National League Rivals to Open 2024 MLB Season in Asia, per Report

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.