Although preparations for the return of baseball as an Olympic discipline are underway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a decisive matter remains unresolved that organisers and stakeholders would welcome: the participation of the Major League Baseball players.
More than three years before the cauldron is lit in the Californian city, the President of the LA28 organising committee, Casey Wasserman, has already begun to clear the way for the much-anticipated return of baseball. The selection of Dodger Stadium as the tournament venue is one of the first key decisions made, but the big question regarding the participation of MLB stars remains unanswered.
In a conversation with journalist Sam Connon for Fastball On SI, Wasserman confirmed this week that the iconic Dodgers stadium will serve as the main venue and stated, “One of the things we know how to do well in Los Angeles is organise important baseball games, whether in the Olympic Games, the World Series, the World Baseball Classic, or the All-Star Game. Dodger Stadium hosts the biggest games on the planet and will do an excellent job in 2028. It will be great for the players and the fans.”
The announcement marks an important step, but it is only the beginning. The real complexity lies in getting the major figures of professional baseball to participate in the competition. Sam Connon highlights in his article for Fastball On SI that neither MLB nor the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) has yet made a definitive decision on the participation of Major League players.
Wasserman explained that conversations with both parties have already begun and that the atmosphere is favourable, though not without difficulties. “We’ve had extensive conversations (the commissioner has talked about it quite publicly) with both the league and the MLBPA. I think they both realise this is a unique opportunity, not without its complexities, but something we’re all working together to see if we can get to the right place, which obviously would be to have Major League players playing,” he told Fastball On SI.
The schedule represents a significant hurdle. The opening ceremony of the Games is scheduled for 14 July 2028, a date that coincides with the usual All-Star break in MLB. As Connon explains, modifying or extending that break could be a way to include an Olympic recess in the schedule, something the NHL has done in previous Winter Games editions. However, starting the season earlier or extending it further into autumn could be unfeasible due to climatic issues in certain stadiums.
Despite the logistical challenges, the will exists. According to the journalist, several players have publicly expressed their desire to represent their countries on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Wasserman even confessed to feeling relieved that the first to speak out in favour of Olympic participation were not his clients. “The best part was the two first people to really come out when we put baseball in the Olympics were Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani, neither of whom we represent,” Wasserman noted. “The players have the strongest voice and if they want to play, that’s gonna be a big influence over the process.”
The absence of MLB players in Tokyo 2020, held a year later due to the pandemic, still resonates. At that time, teams were made up of minor league and independent circuit players, while the Japanese league allowed its stars to participate, facilitating Japan’s victory in the competition. Baseball was also not part of Paris 2024, as was the case in London 2012 and Rio 2016. The Los Angeles edition will mark its official return to the Olympic programme, increasing the pressure to ensure the event features the best possible talent.
In addition to defining player participation, other issues remain to be resolved. One of them is the qualification system. As Wasserman explained to Fastball On SI, the organising committee has held talks with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) to use the 2026 World Baseball Classic as one of the qualifying tournaments for the Olympic Games. However, the decision does not solely depend on LA28, but also on the Confederation and the International Olympic Committee.
“Baseball deserves a ton of credit for the World Baseball Classic,” Wasserman told Fastball On SI. “Every cycle has continued to get more meaningful, more important to the players, more important to the fans, more successful. It just showcases the global talent that exists in baseball, what a great format to share that.”
In this context, the decision on whether MLB players can participate in the Games should be made before the start of the Classic in March 2026. If it is delayed beyond that date, the tournament could no longer be used as a direct qualification mechanism. Meanwhile, the possibility of seeing MLB stars in an Olympic Games held on American soil is more real than ever. There are conversations to be concluded, schedules to be adjusted, and organisations to be convinced, but the enthusiasm and determination are already on the table.
