Derek Jeter is Back and More MLB The Show 23 Details Revealed

The massive start to the MLB The Show 23 news cycle went to another level Wednesday night, as “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon revealed that Derek Jeter will be the collector’s edition cover star — making the longtime New York Yankees captain the first new legend revealed for the upcoming game.

“You know, I’ve been contemplating coming out of retirement for a few years,” Jeter joked with Fallon. “I figured it’s a lot easier to do it in a video game than it actually is to do it in real life.”

.@derekjeter is on the cover of the Collector’s Edition of @mlbtheshow 23! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/pi8Yc3oZq1

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) February 2, 2023

The cover art is certainly unique. Jeter, in comic book form, is performing the signature jump throw that inspired young athletes of the late-90s and 2000s to give it a try in their backyards. World Series trophies and other accolades litter the New York City skyline behind him, and Jeter’s No. 2 appears on the back cover inside a spotlight, just like Batman’s Bat Symbol.

The cover art was done by award-winning artist Sanford Greene. Just as we thought that King Saladeen could create a custom series of card arts for MLB The Show 23, perhaps Greene could do the same.

Jeter was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, with only one writer infamously leaving him off the ballot. A 14-time All-Star, Jeter was a World Series MVP and five-time world champion. He won five Silver Sluggers and five Gold Gloves and collected 3,465 hits over his 20-year career.

Fallon said the collector’s edition will be available March 24 for a four-day early access period, and that was confirmed by MLB The Show on Twitter early Thursday morning.

Along with the early release date — the standard edition is available everywhere on March 28 — MLB The Show announced more information regarding the upcoming title on Thursday.

Pre-ordering the physical copy of the collector’s edition, which MLB The Show is referring to as the “Captain’s Edition” will come with the following for $99.99:

• 1 Captain’s Choice Pack
• 1 Choice Pack
• 1 Special Uniform Choice Pack
• 2 Gold Choice Packs
• 5 Show Packs
• 1 Ballplayer Pack
• 1 Double Daily Rewards
• 1 Cover Athlete Bat Skin
• 10K Stubs

Pre-ordering the physical copy of the Captain’s Edition comes with the four days of early access, a collectible steel book and a New Era limited edition hat. It comes with a PS4 disc and a PS5 download voucher.

The Digital Deluxe Edition is also $99.99 but does not come with the steel book or hat. Instead, it comes with the following:

• 1 Captain’s Choice Pack
• 1 Choice Pack
• 1 Special Uniform Choice Pack
• 5 Gold Choice Packs
• 20 Show Packs
• 1 Ballplayer Pack
• 1 Double Daily Rewards
• 1 Derek Jeter Bat Skin
• 30K Stubs

On top of the Jeter reveal, MLB The Show announced that the tech test for the upcoming title will begin February 15 around 10 a.m. Pacific. It will last through February 21 at 10 a.m. Pacific.

Miami Marlins centerfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was revealed as the standard edition cover star on Monday. Ironically, Jeter was the Marlins’ CEO when the organization acquired Chisholm from the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen in 2019.