It is the most frustrating question in international sports. You’d think the answer to is there baseball in the Olympics would be a simple "yes" or "no," but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) loves to keep fans guessing. If you are looking for a game right now, you won't find one.
Baseball is currently in a state of "Olympic limbo." It isn't a permanent fixture like swimming or track and field. Instead, it’s a guest that gets invited to the party, kicked out, and then asked back a few years later when the host realizes the party is boring without it.
Honestly, it’s a mess.
To understand why, you have to look at the weirdly specific rules of the Olympic Charter and the ongoing power struggle between the IOC and Major League Baseball (MLB).
The short answer: Is there baseball in the Olympics right now?
No. There is no baseball in the 2024 Paris Games.
The French just aren't that into it. When a city hosts the Olympics, they get to propose a few "optional" sports that reflect their local culture or appeal to younger audiences. Paris chose breakdancing, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing. They looked at a diamond and a pitcher’s mound and basically said, "Non, merci."
But don't give up hope yet.
Baseball is officially returning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It makes sense. It would be borderline sacrilegious to hold an Olympics in Southern California—the literal heart of American baseball talent—and not have the sport included. So, while the answer is "no" for today, it is a resounding "yes" for the near future.
Why does baseball keep disappearing and reappearing?
It's all about the "Core Sport" status. Back in 2005, the IOC held a secret ballot in Singapore. It was a brutal day for the sport. They voted baseball and softball out of the 2012 London Games. It was the first time a sport had been dropped since polo in 1936.
Why did they do it?
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The IOC had three main beefs. First, they felt the sport didn't have enough global reach (which is debatable given its massive popularity in Asia and Latin America). Second, the "doping" era of the late 90s and early 2000s left a bad taste in the committee's mouth. But the biggest reason—the one that still causes headaches today—is the Major League Baseball schedule.
The Olympics happen in July and August. That is the middle of the MLB season. Unlike the NBA, which has successfully integrated its stars into the "Dream Team" format, MLB has historically refused to pause its season or let its 40-man roster players go to the Olympics.
The IOC hates this. They want the best athletes in the world. If Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Bryce Harper aren't on the field, the IOC views the tournament as a "B-level" event.
The Tokyo 2020 comeback and why it mattered
We saw a glimpse of what Olympic baseball could be during the Tokyo 2020 Games (which actually happened in 2021). Japan loves baseball. It is their national soul. Because of that, the organizers fought tooth and nail to bring it back as a one-off event.
It was incredible.
Even without the active MLB stars, the quality of play was sky-high. Japan took the gold medal, beating the United States in a tense finale. It proved that even without every single superstar, the passion of international play—the "playing for the flag" factor—creates a product people want to watch.
The Tokyo games used a weird, double-elimination bracket that confused almost everyone watching, but the drama was real. It reminded the world that baseball belongs on the global stage. Then, as quickly as it arrived, it was stripped away again for Paris.
The 2028 Los Angeles outlook: Will the pros play?
This is where things get interesting. For the 2028 Games, there is a serious push to get MLB players involved.
Casey Wasserman, the chairperson for LA28, has been in deep talks with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. There’s a proposal on the table to condense the MLB season or create a six-day break so the stars can participate.
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Imagine a Team USA lineup featuring Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman playing in their home stadium at Chavez Ravine. Imagine Team Japan with Ohtani. It would be the biggest baseball event in history, arguably bigger than the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
How Olympic baseball is different from the MLB
If you’re used to watching the 162-game grind of the MLB, the Olympic version feels like a different sport. It’s a sprint, not a marathon.
- Rosters are tiny: You don't have the luxury of a massive bullpen. Every arm matters.
- The Mercy Rule: Yes, the Olympics has a "mercy rule." If a team is up by 15 runs after five innings or 10 runs after seven, the game ends. It keeps the blowouts from dragging on.
- Tie-breaker rules: This is the most controversial part. If a game goes into extra innings, teams often start with runners on first and second base. It’s designed to end games quickly, but purists absolutely hate it.
- The Ball: The Olympic ball is often slightly different from the MLB ball—sometimes it's tackier or firmer, depending on the manufacturer (often Mizuno).
The global landscape: Who actually wins?
If you think the U.S. just dominates because it’s "America’s pastime," you haven't been paying attention.
Cuba was the original Olympic powerhouse. They won three gold medals before the sport was dropped in 2008. Their style of play—aggressive, high-energy, and fundamentally sound—defined the early years of Olympic baseball.
Then you have South Korea and Japan. The KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) and NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) are massive leagues. When the Olympics roll around, these leagues actually stop their seasons. They send their best players. That is why South Korea won gold in 2008 and Japan won in 2021.
The U.S. usually has to scramble. They pull from the Minor Leagues (Triple-A and Double-A) and sign "free agents" who aren't currently on a 40-man roster. It’s a ragtag group of prospects and veterans.
Recent Gold Medalists
- 1992: Cuba
- 1996: Cuba
- 2000: USA
- 2004: Cuba
- 2008: South Korea
- 2020: Japan
Notice a pattern? It is a truly international tug-of-war.
What about Softball?
You can't talk about baseball in the Olympics without mentioning softball. They are essentially tied at the hip in the eyes of the IOC. Usually, if one is in, the other is in.
Olympic softball is fast-pitch, and it is incredibly fast. The mound is closer, the reactions have to be instantaneous, and the U.S. and Japanese women's teams have a rivalry that rivals any other in sports. Like baseball, softball is out for Paris but back for LA 2028.
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Is there baseball in the Olympics for the long haul?
Probably not. The IOC is moving toward a model where the program is "flexible."
They want to stay "urban" and "youth-oriented." They are terrified of becoming the "Old Man's Games." Because baseball requires expensive, specialized stadiums and takes a long time to play, it’s always going to be on the chopping block when the Olympics are held in countries without a baseball tradition.
Expect it to be in when the games are in the U.S., Japan, or maybe Australia (Brisbane 2032 is a possibility). Expect it to be out when the games are in Europe.
How to watch international baseball in the meantime
If you’re bummed out that there’s no baseball in the Paris Olympics, you don't have to wait until 2028 to see high-stakes international play.
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has actually surpassed the Olympics in terms of prestige for the players. Because the WBC happens in March, MLB stars actually play. The 2023 final between the USA and Japan was some of the best television in the history of the sport.
There is also the WBSC Premier12, which features the top 12 ranked national teams in the world. It’s basically the "World Cup" of baseball, and it happens every four years.
What you should do next
If you want to support the return of the sport, the best thing you can do is watch the international qualifiers. The "is there baseball in the Olympics" question only gets a permanent "yes" if the viewership numbers are too big for the IOC to ignore.
- Follow the WBSC: The World Baseball Softball Confederation is the governing body. They post schedules for the U-18 and U-23 World Cups, which are surprisingly fun to watch.
- Mark your calendar for LA28: Start looking at tickets early. The baseball events will likely be held at Dodger Stadium or Angel Stadium, and they will sell out instantly.
- Watch the WBC: If you want to see the "Olympic" vibe with actual MLB superstars, the next World Baseball Classic in 2026 is your best bet.
Baseball’s Olympic journey is a rollercoaster. It’s complicated, political, and sometimes annoying. But when that first pitch is thrown in Los Angeles in 2028, all the voting drama and committee meetings won't matter. It’ll just be a game again.