Though the 2023 season is still in its early stages, it’s never too soon to look ahead to 2024—particularly when Opening Day is shaping up to be a historic event.
That’s because MLB is reportedly planning on beginning next season in South Korea with a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. It would mark the first time the league has played a game in South Korea, and the ninth time since 1999 that the league will begin a season outside of the United States or Canada.
MLB is playing four games outside of the U.S. or Canada this year: two games in Mexico City last month between the Padres and Giants, and a two-game series in London between the Cubs and Cardinals coming up in June. The league has hosted games in Asia five times, all in Tokyo: 2000, ’04, ’08, ’12 and ’19.
The Padres currently have South Korean infielder Ha-seong Kim on their roster. Kim starred in the KBO for seven seasons before joining San Diego in 2021.
