MLB The Show 25 will feature three athletes for the first time, with

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    Skenes referred to his fellow cover stars as “so dynamic.” He jokingly said Henderson seems like “just a good old country boy from Alabama,” and he highlighted De La Cruz’s work ethic and ability to make “unbelievable plays all the time.”

    “Just a guy that you don’t really want on the basepaths because he’s just gonna wreak a lot of havoc,” Skenes said.

    All three players agree on the impact that placement on the video game’s cover can potentially have on baseball’s youth.

    “There are a lot of other guys who weren’t finalists for Rookie of the Year or MVP or anything like that who are very, very good young players that aren’t as well-known as guys like me or Elly or Gunnar,” Skenes told ESPN. “But it’s just the talent pool is so deep from young guys, and it’s cool to kind of see.”

    De La Cruz said it sends a message to other young talent in the minors to keep working hard to achieve their dreams.

    Skenes, who grew up a fan of the Los Angeles Angels, said current young stars are benefiting “a little bit” from past athletes, using Mike Trout as an example of a player that has helped pave the way for younger stars.

    “Those guys making a difference in the big leagues and growing the game from a very early point in their career, I think that’s kind of [what] put us in this position,” Skenes said. “So, I think it’s kind of our job to continue that so that the next generation can reap the benefits as well.”

    Henderson and De La Cruz said they played the video game growing up, and Henderson said he frequently took in the “Diamond Dynasty” mode, where users can collect cards to build their team. De La Cruz said MLB The Show 15, which featured Cuban-born outfielder Yasiel Puig on the cover, and MLB The Show 17, which had Ken Griffey Jr., are his favorites.

    Skenes, on the other hand, admitted he didn’t play the game consistently.

    “I’m not very good at it, to be honest,” he quipped.