MLB 15 The Show: Release Date, Cover, Trailer, New Features and Preview

For many baseball fans and gamers, the spring checklist looks a little something like this:

1. Pitchers and catchers report.
2. Spring training gets underway.
3. Pick up the latest version of MLB The Show.

Sony's monster baseball hit has become ingrained in the fabric of the new era of the national pastime like the Madden franchise is with football fans and the way NBA 2K is for hoops fanatics.

MLB 15 The Show releases exclusively on Sony platforms (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita) on Tuesday, March 31.

While I haven't had the opportunity to play this year's version just yet, I've been keeping a close watch over its development. With information coming primarily from Sony San Diego Studios' weekly live streams, here's what we know:

The Cover

Image provided by Sony from MLB 15 The Show.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig will grace the cover of this year's game. Believe it or not, Puig is the first Dodger to appear on the cover of the series since its inception in 2006.

Puig's polarizing qualities, dynamic skills and charisma make him a great fit for the honor.

The Trailer

Graphically, the game looked sweet in last year's version, but it's always a goal of game developers to show some improvement on the visuals from year to year. The Summer Wind trailer served to whet our appetites.

New Look

Over 1,600 New Animations

From a visual standpoint, it was great to read that so many new signature animations were added to the game. Per the fact sheet on the game, courtesy of TheShowNation.com, this is a short list of the recaptured animations and such:

• More than 70 new situational third out fielding animations
• New Input Type option for hitting
• We’ve separated swing input as a separate option
• More than 90 new personal batting stances
• More than 120 batting stance re-captures
• More than 50 new personal pitching motions
• More than 120 pitching motion re-captures
• More than 45 new signature HR swings
• More than 900 new presentation animations
• More than 700 new gameplay animations

These are the kinds of details that require some extended time with the game to appreciate. It's great to see that a high level of importance has been placed on visual realism.

More Skin Tones, Varying Sun Placement and Grass Patterns

Image provided by Sony from MLB 15 The Show.

Players will have more varying skin tones in this year's game. Previously, players with darker complexions were confined to one of three shades. That has been changed to better represent every player in the game.

The most effective visual change is environmental. New lighting, shading and an emphasis on day and season progression are captured in MLB 15 The Show. Now the same time of day will look different in April than it will in September, as the game simulates the sun's position throughout the baseball season. The video below shows examples of the realistic timespan.

New Feel

Directional Hitting

Good hitters spray the ball to all fields when appropriate. The Show is trying to allow gamers to do that by introducing directional hitting. Pulling a pitch or going to the opposite field will be controlled using the analog stick to aim in the direction of the hit.

Per the corresponding stream, the timing of the swing also still plays a big role in which direction the ball goes once contact is made.

New Immersion

Licensed Equipment

A new addition that is designed to help with the immersion is the inclusion of licensed equipment. There are new cleats, batting gloves, fielding gloves and more. This has never been a major issue for me, but it's something the more particular fans will enjoy seeing.

Here's a list of the brands that are represented in the game:

• Franklin
• Louisville Slugger
• Nike
• Under Armour
• Wilson
• Rawlings
• Sam Bat
• Mizuno
• Marucci

What is cool in this gamer's book is the ability to gain network sponsors that are displayed during the scoreboard and individual statistic overlays. It's very subtle, but it adds to the TV-style broadcast feel.

On that note, we can only hope for improved commentary that features more conversational value. Matt Vasgersian and the crew have had a wealth of recorded and situational commentary in the past, but it rarely sounded as if they were in the same booth. That's a quality I'll be hoping has improved.

New Depth

Year-to-Year Saves

Having the opportunity to continue the saves I began with MLB 14 The Show is perhaps the single most alluring feature the series has added. It seems so simple, yet The Show is the only sports game to allow gamers to continue their alternate sports universe from version to version.

Baseball is a long season. If I want to play multiple seasons, it'll most likely take me longer than a year to play through the campaigns. The thought of being able to do that while enjoying the series' new features is exciting.

Universal Rewards

Also exciting is the addition of universal rewards. By simply playing the game in any mode, you earn stubs that can be used to bolster your Diamond Dynasty team or your Road to the Show character. If it works as advertised, it will entice gamers to try the various modes The Show offers.

Diamond Dynasty

DD has seen some changes that were created to improve the experience. Simplified menus and the inclusion of 30 unlockable legends that gamers can import into their franchise modes are a couple of other welcome additions.

Here's the list of the legends that are unlockable. Each major league franchise is represented:

• Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers
• Harmon Killebrew - Minnesota Twins
• George Brett - Kansas City Royals
• Fred McGriff - Tampa Bay Rays
• Nolan Ryan - Texas Rangers
• Jack McDowell - Chicago White Sox
• Brooks Robinson - Baltimore Orioles
• Joe Carter - Toronto Blue Jays
• Orel Hershiser - Los Angeles Dodgers
• Will Clark - San Francisco Giants
• Dave Winfield - San Diego Padres
• Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
• Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs
• Jeff Bagwell - Houston Astros
• Rod Carew - California Angels
• Tom Seaver - New York Mets
• Phil Niekro - Atlanta Braves
• Johnny Bench - Cincinnati Reds
• Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies
• Robin Yount - Milwaukee Brewers
• Ralph Kiner - Pittsburgh Pirates
• Yogi Berra - New York Yankees
• Andre Dawson - Washington Nationals
• Ozzie Smith - St. Louis Cardinals
• Kenny Lofton - Cleveland Indians
• Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners
• Dante Bichette - Colorado Rockies
• Steve Finley - Arizona Diamondbacks
• Cliff Floyd - Miami Marlins
• Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox

In addition to the new legends and simplified navigation of the mode, there's also the much-needed elimination of player contracts to manage. The challenge and task is now to build your team, not to collect contracts to maintain the players.

Franchise Mode Upgrades

This mode is still the bread and butter for me in any sports game, and The Show hasn't neglected it.

Following the lead of NBA 2K's MyLeague to a degree, The Show is allowing an increased amount of player and team customization before beginning a franchise mode.

You're able to edit any player's contract length and terms, which could make for some fun offseason scenarios. I have this idea to put every player on a one-year contract and then have a massive free-agent free-for-all after my first season.

Conceptually, that could work with this new addition.

Fresh trade, aging and development logic are also part of the new and improved mode. 

Hype Level

While we're still missing things like retractable roofs, a create-a-ballpark option and deeper player editing, there seems to be enough new and improved features in store to please virtual baseball fans. Based on the new additions, I'm pretty excited to get the game in my hands.

A full review is on the way. Look for it shortly after release.

Follow Brian Mazique, aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist