Baseball's Olympic Rollercoaster: The 2028 Los Angeles Hope
Despite its rich history and global appeal, baseball, along with softball, was omitted from the Paris 2024 Olympic program. Yet fans and athletes alike may have a reason to rejoice as baseball is poised to make its comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
One of the most significant hurdles for baseball's full Olympic integration has been the exclusion of Major League Baseball (MLB) players on 40-man rosters from participating in the Games. This policy has faced criticism, especially from prominent figures within the league. Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani have publicly backed the inclusion of MLB stars in the 2028 Olympics, a sentiment echoing throughout the sport.
Among the voices advocating for change is Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ star outfielder. Judge has made it clear that representing his country on the Olympic stage is a dream he’s eager to pursue. "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. 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," Judge shared. He added, "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 performance underscores his readiness to take on such a prestigious challenge. This season, he boasts an impressive slash line of .321/.456/.691 with 41 home runs. For comparison, in the same number of team games in 2022, he was hitting .300/.397/.674 with 46 home runs. His contribution to the Yankees has been monumental, and his aspirations to bring that same level of excellence to Team USA is exhilarating for fans.
While Judge is eager to don the national colors, he remains focused on his commitment to the Yankees. "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," he said. Judge envisions a future where he can balance both commitments, expressing hope, "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."
Commissioner Rob Manfred's stance also provides a glimmer of hope. When asked about the possibility of MLB players participating in the 2028 Olympics, Manfred described himself as "open-minded." This signals potential shifts ahead, potentially aligning the MLB’s regulations with the Olympic agenda.
Interestingly, this wouldn’t be the first time professional leagues have modified their schedules to accommodate the Olympics. During the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball paused its season, allowing its players to compete. This decision proved fruitful as Japan clinched the gold medal in baseball. Such precedents could pave the way for MLB to take a similar approach.
Looking even further into the future, the Summer Olympics will head to Brisbane, Australia, in 2032. Whether baseball will be included in those Games remains to be seen, but the 2028 event in Los Angeles stands as the immediate focal point for the sport's Olympic aspirations.
If MLB players are granted eligibility, the 2028 Olympics could serve as an extraordinary showcase for top-tier baseball talent on one of the world's grandest stages. Fans can only hope that advocacy from within the league propels the necessary changes, bringing their favorite stars to the Olympic diamond. As we edge closer to 2028, the dialogues, decisions, and dreams of athletes like Aaron Judge will undoubtedly shape the path forward.