Baseball and softball enthusiasts worldwide were left disappointed when it was announced that these sports would not feature in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, there is a silver lining on the horizon: baseball is anticipated to make a grand return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. This has garnered widespread excitement among fans and players alike, particularly within the Major League Baseball (MLB) community.
One of the most intriguing discussions surrounding the 2028 Olympics is the potential participation of MLB players. Currently, MLB players on 40-man rosters are excluded from Olympic competition. However, there have been increasing calls to change this rule, especially from high-profile players like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani. Their voices have been joined by none other than Aaron Judge, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees.
Aaron Judge, who has expressed a strong desire to represent his country on the Olympic stage, shared his thoughts on the matter candidly. "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. 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, known for his towering presence both on and off the field, is currently having another stellar season. Boasting a slash line of .321/.456/.691 with 41 home runs, his performance continues to impress. By way of comparison, in the same number of team games last year, Judge was hitting .300/.397/.674 with 46 home runs.
If the doors to Olympic competition were to open for MLB players, it would provide an unprecedented opportunity for stars like Judge to showcase their talents on a global stage. Judge, who will be 36 years old during the 2028 Olympics, has also emphasized the importance of balancing his professional commitments. "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 possibility of MLB players participating in the Olympics has also caught the attention of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Known for his strategic and open-minded approach, Manfred has indicated a willingness to consider the inclusion of MLB players in the 2028 Games. When asked about it, his succinct response was, "Open-minded."
The potential participation of MLB players in the 2028 Olympics brings several logistical considerations. For instance, Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball paused its season during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, allowing its top players to compete and ultimately win a gold medal in baseball. Whether MLB would adopt a similar strategy remains to be seen, but the precedent set by Japan could serve as an encouraging example.
The excitement is not limited to Los Angeles 2028; talk of the Olympics invariably leads to discussions about future Games. The Summer Olympics in 2032 will be held in Brisbane, Australia. It remains a question to contemplate how MLB's stance on Olympic participation might evolve over the next decade and beyond.
In the meantime, baseball fans around the world will continue to follow the careers of superstars like Aaron Judge, hoping to see them don their national colors on the Olympic stage. The anticipation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games is palpable, not just for the return of baseball and softball, but for the potential inclusion of the sport's biggest names, making it an event that fans and players alike eagerly look forward to.