Could Mookie Betts Make the 2028 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team?

The Los Angeles Olympics are four years away but baseball is making its return to the program temporarily, which has clubhouses across Major League Baseball buzzing with talk about who could represent the United States in 2028.

Mookie Betts should be considered as an outfielder if the league changes its policy to allow 40-man roster players to participate in the Olympic Games.

Betts will be 35 when the next tournament comes around, but he is a star right now and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Even if he’s a statistically average player by 2028, he could still be among the most valuable U.S. natives.

The Gold Glove outfielder returned to the Dodgers lineup on Monday after missing eight weeks with a fractured hand. He homered and drove in three runs in his first game back.

“It was so much fun. Just good to come to work,” Betts said Monday. “These guys welcomed me with open arms, obviously. It’s just fun to play baseball.”

The baseball tournament would likely be held at Dodger Stadium, but early-round games could be held at Angel Stadium, San Diego’s Petco Park, or even San Francisco’s Oracle Park.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark indicated during the MLB All-Star Game that momentum for major leaguers is picking up. However, the league would have to alter its schedule to accommodate the tournament.

MLB would likely need to forgo having its annual All-Star Game in 2028 and take about 10 days off at the end of July instead. With that going into effect, the league would have to lengthen the calendar on the front end in March or the back end in October to meet 162 games. If that doesn’t happen, then the league might opt to play fewer games in 2028.

The United States, with Betts in the outfield, would be considered an early medal favorite but the competition would be fierce with a slew of professional players representing Cuba, Japan, and South Korea.

The United States won silver in Tokyo in 2021, without any 40-man roster players, so Team USA medaling is not completely dependent on MLB players’ participation.

However, the sport has been given an incredible opportunity. Baseball disappeared from the Olympics because the game’s best and brightest stars weren’t participating. Consider the example of hockey. The NHL hasn’t allowed its players to participate since 2014 (Sochi) and will again in 2026 (Italy).

The NBA and WNBA put on a wonderful display of competition in Paris. The WNBA took a break in its schedule and the NBA isn’t in season. If MLB can follow the path the other sports have already traveled, then the baseball tournament in 2028 will be nothing but a success.

Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

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