Rob Manfred feels ‘positive’ about MLB in 2028 LA Olympics

Toronto – As Shoai Ohtani leads the wave of international baseball popularity, major league officials are working with the players union and LA28 officials to sign an agreement for major league players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Ideas on the table include an extended Olympic hiatus during the 2028 season, an All-Star Game in San Francisco to keep baseball’s top players on the West Coast for two weeks rather than hopping across the country, and an Olympic baseball schedule that could begin before the opening ceremony.

There are no recent deals. But, for the first time in years of debate, commissioner Rob Manfred said publicly that owners have stopped worrying about whether to interrupt the major league season for a week so baseball’s biggest stars can play in the Olympics.

“I’m positive about it,” Manfred said Saturday at the World Series. “I think the owners have crossed the line in terms of, we want to do it if we can do it, but there are logistical issues that still need to be worked out.”

Manfred suggested that the major leagues participating in the Olympics might be a one-time event. He said stopping the season for a week and flying players to Los Angeles would be very different than stopping the season for two weeks in 2032 and flying players to Australia.

“The chances of us playing in Brisbane? Difficult,” Manfred said. “More difficult than living in LA”

Manfred said the World Baseball Classic will “remain our hub” for international competition. With Team Canada in the World Series and Ohtani as the face of the sport, ratings and merchandise sales soar outside the United States.

Ohtani will play at Dodger Stadium in the Olympics.

“Shoehee has been the biggest asset to the game that you can imagine all year,” Manfred said. “In the LCS, he probably had the greatest game of all time, and we’re lucky to have him here in the World Series.”