After this season's opening series in South Korea featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Major League Baseball has apparently decided to run it back for a second consecutive year. This time, in Japan, it will be the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs in 2025.
It makes sense to open domestically on the west coast for the Cubs, traveling to Japan would put them at a competitive disadvantage if they were to have to start in the Midwest for example.
One drawback could be the interruption in Spring Training evaluation. It will be interesting to see how they will prepare for that.
The Cubs could benefit from the exposure of playing in front of the Japanese fans. With the additions of Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki the past couple seasons, it would make for a fun homecoming for the two as they face fellow Japanese players Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The last time the Cubs appeared in Japan was against the New York Mets at the Tokyo Dome in 2000. The Cubs would go on to win the opener 5-3. One would hope that playing in Japan will be a good luck charm as a result.
International exposure never hurts. In 2023, the club faced the St. Louis Cardinals for a series in London. By growing the brand across the pond, the Cubs could gain even more fans watching the product.
They could also improve their chances of luring future Japanese players into signing with them going forward. Anything that could grow the brand and relations should be a plus.
Depending on how the 2024 season goes, the Cubs could have an even better club heading into the 2025 season. All the more exciting for a potential matchup against the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.
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