Very cool international baseball news as far as I’m concerned, even if I have to wait a few years for qualifying to begin: OLYMPICS BASEBALL!
Officially approved today, baseball and softball will be at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles:
Baseball’s history with the Olympics is scattered, with the sport appearing only six times previously.
You may have watched Olympics baseball in the 2020 games (in 2021 thanks to the pandemic), which featured Team USA reaching the final against Japan. Because of the timing smack-dab in the middle of the MLB season, the team featured a mix of prospects and unrostered veterans, which is how I expect things to look in 2028. It’d be great to see the best of the best from MLB appearing in the games, but I just don’t think it’s realistic.
Baseball first appeared in the Olympics as an official sport in 1992, and then again in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2020. It will not be part of the 2024 games.
Not only is Olympics baseball a fun – often exciting – exhibition, it can also be an opportunity to see and scout international stars. I still remember hearing very good things about Seiya Suzuki back in 2021 from those who played against him.