With the 2028 Summer Olympics taking place in Los Angeles, Major League Baseball (MLB) is showing interest in having its players participate, shifting away from the previous trend of relying on amateurs. The baseball events at the 2028 Olympics are scheduled for July 15-20 and will be hosted at Stadium, as announced recently.
This timing coincides with MLB’s typical All-Star Game period in mid-July. Although the location for the 2028 All-Star Game hasn’t been revealed yet, there is an apparent clash between the MLB schedule and the Olympic baseball events. Traditionally, the All-Star Game occurs just before the Olympics opening ceremony on July 14, potentially causing an extended break in the MLB regular season, which is longer than the league would ideally prefer.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged these scheduling challenges before this year’s All-Star Game, emphasizing the global opportunity that the Olympics present for promoting baseball. Meetings have already taken place between MLB and Los Angeles Olympic organizers to iron out these details. MLBPA executive director Tony Clark affirmed that players are eager to participate in the Olympics, whether representing Team USA or other countries.
Manfred stressed the importance of MLB teams supporting players who compete in the 2028 Olympics, calling it a significant event. The last time baseball was in the Summer Olympics was in 2021 in Tokyo, where MLB restricted the participation of many top players, contrasting with Japan’s professional league that paused its season, ultimately resulting in Japan’s 2-0 win over the US in the gold medal match.
Manfred proposes an extended All-Star break to accommodate Olympic participation while still fitting the full 162-game season and postseason into the calendar without pushing too far into November, although he admitted this would require “considerable accommodation.” Additionally, adjustments might be needed to address Fox’s broadcasting rights for the All-Star Game.
Fan Take: This development is exciting for baseball fans because it signals MLB’s commitment to showcasing the sport on a global stage and allowing the best players to compete in the Olympics. If managed well, it could increase baseball’s international appeal and strengthen its position in future Olympic Games.
