MLB’s international strategy likely to lead to South Korea games

MLB will extend its international reach into a new Asian market, with sources saying that South Korea is the leading location to host a season-opening series in 2024.

That would mark the first MLB regular-season games in that country and add to an international growth plan that has seen the league schedule such games in Mexico City (four two-game series), London (three), San Juan (two) and Tokyo and Paris (one each) between 2023 and 2026.

The push marks the “most ambitious international play plan in league history,” according to Jim Small, MLB’s senior vice president of international.

This would not be the league’s first foray into South Korea. MLB opened an office in Seoul three years ago and set up grassroots programs and localized content in that market. Seoul hosted a round of the World Baseball Classic in 2017, and MLB has a Home Run Derby X event scheduled for Incheon in September.

However, as Small said, “Going back with major league teams matters.”