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Dodgers Schedule Rumors: Japan An Alternative To South Korea Series With Padres

Matt Borelli
3 Min Read
Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports

As the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are in the midst of playing each other six times in 10 days, a report on Tuesday indicated the teams will likely open the 2024 regular season in South Korea.

It would mark the first time an MLB game is played in the country. The league has increased its international presence in recent years, holding series in Tokyo, Australia, Mexico and London.

While MLB has every intention to host a series in South Korea, they are also working on securing possible backup sites in case the original plan falls through.

According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Dodgers and Padres could potentially begin the 2024 season in Japan if the series in Seoul isn’t finalized:

The Dodgers and Padres opening the 2024 season in Japan would be interesting as both teams are expected to be among Shohei Ohtani’s top suitors if he reaches free agency as expected.

Ohtani is arguably the most popular athlete in Japan, and the two-way star joining either the Dodgers or Padres this offseason would add an extra level of intrigue for the 2024 Opening Series no matter where it is played.

In late March, a report suggested the Dodgers are the early favorite to sign Ohtani due to their location, recent success and financial flexibility.

Dodgers history of international games

In 2014, the Dodgers played the Arizona Diamondbacks for an Opening Series in Sydney, Australia. They also played the Padres in Mexico during the 2018 season that most notably featured a combined no-hitter started by Walker Buehler while he was on a pitch count.

The Dodgers otherwise have not played regular season games outside of the United States or Canada.

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.