MLB 10 The Show for PS3 Names Joe Mauer as Cover Athelete

179w ago - SCEA PR Manager Eric Levine has announced today that MLB 10 The Show for PS3 has named Joe Mauer as their cover athelete.

To quote: It may be December, but the MLB off season is beginning to heat up. Roy Halladay to the Phillies, Cliff Lee to Mariners, and John Lackey to the Red Sox has made for quite a week.

However, I'm proud to report that the biggest news to come out during the current winter meetings is not from an All-Star hurler changing addresses, but from the industry's #1 baseball franchise, MLB The Show. It is my pleasure to announce that the recently crowned 2009 American League Most Valuable Player and catcher for the Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer will be the cover athlete for the latest installment of the series, MLB 10 The Show!

We're absolutely thrilled to partner with a player of Joe's caliber-- a true professional on and off the field. Just to give you all a sense of how good this guy is here are some credentials--2-time Gold Glove winner, 3-time Silver Slugger, 3-time American League batting champion, and now AL MVP...all before his 27th birthday.

Put it another way, he is not only redefining the way the catcher position is played, he's redefining what the complete ball player should be.

Here is the first look at Joe Mauer in the upcoming MLB 10 The Show:

For a rundown of new features in MLB 10, we have some required reading for you. Take a look at Jon Robinson's first impressions of the game, hot off the press. Jon spent the day at our studio earlier this week to check in with the team and get an inside look at the development process for this year.

MLB 10 The Show is the first baseball game cover for Mauer, who will be following up a former AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia, who graced the cover last year. Slated for March 2010 (just in time for Spring Training) for PS3, PSP, PSPgo and PS2, The Show will once again push the limits of authenticity, dropping fans into the most true-to-life baseball experience coupled with incredible detail that won't be found in any other game, including all the big moments that makes baseball America's favorite pastime.

This year fans can also expect some great new features including: Home Run Derby, Catcher Mode (play as the field general just like Joe Mauer), new pitching and fielding practice/training modes in Road to The Show, user controlled pick-offs, Movie Maker feature (make your own highlight reel), daytime transitional lighting, 11 new stadiums, improved online experience, and much more.

We'll be giving a deep dive on all of the new features very soon, so stay tuned for more news on The Show as we move closer to Opening Day!