Baseball is set to make a big comeback in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. After being left out of the 2024 Paris Games, the sport will once again be featured on the world stage. This brings up an interesting question: Who will play?
Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred recently said he’s open to the idea of MLB players participating. However, there are challenges. In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, MLB only allowed players not on the 40-man rosters to compete.
Many teams even blocked eligible prospects from joining due to the potential health risks. This concern was highlighted by Edwin DÃaz’s injury during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The U.S. team at the 2021 Tokyo Games had a mix of veteran players like Todd Frazier and Edwin Jackson, along with young talents such as Tristan Casas and Shane Baz. However, this mix didn’t create much excitement among fans.
One possible solution for 2028 could be allowing top prospects who haven’t yet made it to the major leagues to compete. This would give the Olympic baseball tournament a feel similar to the All-Star Futures Game, where fans get to see the stars of tomorrow.
For example, if baseball were included in the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. team might have featured prospects like Dylan Crews and Marcelo Mayer, both of whom are ranked among the top 10 by MLB Pipeline.
While these players may not be well-known to casual Olympic viewers, they could still generate interest among baseball fans. However, whether a team of prospects could win gold is another question. Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) paused its season in 2021 to allow its top players to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, helping Japan secure the gold medal.
With the U.S. hosting the 2028 Olympics, the baseball tournament presents a unique opportunity. The challenge now is for the players, team owners, and Manfred to decide on the best approach. Will we see MLB stars on the Olympic field, or will it be the future stars of baseball? Only time will tell.
