The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will take their rivalry to a new country, as announced Wednesday.
The two National League West squads will face off in South Korea to open the 2024 season, marking the first regular-season games ever played in the country.
"We can't wait to play meaningful Major League games for the very first time in front of the outstanding baseball fans of South Korea next season," said Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten. "The Dodgers have a long and proud history of helping to grow the game abroad, highlighted by our trips to Mexico, China and Australia. It's very exciting to add Korea to the list."
(Via MLB.com)
The two Southern California teams will begin their two-game series March 20th in Seoul, South Korea's capital city.
"I know our players are thrilled to put their talents on display in a country so rich with baseball tradition and talent, including former Dodgers Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi and Hyun-Jin Ryu," Kasten said.
(Via MLB.com)
The Korean baseball league, the Korean Baseball Organization, is one of the highest-ranking baseball leagues in the world with baseball being the most popular sport in South Korea. Chan Ho Park made MLB history when he became the first South Korean-born Major League Baseball player, playing for the Dodgers from 1994-2001 before spending time with the Rangers, Padres, Mets, Phillies, Pirates and Yankees.
Ha-Seong Kim, who currently plays for the Padres, is likely to play in his home country barring any unexpected roster moves.
The Dodgers most recently played abroad in 2018, when they played the Padres in Monterrey, Mexico. They have also played in Sydney, Australia, as well as exhibition games in Taiwan, China, Japan and the Dominican Republic as well as Puerto Rico.
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