John Kruk to be featured in new ‘MLB The Show’ video game

John Kruk is returning to the diamond. Well, at least virtually.

Kruk, a Phillies Wall of Famer and Philadelphia fan favorite back in his playing days and in his current role as a color commentator, will be featured in “MLB The Show 24,” the newest edition of Major League Baseball’s flagship video-game series developed by San Diego Studio of PlayStation Studios. The former first baseman will be available as a playable character, as teased in a trailer released Monday promoting the “Legends” that will be included in the game.

A 10-year major-league veteran, Kruk played six seasons in Philadelphia and made three All-Star teams while cementing himself as a memorable figure as a key member of the 1993 National League-champion Phillies. He entered a career in baseball media after his retirement in 1995, most notably as an analyst and broadcaster for ESPN from 2004-2016 and as one of the Phillies’ television color commentators on NBC Sports Philadelphia since 2017. Kruk was included as a commentator in the since-discontinued “MLB 2K” video-game series from 2010-2013.

In “MLB The Show 24,” Kruk will be among “over 190 new and return Legends” that players can add to their lineup and use in certain game modes. Aside from Kruk, the trailer previewed 17 other “Legends” — with a few examples of the term being used quite loosely — in Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Toni Stone, Henry Aaron, Buck Leonard, Andrew Miller, Paul O’Neill, Richie Sexson, Rich Aurilia, Brian Dozier, Andy Pettitte, Johan Santana, Tony Oliva, Bernie Williams, Rafael Palmeiro and Adrián Beltré.

“MLB The Show 24” will be released on March 19 with preorders available now. The 19th edition of the “MLB The Show” series, the game will be playable on six consoles: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch.

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