Screen capture from Padres' official Instagram account
In an unprecedented move, Major League Baseball (MLB) will host two regular-season games in Korea next year, marking a significant milestone for the league. The MLB Players Association and the league jointly announced on July 12 that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will kick off the 2024 season with a series held in Seoul on March 20th and 21st.
In an official news release, MLB.com revealed that both teams will open the regular season with the groundbreaking two-game set in Seoul, proclaiming, "These contests will mark the first-ever regular-season games held in Korea and will form a home-and-home series." The upcoming games, fittingly dubbed the "Seoul Series," will be part of the MLB World Tour, representing the ninth season opener hosted outside of the United States and Canada in league history, and the third in Asia, following events in Japan and Australia.
The Los Angeles Dodgers hold a special place in the hearts of Korean baseball fans due to the presence of notable Korean players such as pitchers Park Chan-ho, Ryu Hyun-jin, and Seo Jae-weong, as well as first baseman Choi Hee-seop. Park, who also played for the San Diego Padres, will add to the excitement, considering the presence of Padres' second baseman Kim Ha-seong.
MLB's journey of international season openers commenced in 1999 with its first game held abroad in Monterrey, Mexico, followed by five opening games in Tokyo, Japan, in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2019. The league expanded its global reach with the first game of the 2001 season taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while Sydney, Australia, hosted the 2014 opener.
For the San Diego Padres, their participation in the historic 1999 game against the Colorado Rockies holds significance. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will embark on their second season opener outside the United States in a span of ten years, having previously faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in Sydney in 2014.
Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten emphasized the significance of the upcoming Seoul Series, stating, "Our players are thrilled to showcase their talents in a country with such rich baseball tradition and talent, which includes former Dodgers legends Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi, and Hyun-Jin Ryu."
Simultaneously, the Padres shared a video interview of Kim, draped in the Korean national flag Taegeukgi, on their social media platforms. In the interview, Kim expressed his joy at representing both the San Diego Padres and Major League Baseball in his home country. "I could never have imagined that I would have the opportunity to play for the San Diego Padres and Major League Baseball in my home country," he expressed. "I cannot put into words how happy I am to be able to play in Korea while wearing a San Diego uniform."
In addition to the Seoul Series, the MLB Secretariat announced the schedule for other games abroad on its 2024 world tour. The Boston Red Sox will face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in preseason games in the Dominican Republic on March 9th and 10th, followed by a clash between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City on April 27th and 28th. Lastly, the New York Mets will take on the Philadelphia Phillies in London on June 8th and 9th, further expanding MLB's global presence and captivating fans around the world.
Sayart.net
Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com
