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MLB Rumors: Non-40-Man Roster Players Expected To Be Allowed To Participate In 2020 Olympics

Matt Borelli
2 Min Read
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Baseball is not only America’s Pastime but one of the more popular international sports across the globe in general. That was evident last week with the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series taking place, in which the Los Angeles Dodgers were represented by Kiké Hernandez, Kenta Maeda and Chris Taylor.

The beauty of baseball is also on display during the World Baseball Classic, which consists of players from different countries competing against each other every four years.

Now with the sport making a comeback in the Olympics scene, there has been speculation on whether MLB players will be allowed to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Games and qualifiers.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the expectation is that only non-40-man roster players will be able to suit up at the consent of their respective clubs:

Baseball hasn’t been featured in the Olympics since 2008, when the United States took home the Bronze medal at the Summer Beijing games. The roster construction followed a similar format back then, with only up-and-coming talent allowed to participate.

Among those to help the United States capture Bronze honors included Jake Arrieta, Stephen Strasburg and Dexter Fowler — well before each made their respective MLB debut.

Before that, the nation earned Gold medal honors in 2000 and another Bronze medal in 1996.

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.