Report: Dodgers Backing Out of Japan Game in 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly backing out of a proposed regular season opener next season in Japan.

The Japanese news outlet Sanspo was first to report the news. Steven Negishi translated the report from Japanese to English.

The Dodgers opened their 2023 regular season in Seoul, South Korea with two games against the San Diego Padres. Faced with the proposition of doing so again, the team might not want to begin another season halfway across the world.

The reasons make sense: the long, extensive travel the players would once again endure could make for another long year. The Dodgers, who lead Major League Baseball in home attendance, also would not want to give up another home game due to being No. 1 in attendance over the past handful of seasons. The Dodgers’ decision carries significant weight. 

Reports surfaced back in March that the Dodgers would likely open their 2025 season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs. The likelihood of that happening now appears lower — to the benefit of the Dodgers, and to the detriment of Japanese fans who would have seen two of their native sons (Dodger stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto) on baseball’s biggest stage. Neither MLB nor the Dodgers have confirmed the existence of the Japan trip, let alone any participating teams. 

If the Dodgers decide to participate in a 2025 Japan Series, they would become the first MLB team to open back-to-back regular seasons overseas. The Dodgers left their Korea trip 1-1 against the Padres, winning the first of two and losing in a back-and-forth offensive battle in the second game after Yamamoto’s nightmare start in his major league debut. 

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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