MLB Eyes Player Participation in 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred expressed enthusiasm regarding the possibility of major league players participating in the 2028 Olympics, describing it as a “unique opportunity to market the sport worldwide.” In an interview on ESPN Radio, Manfred discussed the logistics surrounding the Olympic events to be held in Los Angeles in the summer of 2028.

“The way we’re thinking about it is it would be an extension of the All-Star break,” Manfred said Monday. The All-Star Game is anticipated to take place on July 11, and baseball’s Olympic events are set for July 15-20. If all goes as planned, the MLB regular season would pause for about 11 days in July.

Manfred noted that separating the breaks into two could complicate scheduling and require additional travel days, making it less feasible. He also commented on MLB’s upcoming rights deal with ESPN, hinting at a new “Wednesday night package” and innovations with their streaming service, MLB.TV.

“There’s gonna be integration in terms of local broadcasts that I think the folks at ESPN, and certainly we, look at as an experiment that can be really helpful to the game as we move forward in a rapidly changing environment,” Manfred added.

When asked what excites him most about MLB right now, he replied, “International.” He highlighted the league’s expanding reach, starting the 2025 season in Japan and the upcoming World Baseball Classic next year. This participation in the Olympics, the first for baseball since 1992, could further enhance MLB’s global profile.

Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA 2028 organizing committee, presented to league owners on the benefits of this opportunity, calling it compelling. Manfred noted that they are working closely with the players’ association to ensure their support. “It’s a unique opportunity to market the sport worldwide, and you ought to take advantage of it,” he said, highlighting ongoing discussions about tournament scheduling and qualifiers.