This week, it was reported that the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers might open the 2024 MLB season in South Korea.
It would be a two-game series, according to what ESPN reported.
However, nothing appears to be set in stone yet.
“With all the logistics involved, it could be months before MLB announces the Padres-Dodgers series in Seoul. Japan is believed to be a potential alternative in case the Korea series doesn’t get finalized. Both teams will be going after a certain free agent this winter,” Padres insider Dennis Lin tweeted.
With all the logistics involved, it could be months before MLB announces the Padres-Dodgers series in Seoul. Japan is believed to be a potential alternative in case the Korea series doesn't get finalized. Both teams will be going after a certain free agent this winter.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) May 9, 2023
There are several things to take away from that tweet.
First, both the Padres and the Dodgers should be all in on Shohei Ohtani, the “certain free agent” that Lin is referring to.
Whoever gets him should have an enormous competitive advantage as well as an easy way to sell tickets, TV rights, merchandise, and more.
Then, we have the potential alternative to play in Japan instead of Korea.
A Twitter user proposed an alternate plan:
Do a 4 game series. 2 in Korea and 2 in Japan
— Jonathan Lee (@JonathanLee_24) May 9, 2023
It remains to be seen if it is at all possible, but it could be a dream scenario for both countries.
Still, MLB will probably prefer to finalize the Korea series eventually to avoid logistic nightmares.
We should have official word from the league at some point in the next few weeks.
For now, Korean fans are full of hope, dreaming about enjoying a series with Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Manny Machado, Ha-Seong Kim, Xander Bogaerts, Clayton Kershaw, and potentially Ohtani.
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