With the 2028 Summer Olympics taking place in Los Angeles, momentum continues to build toward Major League Baseball players potentially being able to participate.
Commissioner Rob Manfred is completely on board with the idea, viewing it as an excellent chance to grow the sport internationally. The league is also believed to have gathered significant support for players to take part in the games, though a few hurdles remain.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, MLB is planning to hold All-Star festivities before the start of the 2028 Summer Olympics so players have an opportunity to compete in all of the events and resume the second half of the season later than usual.
To accommodate the Olympics, MLB would end its first half July 9, hold the Home Run Derby July 10 and the All-Star Game on July 11, start the tournament July 13 — one day before the Opening Ceremony — and host a pair of medal games July 19 before players return to their major league teams in time to restart the regular season July 21.
Given the popularity of the World Baseball Classic, it only makes sense that MLB would do everything it can to accommodate players who want to represent their respective countries in the Olympic Games.
Baseball is being included as an official Olympic event for the first time since the 2020 summer games in Tokyo, when Japan defeated the United States to win the gold medal.
Dodger Stadium will serve as the host venue for the baseball games, and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already expressed interest in potentially leading the United States team.
Max Muncy unsure about MLB players in Olympics
Earlier this year, Max Muncy cast doubt on MLB players potentially being able to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
“The thing with professional players in the Olympics is that it would create such a long break in the middle of the summer,” Muncy said during an appearance on the “Foul Territory” show.
“I don’t know if that’s a reasonable thing to do. You’re not going to continue the season with star players not playing for their teams. If they’re going to be in the Olympics, you’re not going to keep the season going. I don’t know if I have a good answer to that. Would I like to see it? Maybe.
“But at the same time, that’s kind of what the WBC is for. It’s almost like Olympic baseball, just not in the Olympics.”
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