MLB The Show 16 Player Ratings: Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout Highest Rated
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John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News

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The start of Spring Training is a date cherished by fans no matter their allegiance as it marks the official end of days, weeks and months without baseball.

Opening Day follows roughly month later and with it comes more enthusiasm, but there’s also a date sandwiched between the two starting points that carries significant weight and importance in the gaming community.

This year, that’s Tuesday March 29, when MLB The Show 16, the latest edition in the annual series, will be exclusively released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3.

Three versions ($59.99 Standard, $69.99 MVP and $99.99 Digital Deluxe) are currently available for preorder.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman and reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson is the cover athlete this year. Coming off an All-Star season in 2014 and someone who enjoys playing the game, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was on the cover of MLB 15: The Show.

As the cover athlete on MLB The Show 15, Puig became the first Dodger to hold the honor, though Adrian Gonzalez did in 2012 when he was with the Boston Red Sox. Andrew McCutchen, Dustin Pedroia and Miguel Cabrera are among those who have also appeared on the cover.

Puig went on to struggle last season and missed significant time due to multiple hamstring strains. The down year wasn’t attributed to being on the cover, however, as is now the case with EA Sports’ Madden series — dubbed “The Madden Curse” and/or “Madden Cover Jinx.”

Although the Dodgers are not represented on the cover this year, Clayton Kershaw is tied with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder Mike Trout as the game’s highest-rated player, with both receiving a 99 rating.

Kershaw, Trout and Miguel Cabrera were all rated 99 in last year’s MLB 15: The Show.

CONTINUE READING: Top rated starting pitchers