Baseball Set for Potential Return to the Olympics with MLB's Brightest Stars
Baseball, a sport with deep roots in American culture, finds itself teetering on the edge of a significant return to the Olympic stage. After being omitted from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the sport is anticipated to make a comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This potential return has reignited discussions regarding the participation of Major League Baseball (MLB) players, a topic that's been met with enthusiasm from several of the league's top athletes.
Historically, MLB has excluded players on 40-man rosters from participating in the Olympics. However, this policy has been met with increasing scrutiny and opposition from high-profile players who are eager to represent their countries on the global stage. Among these voices are Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom have publicly expressed their support for MLB players' participation in the 2028 Olympics.
Aaron Judge, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees, has emerged as a prominent advocate for this change. Judge has articulated his aspirations to don the Team USA jersey, a goal he has not yet achieved in his illustrious career. "I'd love to play. If they give us the opportunity -- I don't know what the ruling or anything has come out about that -- but I'm all in on that," Judge stated. "There's very few opportunities to get to do that and especially, hopefully, in the prime of my career where I can still do it and make an impact, I'd love to. I've never represented my country before, never got invited to those Team USA (camps as an amateur), never really made the cut for those. Hopefully now I can make the cut."
Judge's current form further highlights why his inclusion would be a boon for Team USA. This season, he is boasting a stellar slash line of .321/.456/.691 with 41 home runs. For comparison, in the same number of team games last year, Judge was hitting .300/.397/.674 with 46 home runs. Such consistent high-level performance cements his status as one of the premier players in the game. By the time the 2028 Olympics roll around, Judge will be 36 years old, and many fans hope he will still be in prime form to contribute meaningfully.
Judge's commitment to his MLB aspirations remains steadfast, especially after signing a nine-year contract with the New York Yankees. He emphasized his current priorities, saying, "It would be an honor to represent my country and play in that. But my main goal is what I can do here in New York and what I can do to bring a championship back here. I think especially after signing a nine-year contract, for me, priorities are New York. Maybe four years down the road, hopefully I can still make the team and get an opportunity to play. But right now for me, my focus is here."
The dialogue around this issue has also reached the upper echelons of MLB leadership. Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated an openness to reconsidering the league's stance on Olympic participation. When asked about the possibility, his response was simply, "Open-minded."
The example set by Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics serves as a potential model for how MLB could approach the issue. NPB paused its season to allow its players to compete in the Olympics, a move that culminated in Japan winning the gold medal in baseball. The success of this approach suggests that a similar strategy could be viable for MLB, enabling its players to showcase their talents on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Looking further into the future, the host cities for subsequent Summer Olympics—Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032—provide a framework for long-term planning regarding baseball's Olympic presence. The global reach of the sport and the opportunity to engage diverse fan bases make a compelling case for MLB's involvement.
The anticipation surrounding baseball's Olympic return is palpable. With top-tier players like Aaron Judge expressing enthusiastic interest and the MLB Commissioner showing a willingness to re-evaluate existing policies, the stage is set for potentially momentous developments. As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, the baseball community eagerly awaits definitive announcements that could shape the future of the sport on its biggest stage yet.