Major League Baseball has unveiled its plans for the 2024 season, including a series of international games that will showcase the sport’s global reach.
Among the highlights are the first-ever regular-season games in South Korea.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are set to make history as they prepare to face off in MLB’s inaugural regular-season games in South Korea.
The highly anticipated games will take place in Seoul on March 20-21, drawing attention from baseball fans around the world.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his excitement about the upcoming event, stating, “We are thrilled to bring the excitement of MLB to South Korea and provide fans with the opportunity to witness high-quality baseball in their own backyard.”
Following the success of the recent games between the Padres and San Francisco Giants in Mexico City, MLB has decided to expand its presence in the country.
The Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies will square off in Mexico City on April 27-28, marking another milestone for the sport.
“Mexico City has shown tremendous enthusiasm and support for baseball, and we are delighted to bring the game back to this vibrant city,” stated Commissioner Manfred.
In addition to the games in South Korea and Mexico City, MLB previously announced a two-game series in London between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. The games are scheduled to take place on June 8-9, building on the success of the previous MLB games held in the British capital.
“The London series has been a fantastic showcase for the sport and has helped grow its popularity in Europe. We look forward to another thrilling event next year,” commented Commissioner Manfred.
MLB also revealed plans for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays to play spring training games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on March 9-10. This initiative aims to strengthen the league’s ties with the Dominican Republic, known for producing many talented baseball players.
“The Dominican Republic has a rich baseball culture, and we are eager to connect with the passionate fans in this baseball-loving nation,” said Commissioner Manfred.
MLB’s commitment to international games has been steadily growing over the years, and the upcoming season will mark the ninth time the league has hosted such events.
Previous international openers have taken place in Monterrey, Mexico (1999); Tokyo, Japan (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2019); San Juan, Puerto Rico (2001); and Sydney, Australia (2014).
These global showcases have helped elevate the sport’s global appeal and fostered cultural exchanges among fans worldwide.
Do you agree Manfred’s aggressive approach to bring MLB around the globe?
There’s a faction of NFL fans who are annoyed at the league playing games in Europe.. Of course, baseball is much more of a global sport than football so it’s an entirely different situation.
Regardless, are you supportive of Manfred’s vision?
What other countries should MLB explore playing in?