Dodgers vs. Padres in Korea: Every part to know as 2024 MLB common season kicks off with Seoul Collection

For the primary time ever, Main League Baseball regular-season video games will likely be performed in South Korea. The NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will start the 2024 season with a pair of video games in Seoul, South Korea, beginning on Wednesday. The video games will likely be performed on the Gocheok Sky Dome, dwelling of the Korea Baseball Group’s Kiwoom Heroes.

“I am actually wanting ahead to it, studying extra in regards to the tradition, town,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned on the Winter Conferences in December. “Clearly there’s numerous good ball gamers there, and so for us and the Padres to go over there and showcase and play two regular-season video games, it is good for baseball. I am excited.”

That is the primary time MLB will open the common season with video games performed internationally since 2019, when the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners started the 12 months in Tokyo. These two video games are notable for being the ultimate two video games of Ichiro Suzuki’s Corridor of Fame profession. Listed below are the main points for the two-game Seoul Collection:

Each video games will begin at 7:05 p.m. native time in Seoul, so that they’re evening video games in South Korea and early-morning video games in america. The Dodgers and Padres every performed a pair of exhibition video games towards KBO golf equipment and Group Korea this previous weekend to arrange for the Seoul Collection. Each groups have additionally participated in youth clinics and different promotional occasions in latest days.

The Padres will function the house crew on March 20, and the Dodgers will function the house crew on March 21. Listed below are six issues to know for MLB’s first-ever Seoul Collection.

1. Park will throw out the primary pitch

Chan-Ho Park, the primary Korean-born participant in MLB historical past and in addition a former Dodger and Padre, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch previous to the March 20 season opener.

Park, 50, made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in April 1994. He was an All-Star with Los Angeles in 2001 and he performed elements of 17 seasons within the huge leagues with seven completely different groups. Park went 124-98 with a 4.36 ERA in 1,993 MLB innings.

Park has been a particular advisor in San Diego’s entrance workplace since 2017.

2. It is a homecoming for Kim

Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim was born and raised simply outdoors Seoul and, along with returning to his dwelling nation, can be returning to his dwelling ballpark for the Seoul Collection. He starred for the Kiwoom Heroes (beforehand Nexen Heroes) from 2014-20 and the Gocheok Sky Dome was his dwelling stadium. Count on Kim to obtain a hero’s welcome at his outdated stomping grounds.

“I haven’t got a particular favourite second,” Kim advised MLB.com final summer season when requested about his time as a KBO participant. “I keep in mind all of the video games I performed there. I can recall every part. I might say all of the moments had been nice. I performed exhausting and I am happy with it.”

It must be famous that the Gocheok Sky Dome has been upgraded this season. The constructing has new lights, new turf, and renovated clubhouses, amongst different issues.

With the Heroes, Kim was a three-time Golden Glove winner, which is given yearly to one of the best all-around participant at every place. It is not strictly a defensive award. Kim, who’s now taking part in shortstop for San Diego, authored a .294/.373/.493 batting line in seven KBO seasons. He signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Padres in January 2021 and will likely be a free agent after 2024.

3. Every crew will deliver further gamers

This isn’t precisely a shock. The Dodgers and Padres will use a normal 26-man roster for the 2 Seoul Collection video games, although every crew introduced 5 further gamers on the journey as potential damage replacements and in addition to play in these two exhibition video games main as much as the Seoul Collection. Listed below are the 31 gamers the Dodgers took to South Korea:

There was some query about whether or not Blake Treinen, who took a comebacker to the midsection final week, could be wholesome sufficient to make the journey, however he’s certainly on the journey roster. Treinen didn’t pitch in any respect final season as he recovered from shoulder surgical procedure.

Now listed here are the 31 gamers the Padres have on the journey:

Be aware that Dylan Stop, who came visiting from the Chicago White Sox in a commerce final week, is on the journey roster, although he isn’t scheduled to pitch. He needed to fly to Seoul later after being traded too late to make the crew constitution.

4. A starter might pitch in reduction

Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned Michael King, who will likely be a part of the rotation this season, will likely be out there out of the bullpen for the Seoul Collection. It is a two-game collection with a seven-day break till the following regular-season sport, so King will not be wanted to begin a 3rd sport as a result of there isn’t any third sport on this collection. Utilizing him out of the bullpen makes good sense.

“I was pumped (after I was advised I might be used out of the bullpen in Seoul),” King advised MLB.com just lately. “As a result of I actually simply wish to pitch in that ambiance. I am certain it could’ve been an incredible ambiance if I began a kind of exhibition video games (towards a KBO crew). However when the video games matter, you wish to pitch within the video games that matter.”

Pitching out of the bullpen will likely be nothing new for King, who came visiting from the New York Yankees within the Juan Soto commerce. From 2022 via mid-August 2023, King was a dynamic setup man for New York, throwing 116 innings with 143 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA. He then moved to the rotation and had a 1.88 ERA in eight begins to shut out 2023.

5. Extra worldwide video games are coming

The Seoul Collection is a part of MLB’s worldwide push. It’s neither the primary nor the final set of worldwide video games MLB will play in 2024. The Boston Crimson Sox and Tampa Bay Rays performed two exhibition video games within the Dominican Republic on March 9 and 10. This is the remainder of 2024’s worldwide slate:

The 2 Yankees vs. Diablo Rojos video games are exhibition video games (Diablo Rojos are the Yankees of the Mexican League by way of championships, historic significance, and so on.). All the opposite worldwide collection listed above are regular-season video games, although Seoul is the one new location. MLB has already performed regular-season video games in Mexico Metropolis and London.

6. The Dodgers and Padres nonetheless have to complete spring coaching

After the Seoul Collection, the Dodgers and Padres will head to Southern California and wrap up their exhibition season. It is a lengthy journey with a big-time change – a 13 or so hour flight from spring coaching in Phoenix to Seoul and a 16-hour time distinction – and the 2 groups can have a number of days to regulate again to regular after the 2 video games. Listed below are their upcoming schedules:

In order that’s two regular-season video games in Seoul, a number of days off, the previous few spring exhibition video games, one other day without work, after which a return to regular-season baseball. An uncommon schedule, to make sure, however a needed one given the journey concerned.