons 4 Harold Reynolds 1 Dan Plesac 5 Mark DeRosa 4 Heidi Watney 3 Jon Sciambi 5 Chris Singleton 5 Robert Flores 2Jessica Mendoza2Total333334333333344422244

Reception and sales

+ Year Game Sales 1997MLB '98 1998MLB '992.52 million 1999MLB 2000 2000MLB 2001 2001MLB 2002 2002MLB 2003 2003MLB 2004 660,000 2004MLB 2005 900,000 2005MLB 2006 400,000 2006MLB 06: The Show 940,000 (PS2), 350,000 (PSP)2007MLB 07: The Show930,000 (PS2), 280,000 (PS3), 280,000 (PSP)2008MLB 08: The Show420,000 (PS2), 700,000 (PS3), 330,000 (PSP)2009MLB 09: The Show330,000 (PS2), 720,000 (PS3), 270,000 (PSP)2010MLB 10: The Show410,000 (PS2), 730,000 (PS3), 210,000 (PSP)2011MLB 11: The Show130,000 (PS2), 590,000 (PS3), 180,000 (PSP)2012MLB 12: The Show930,000 (PS3), 200,000 (PSV)2013MLB 13: The Show840,000 (PS3), 150,000 (PSV)2014MLB 14: The Show430,000 (PS3), 730,000 (PS4), 120,000 (PSV)2015MLB 15: The Show400,000 (PS3), 1.01 million (PS4), 40,000 (PSV)2016MLB The Show 16380,000 (PS3), 960,000 (PS4)2017MLB The Show 171.16 million2018MLB The Show 181.06 million2019MLB The Show 192.52 million2020MLB The Show 202021MLB The Show 212 million2022MLB The Show 222023MLB The Show 232024MLB The Show 242025MLB The Show 25Total14.03 million

Notes

References