Cover of MLB 08: The Show goes to Ryan Howard

SCEA has announced that Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has been selected to be the cover athlete for MLB 08: The Show.

Known for his prolific power and ability to drive in runs, Howard is just the second player in Major League Baseball(TM) history to win the Rookie of the Year honors and a Most Valuable Player award in successive seasons. During his 2006 MVP season, Howard led the Major Leagues in home runs (58), which broke the record for most home runs in a sophomore season set in 1947 by Ralph Kiner (51), won the All-Star Game(TM) Home Run Derby(R) with a total of 23 blasts, and was the 2006 National League(TM) Hank Aaron Award recipient, the award given to the top hitter in each league.

Last season, while helping lead the Phillies to the 2007 National League Division Series(TM) against the Colorado Rockies(TM) by muscling out 47 home runs and driving in 136 runs, Howard became the fastest player in MLB(R) history to hit 100 home runs. The record-breaking accomplishment was achieved in only 325 games, 60 less than the 385 games that Ralph Kiner needed to hit his first 100 home runs from 1946 to 1948.

“Ryan Howard’s personality and work ethic exemplify what our baseball franchise is all about and we are thrilled he has chosen to represent MLB 08 THE SHOW,” said Scott Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. “Howard has worked hard to establish himself as one of the most exciting players in the game and we look forward to him continuing the tradition of MLB THE SHOW athletes having amazing years while being featured on the cover of our game.”

Howard is a very good choice here. He is a young, personable and marketable player which is similar to last year’s cover athlete David Wright. He definitely makes for a better cover than MLB 2K8′s Jose Reyes. Ironically, Howard’s Phillies are the team that charged from behind at the end of the season passing Reyes’ Mets to win the division and leaving the Mets with one of the biggest collapses in sports history. SCEA could almost use that slyly in their marketing of The Show.