A report came out this morning that the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers will head to Japan to start next season. Similar to the games in South Korea between the Dodgers and Padres this year, these games will most likely take place just over a week before the rest of the regular season will commence.
Report: Cubs And Dodgers To Start 2025 Season In Japan
REPORT: Cubs and Dodgers Told They’ll Open the 2025 Season in Japanhttps://t.co/X43gSpNRix pic.twitter.com/UbPWE669M2
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 24, 2024
Not The First Time
Baseball’s international play in regular season action is a testament to the global unity of the sport. The last time a regular season game was played in Japan was in 2019, when the Mariners and A’s played a pair of games, with Seattle taking both victories. The Cubs and Cardinals made their mark across the pond this season, playing a two-game series in London that ended in a draw. It’s a small world, after all, especially when it comes to baseball.
The rest of the 2024 season will again see international play in Mexico and the UK. The Astros and Rockies will play a two-game set in Mexico City on April 27 and 28. Later, the Mets and Phillies will follow suit in London. Similar to what the Cubs and Cardinals did last year. The last time a regular season game was played in Japan was in 2019. The Mariners and A’s played two games, both of which Seattle won.
A Homecoming For Some Stars
It’s a homecoming for some of baseball’s brightest stars. Each team participating in the Opening Series next season boasts two Japanese stars. The Dodgers will bring over sensation Shohei Ohtani and current first-year starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Japan will see Seiya Suzuki and current first-year left-hander Shota Imanaga return to their homeland for the brief series as well.
Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Imanaga all participated in the World Baseball Classic just over a year ago. They were extremely important in their efforts to bring home the gold for Japan, defeating the U.S. in the finals. Suzuki was supposed to be a part of the group but missed the entire competition due to suffering a moderate oblique strain.
Main Photo Credits: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
