3 Rangers players fans want to see on the cover of MLB The Show

Earlier this week, San Diego Studios and Sony details for MLB The Show 25, their annual baseball video game.

Along with limited information on some game play and console compatibility, this year's cover was also released. And for the first time in the series' history, it features more than one athlete on the cover.

Embracing the youth movement in Major League Baseball, the trio of Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Paul Skenes, Cincinnati Reds' infielder Elly De La Cruz and Baltimore Orioles' infielder Gunnar Henderson grace the cover.

The reveal made me think of two things: 1) When was the last time a Rangers player appeared on the cover of a video game? and 2) Which current Rangers players would fans like to see on a future cover?

To answer the first question we have to go back in the time machine 21 years to 2003 when Alex Rodriguez was featured on the cover of Xbox's MLB Slugfest.

As for the second question, I thought I'd answer that here with my three picks.

First Choice: Wyatt Langford

Langford is in the next wave of baseball talent alongside Skenes. De La Cruz and Henderson. The 23-year-old is entering his second full season in MLB and despite the slow start to his rookie campaign, he really showcased his potential to close out the season.

From his first career home run being an inside-the-parker, a walk-off grand slam against the Yankees to hitting for the cycle on Sunday Night Baseball, Langford has all the makings and talent of a star in the making.

If you do a quick dive into past covers of MLB The Show, it features a list of developed veterans, budding young stars and players that have seen a high level of success over the recent seasons prior to them being on the cover. Even if Langford only has a season or two of success at a high-level, the chances of him one day being on the cover are pretty solid.

Second choice: Kumar Rocker

Who can look at a photo of Kumar Rocker and not think "future star"? The right-hander is listed at six-foot-5, 245 pounds can occasionally touch triple digits.

However, history is not on Rocker's side as only one pitcher has ever graced the cover of MLB The Show (Shohei Ohtani, '22) and Ohtani is a generational two-way playing talent. But allow me to make my case for him.

Rocker has been a hot name in the baseball circle's ever since he threw a no-hitter against Duke in the Super Regional of the 2019 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. It was there his draft stock rose and the New York Mets took him 10th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft. Although, the Mets never offered him after concerns about his shoulder.

After playing independent ball, the Rangers drafted him 3rd overall in 2022 and last season made his MLB debut striking out seven Seattle Mariners in four innings. The story and name recognition is there, college baseball legend, a two-time top 10 draftee, and a stud pitcher. What more could you want from a cover athlete?

Third choice: Sebastian Walcott

My second time this week talking about the stud that is 18-year-old Sebastian Walcott. Already a top 20 MLB prospect, even sitting as high as second overall, according to Keith Law of The Athletic.

In 121 games last season, Walcott showcased his well-rounded talent hitting .265 with 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 26 SBs and a .455 on-base percentage. His upside is tremendous and as of right now he has the skillset to fill a need at multiple positions on the field.

What I said above about Langford could be said about Walcott. He's part of that next wave of young baseball talent poised to take the league by storm. Scouts and analysts have said Walcott has the potential to one the best Bahamian baseball players and if he lives up to the hype could join his fellow countryman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as a MLB The Show cover athlete in the future.