A Glimpse into Baseball’s Future Olympic Dreams
As the world sets its sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics, baseball and softball enthusiasts will have to come to terms with the absence of these beloved sports from the program. However, a glimmer of hope remains on the horizon with the anticipated return of baseball in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. This resurgence has sparked excitement and speculation, not only among fans but also within the professional baseball community.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has historically excluded players on 40-man rosters from participating in the Olympics. However, significant change may be around the corner. Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani, two of baseball's most prominent figures, have publicly voiced their support for MLB players' participation in the 2028 Olympics. Moreover, Aaron Judge, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees, has also expressed his aspirations to compete on this grand stage.
Judge, known for his remarkable performance and career achievements, has made it clear that the opportunity to represent his country is a profound honor. "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 commented.
Currently boasting an impressive slash line of .321/.456/.691 with 41 home runs this season, Judge's performance is nothing short of extraordinary. In comparison, during the same period in 2022, he was hitting .300/.397/.674 with 46 home runs. Such stellar statistics further amplify the excitement surrounding the potential involvement of MLB stars in the Olympics and their ability to elevate the level of competition.
At 36 years old during the 2028 Olympics, Judge acknowledges that his primary focus remains with the New York Yankees, especially after securing a nine-year contract with the team. "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," he stated.
There's also an optimistic outlook from MLB's decision-makers. Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated an open-minded stance regarding the inclusion of MLB players in the 2028 Olympics. This potential shift in policy could pave the way for an unprecedented level of talent and excitement in the Olympic baseball competition, rivaling the enthusiasm seen when Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball paused its season to allow players to compete and win a gold medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The upcoming years hold the promise of thrilling developments for baseball enthusiasts worldwide. The Brisbane Olympics in 2032 further extend the horizon for these dreams. As the global conversation continues, the possibility of seeing top MLB players like Aaron Judge donning their national colors and competing on the Olympic stage brings a renewed sense of anticipation and excitement to the sport.