MLB player participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics remains an unanswered question, despite interest from all sides in reaching an agreement. The MLBPA (and league sponsors) have not yet been presented with a proposal by ownership that would allow for MLB players to play in the games, which are scheduled for July 14-30 in Los Angeles.
The league has discussed an extended All-Star Break during the 2028 season to accommodate players participating in the Games, according to the AP’s Ronald Blum. Commissioner Rob Manfred sounded confident about the possibility when asked about it before Game 2 of the World Series:
“I am positive about it. I think that the owners have kind of crossed the line in terms of, we’d like to do it if we can possible make it work. There are logistical issues that still need to be worked on.”
Figuring out those logistics may prove crucial.
It took 11 days to complete the baseball tournament at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Officials are hoping for a more “compressed format” at the 2028 Games, but what that might look like remains unclear.
The All-Star Break was four days long in 2025. Even doubling that might not be enough time to fit an Olympic tournament in. Presumably, if MLB players are participating in the Olympics during that break, there will not be an All-Star Game (the Home Run Derby and Futures Game would also likely be canceled). MLB has not yet announced a host city for the 2028 All-Star festivities (though reports over the summer suggested that consideration is between Toronto and Baltimore).
While sorting out the details for MLB players to participate in the 2028 Games remains the priority, it seems less likely that the league will find a way to compromise for the 2032 Games, which will be held in Brisbane, Australia.
Elsewhere, around the sport …
Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suárez has won his second Luis Aparicio Award, which is presented to the best Venezuelan player in MLB after each season since 2004. Miguel Cabrera (6), José Altuve (4), Ronald Acuña Jr. (3), and Johan Santana (2) are the only other players to win the award multiple times.
Infielder Jacob Lombard — ranked as the No. 2 high school prospect in the country behind only Grady Emerson — announced a commitment to the University of Miami. Lombard is expected to be a first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft, so it’s unlikely he ever reaches campus for the Hurricanes. Lombard’s father, George, is the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, and his older brother, George Jr., is the top prospect in the Yankees’ system.
More words
Dodgers reliever Will Klein barely made the team’s World Series roster and then came up clutch in Game 3. The performance earned him a face-to-face with Sandy Koufax more than an hour after the 18-inning game concluded.
A pair of players watching the World Series from home will get championship rings no matter which team wins.