It’s Opening Day per week earlier than Opening Day.
On Wednesday morning U.S. time, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will get the 2024 MLB season began with a bang, squaring off for the primary of two regular-season contests on the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea. It marks the primary time that MLB has performed regular-season video games in South Korea, a rustic that has seen baseball skyrocket in recognition over the previous few a long time.
For these two franchises, the journey throughout the Pacific comes at an enchanting time. The Dodgers spent the winter spending, dropping oodles of money to herald Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Teoscar Hernandez in free company whereas additionally extending commerce acquisition Tyler Glasnow to a hefty deal. The Padres, in the meantime, had a tumultuous offseason marked by the dying of workforce proprietor Peter Seidler. That led to a tightening of the purse strings, which noticed San Diego ship Juan Soto to New York for a smattering of arms, although the latest addition of Dylan Stop by way of commerce exhibits that the Padres are nonetheless intent on competing in 2024.
And whereas these first two video games really feel notably essential, contemplating their irregular place as the one significant video games on this week’s docket, it’s essential to do not forget that the baseball season is a marathon, and these are simply the primary two steps. The Dodgers going 2-0 this week doesn’t clinch them a playoff spot, neither is an 0-2 journey trigger for complete panic. Keep in mind, the 2019 Oakland A’s dropped each video games in Tokyo to the Seattle Mariners throughout Ichiro’s farewell earlier than ending the season with 97 wins and a playoff spot. Don’t panic if Ohtani goes 0-for-4 or Fernando Tatis Jr. will get caught stealing.
Listed below are 4 issues to search for within the Seoul Sequence.
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Count on an incredible environment
South Korea’s home baseball league, the KBO, is taken into account the third-best baseball league on the planet behind MLB and the Japanese NPB. The circuit exploded in recognition in America in the course of the early days of the pandemic, when decrease COVID-19 numbers in South Korea meant the KBO was in a position to resume play months earlier than MLB. Sadly, the pandemic-influenced empty stadiums couldn’t replicate probably the most distinctive options of Korean baseball: the group expertise.
In comparison with the relaxed, humdrum environment of MLB video games, KBO video games are raucous affairs. There are coordinated fan dances, particular chants for particular gamers and “cheer masters” who’re type of like souped-up variations of U.S. sport hype squads, besides many gown in full uniform and carry out atop dugouts throughout play.
How that taste of fandom interprets to an MLB sport might be fascinating to see — fewer than 7,000 followers attended the Padres’ Monday exhibition in opposition to the LG Twins — however the taking part groups will definitely assist issues. The Dodgers stay one of many extra widespread groups in South Korea because of Hyun Jin Ryu and Chan Ho Park, the primary Korean huge leaguer, whereas the Padres have Ha-Seong Kim, who has been MLB’s finest Korean participant the previous few seasons. Talking of which …
[Read more: NL West preview: What’s in store for the Dodgers, D-backs, Padres, Giants and Rockies in 2024?]
Ha-Seong Kim is the homecoming hero
The Padres’ new shortstop — Kim moved there after three seasons at second base — is already second all time in bWAR amongst Korean place gamers. He has been a league-average hitter, however the 2023 Gold Glover is so devastatingly good on protection that he has racked up 12.7 bWAR in simply 419 video games. There have been considerations about how Kim’s bat would translate in opposition to MLB pitching when he made the leap earlier than the 2021 season, however the 28-year-old’s offense has improved every season, culminating in a 17-homer, 110-OPS+ marketing campaign final 12 months.
In San Diego’s exhibition contest in opposition to the LG Twins on Monday, Kim homered twice on the Gocheok Sky Dome, his previous stomping grounds with the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. And whereas Kim’s recognition in his homeland definitely trails that of latest Giants heart fielder Jung-Hoo Lee, Kim has a possibility to make Korean baseball historical past in opposition to the Dodgers.
The pitching matchups are fascinating
There was hypothesis that Opening Day in Korea might see two Japanese pitching superstars, Yu Darvish and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, face off. Alas, the Dodgers tabbed long-haired charisma geyser and offseason commerce acquisition Tyler Glasnow for his or her first sport of the season, and he’ll toe the slab in opposition to Darvish. Glasnow regarded dastardly good in spring coaching and enters the season as a well-liked NL Cy Younger decide, whereas the 37-year-old Darvish is seeking to bounce again from a topsy-turvy 2023.
Recreation 2 of the Seoul Sequence will pit Yamamoto in opposition to Joe Musgrove, marking the primary alternative for ball followers to catch a regular-season glimpse of LA’s $325 million free-agent signing. The 25-year-old righty had an up-and-down spring however flashed the disgusting uncooked stuff and untouchable fastball that made him such a scorching commodity over the winter. He’ll go up in opposition to Musgrove, who’s hoping for a a lot more healthy 2024 after beginning simply 17 video games final season.
The time distinction isn’t any joke
Each video games will begin at 7 p.m. native time, however as a result of “native” on this case is Seoul, South Korea, which means the primary pitch of the 2024 MLB season might be thrown simply after 6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT. That creates a considerably unlucky scenario for Dodgers and Padres followers, who should both keep up very late or get up very early to catch a glimpse of Opening Day. Nonetheless, it’s price it for a style of significant ball.
This sequence is a component of a bigger MLB initiative to deliver stay, regular-season MLB video games to new locations and places around the globe. The previous decade has seen video games in Australia, Tokyo, London and Mexico Metropolis, and a deliberate tour to Paris was scuttled after MLB didn’t discover a promoter to assist manage the occasion. Commissioner Rob Manfred has additionally talked about that he’d prefer to finally deliver regular-season video games to the Dominican Republic, which hosted two spring coaching exhibitions between Tampa Bay and Boston this month. So keep tuned for extra major-league baseball around the globe.