Meet the Cover Stars of MLB The Show 25

For the first time ever, three athletes will grace the cover of an MLB The Show title. Let’s meet the cover stars.

PAUL SKENES

Paul Skenes is an exciting 22-year-old pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who was drafted first overall out of LSU in the 2023 draft class. Skenes committed to play for Air Force out of high school, and in his first season, he was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Baseball America, and the NCBWA.

Before becoming one of the best young arms in the game, Skenes was a catcher and won the John Olerud Award as the nation's best two-way player. At Air Force, he had a slash line of .367/.453/.669 in 119 games. In 33 games (15 starts) as a pitcher, he went 11-4 with a 2.72 ERA and 126 strikeouts with 11 saves in 112.1 innings pitched.

Skenes transferred to LSU in 2022. That’s when he focused exclusively on pitching. At LSU he pitched 122.2 innings with an ERA of 1.69 and 209 strikeouts. Skenes, along with 2023’s No. 2 pick, Dylan Crews, carried LSU to a College World Series title in 2023.

Skenes throws a four-seam fastball that frequently exceeds 100mph, a slider, a splinker and a curveball. He played one season in the minor leagues, rapidly moving up, before making his debut against the Cubs on May 11, 2024. He pitched four innings with seven strikeouts and three earned runs.

Skenes made just 11 starts before being named a National League All-Star and the NL’s starter. Pitching against Steven Kwan, Gunnar Henderson, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, Skenes pitched a scoreless inning.

Skenes’ rookie year was one for the ages. He went 11-3 in 23 games (133 innings) with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award and finished top three in NL Cy Young voting behind Zack Wheeler and eventual winner Chris Sale.

Not a bad rookie season.

GUNNAR HENDERSON

At 23 years old, Gunnar Henderson is already one of the best power-hitting shortstops in the game today. Henderson had a completely different way to the show than his cover counterparts. He attended John T. Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala., and was drafted out of high school.

Drafted in the second round, 42nd overall, by the Baltimore Orioles, Henderson was seen as a shortstop with a decent hit tool. He made his MLB debut at 21 years, 63 days old on Aug. 31, 2022, against the Cleveland Guardians playing third base. He went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his debut. In September 2022, he slashed .259/.348/.440, a decent start to what seems to be a great upcoming prime.

In 2023, his official rookie season, Henderson showed what he could really do. He played 150 games, slashed .255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI for a young, up-and-coming Orioles team that won 100 games and made the postseason. He won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and a Silver Slugger Award and finished eighth in AL MVP voting.

Henderson took another step to stardom in 2024 by proving his rookie year wasn't a fluke. He played 159 games and produced 37 home runs, 31 doubles and seven triples with a slash line of .281/.364/.529. He even stole 21 bases.

Henderson is the future of the Orioles’ franchise and a top position player in the game today.

ELLY DE LA CRUZ

Elly De La Cruz is a switch-hitting shortstop with a cannon for an arm, the speed of a gazelle and power that makes the stadium shake. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in July 2018 at 16 years old as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic for a $65,000 signing bonus.

Through two MLB seasons, de la Cruz has already established himself as one of the most electric players in the sport. His rookie season showed potential but ultimately had its ups and downs. In 98 games, he hit 13 home runs and walked 35 times while striking out 144 times. According to OPS+, he was 13-percent worse than league average.

It took just 15 games to flash his tools, though, as he hit for the cycle against the Atlanta Braves. Like Henderson, he took the next step in his sophomore season by hitting .259/.339/.471. His 119 OPS+ was a huge increase from his rookie campaign, too. He hit 25 home runs, 36 doubles and 10 triples and stole 67 bases, making his first All-Star team.

One of the most unique talents in the sport due to his tall, slender frame and jaw-dropping power, de la Cruz is the face of a Reds team looking to get back to the MLB postseason. He’s also a fan favorite for both Cincinnati and the rest of Major League Baseball.