Major League Baseball has officially announced the exciting news!
After much anticipation, it’s confirmed that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will launch the 2025 MLB season on March 18 and 19 in Tokyo, Japan.
The 2025 MLB season will kick off in Tokyo as the Dodgers face off against the Cubs on March 18 and 19.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) July 18, 2024
Last year, the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series, opening the season with a two-game series in Seoul, South Korea. This time, they’re heading to the Tokyo Dome in Japan to start the 2025 season.
For more updates: Check out First-Half Grades for All 30 MLB Teams: Who’s Getting an ‘A’?
In last year’s international game, only one Korean-born player, Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim, participated. However, next year’s game will feature a plethora of Japanese talents.
Among these stars is Dodgers’ two-way player Shohei Ohtani, a highly popular Japanese-born player in MLB’s history. Additionally, Dodgers’ right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a groundbreaking $325 million, 12-year contract, will be showcasing his skills.
On the Cubs’ side, they boast two Japanese talents. Left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga, who made it to the National League All-Star team in his remarkable rookie season and outfielder Seiya Suzuki, a consistent standout in MLB.
Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images
MLB is actively working to promote baseball globally. Apart from the Korea game this year, The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies also competed in two London games.
Japan was a natural choice for the next international game due to its wealth of Japanese baseball stars. Just last year, Team Japan emerged victorious in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, defeating Team USA in the final.
Japanese fans have adjusted their schedules to follow MLB games, and next year, they can look forward to two games tailored to their time zone.
This will mark the sixth time MLB has commenced a season in Japan, a quarter-century after the initial game. The Dodgers are set to make history as the first team to consecutively launch seasons internationally.
Despite Ohtani’s rehab from UCL surgery, which limits him to hitting, he aims to resume his two-way performance in 2025. This sets the stage for Japanese stars potentially starting for the Dodgers in the upcoming games — Ohtani in one and Yamamoto in the other.
For the Cubs, Imanaga is a strong candidate to lead their pitching lineup in one of the two games. Suzuki and Ohtani will thrill the home crowd with their batting prowess.
Looking for more news? Check out the latest MLB Power Rankings: Surprising Teams in the Lead for the Second Half of the Season