Sony has set the date for its next entry into the great American past time. MLB 12 The Show will launch on March 6, 2012 for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. SCEA PR manager Eric Levine promises that the Vita version will keep all the core features from its console cousin in tact, so if you were so inclined, you could take your baseball game to a baseball game and play baseball while you watch baseball.

This is the first time Sony's The Show series is being developed exclusively for current-gen platforms. "MLB 11 was on PS2, however, MLB 12 will only be on PS3 and Vita," the announcement reveals.

Next year's cover athlete will be Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. He's a four-time All-Star, three-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, 2011 Silver Slugger Award winner, and a candidate for this year's America League Most Valuable Player award. It seems pretty safe to say he earned his cover spot.

[Screenshot from MLB 11 The Show.]