The excitement surrounding baseball's potential return to the Olympic stage in 2028 has garnered significant attention, especially from some of Major League Baseball's biggest stars. Currently, baseball and softball are excluded from the Olympic program for the 2024 Paris Games. However, there is renewed hope that baseball will make a grand re-entrance in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with top MLB players participating for the first time in Olympic history.
Star Power and Expressions of Interest
Baseball luminaries like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani have been vocal about their support for allowing MLB players to partake in the 2028 Olympics. Similarly, Aaron Judge, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees, expressed his enthusiasm for representing his country on such a prestigious platform. "I'd love to play. If they give us the opportunity -- I don't know what the ruling or anything has come out about that -- but I'm all in on that," Judge shared. "There's very few opportunities to get to do that, and especially, hopefully, in the prime of my career where I can still do it and make an impact, I'd love to."
Judge, with a stellar performance this season characterized by a slash line of .321/.456/.691 and 41 home runs, contrasted this with his equally impressive stats from the previous year. In the same number of team games in 2022, Judge boasted a .300/.397/.674 line with 46 home runs. Now signed to a nine-year contract with the Yankees, Judge also remarked on the potential timeline for his Olympic aspirations. "I'd love to play. I've never represented my country before, never got invited to those Team USA camps as an amateur, never really made the cut for those. Hopefully now I can make the cut."
Despite the allure of the Olympics, Judge remains focused on and committed to his current team and contract obligations with the Yankees. "It would be an honor to represent my country and play in that. But my main goal is what I can do here in New York and what I can do to bring a championship back here," he said. "I think especially after signing a nine-year contract, for me, priorities are New York. Maybe four years down the road, hopefully I can still make the team and get an opportunity to play. But right now for me, my focus is here."
Organizational Support and Precedents
The inclusion of MLB players in the 2028 Olympics hinges largely on forthcoming decisions from baseball’s governing bodies. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated his willingness to consider this possibility with an "open-minded" stance. If MLB decides to allow their 40-man roster players to participate, it would mark a significant departure from the current restrictions they face in Olympic eligibility.
Historical precedents suggest that pausing the season to allow player participation can yield memorable results. During the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) paused its season, enabling its top players to compete. The move paid off handsomely as Japan clinched the gold medal in baseball, solidifying national pride and raising the sport’s profile in the country.
The potential for disruption to the MLB season might pose logistical challenges, yet the benefits of seeing star players represent their countries on the Olympic stage cannot be overstated. The participation of MLB icons would not only elevate the sport's visibility but also intensify the competition, adding a compelling narrative to the 2028 Olympics.
A Glimpse into the Future
Planning for such events extends beyond 2028, with the iconic torch already set to pass to Brisbane, Australia, for the 2032 Summer Olympics. The global nature of the Olympic Games presents an unmatched opportunity to showcase baseball, transcending traditional league boundaries and bringing a wider international audience into the fold.
The stage is set for baseball’s potential Olympic renaissance, captivating fans and players alike. As anticipation builds, the thought of MLB's finest competing in Los Angeles adds a significant layer of excitement to America's pastime. The narrative woven by players like Aaron Judge, who wish to don their nation's colors and stand on an Olympic podium, affirms the enduring allure and global spirit of the Games.