As the City of Angels gears up to host the 2028 Olympic Games, Major League Baseball is contemplating a shift in strategy, potentially allowing its players to participate instead of relying on amateur athletes as in previous years.
However, the proposed baseball schedule for the L.A. Olympics presents a challenge for MLB in July 2028.
Baseball’s inclusion in the Olympics, absent in three of the last four Summer Games, is slated for July 15-20 during the 2028 edition. Dodger Stadium will serve as the venue, a detail announced by LA28, the organizing body for the competition.
Mid-July is typically when MLB stages its annual All-Star Game. While a host city and specific dates for the 2028 All-Star Game and related events remain unconfirmed, a potential scheduling overlap is evident.
If the 2028 All-Star Game follows the pattern of past Midsummer Classics, it would likely coincide with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 14, as reported by Evan Drellich of The Athletic. Consequently, an extended All-Star break could lead to a more prolonged interruption of the 2028 MLB regular season than the league desires.
“They’ve announced a schedule, and they’re indicating it’s unlikely to change,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stated Tuesday prior to this year’s All-Star Game, as per The Athletic. “We’ll have to see if there’s any flexibility there. … It’s an opportunity to promote the sport on a global scale. We’re in the process of addressing the logistical challenges.”
MLB representatives convened with Los Angeles organizers Monday in Atlanta before this year’s All-Star Game, according to the Associated Press. The AP also reported that Manfred mentioned Olympic officials were engaging with the MLBPA.
“A considerable amount of work remains,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark conveyed to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in a separate interview, according to the AP.
“We know players are eager to participate, whether representing Team USA or other international teams. … Extensive discussions are needed promptly to assess the feasibility of this endeavor. We’re optimistic that we can find a solution that benefits the sport.”
Manfred noted that MLB clubs would need to “approve” their players’ participation in the 2028 Olympics.
“It’s a significant matter,” he stated, as reported by the AP.
The last instance of baseball in the Summer Olympics was in 2021, when Tokyo hosted the Games. However, MLB did not permit players on 40-man rosters to participate. In contrast, Nippon Professional Baseball — Japan’s premier professional baseball league — suspended league play, and Japan triumphed over the USA 2-0 in the gold medal match.
Both The Athletic and the AP reported that Manfred suggested the possibility of a single, longer All-Star break that would accommodate Olympic participation while maintaining a 162-game regular season and a postseason that concludes before November.
He cautioned, however, that such a plan would “necessitate considerable adjustments.”
Among these adjustments, potential revisions to television agreements might be necessary. The league must take into account Fox’s broadcasting rights for the All-Star Game, for example.
