.png)
It’s no secret baseball has lagged behind the other major sports leagues in terms of growing their game internationally. The NFL, NHL, and NBA have been playing games outside the US and Canada for years. Until the last couple years, though, MLB has been a little slow on the uptake.
Last year they launched the MLB World Tour with games in London and Mexico City. And the timing couldn’t have been better coming off a highly successful World Baseball Classic. The fact is, baseball is growing across the globe (even in unexpected places like Bhutan), and it’s time for MLB to do its part to help that growth.
And it looks like MLB got the message. This year’s international slate includes spring training games in the Dominican Republic, the season-opening Seoul Series between the Padres and Dodgers (which also includes exhibition games against Team Korea and KBO teams), Astros-Rockies in Mexico City, and Mets-Phillies in London.
All good news. Good news for MLB, its teams, its players, and its fans. Good news for baseball as a whole, too.
Starting the season in a great baseball city like Seoul is a stroke of genius. And a big step in the right direction for growing baseball on a global scale. MLB’s not done there, though.
There are plans next year to host games at the Stade de France just outside Paris and talks are already underway for MLB players to take part in the 2028 Olympics in LA. And that’s not even counting the return of the World Baseball Classic in 2026.
In other words, after years of kinda sitting on their hands, MLB is hard at work to do what it can to help baseball grow across the globe and, maybe more importantly, draw new fans. And while some so-called “baseball traditionalists” might balk at the idea of regular season games outside the US and Canada, the reality is the world is smaller than ever… and that’s a good thing.
It means it’s easier than ever to share ideas, information... and baseball.
Comments