MLB's travel plans for '24: Seoul, Mexico City, London, D.R.
David Adler
@_dadlerThe MLB World Tour is coming to four international destinations in 2024: London, Mexico City, Seoul and Santo Domingo.
The Seoul Series will be the opener of the 2024 MLB regular season -- and will mark the first MLB regular-season games ever played in Korea.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association announced the full plans for the four series on Wednesday.
• Seoul Series: Dodgers vs. Padres, March 20-21 (MLB season opener)
• Mexico City Series: Astros vs. Rockies, April 27-28
• London Series: Mets vs. Phillies, June 8-9
• Dominican Republic Series: Red Sox vs. Rays, March 9-10 (Spring Training)
"Major League Baseball is incredibly excited for this extensive slate of international games in 2024," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Our recent efforts have produced strong enthusiasm around the globe, and we look forward to building on that foundation with returns to Mexico City and London, while also opening the season in Korea for the first time. In addition, we can’t wait to celebrate the tradition of the sport in the Dominican Republic with our visit to Santo Domingo next March. We are thrilled that our fans across four different countries outside the United States and Canada will have the opportunity to see the game’s stars."
The MLB World Tour schedule for next year includes the return of games to the United Kingdom and Mexico for a second consecutive season, after the 2023 London Series between the Cubs and Cardinals and Mexico City Series between the Giants and Padres, in addition to new stops in Korea and the Dominican Republic.
“Players have a deep interest in growing baseball around the world. No matter where they come from, players are linked by a passion for our game that transcends different languages, cultures, and nationalities,” said Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLB Players Association. “The series announced today will allow fans around the globe to gain a first-hand appreciation for the unmatched skill and infectious enthusiasm players display every time they go to work. We are excited to expand our international presence in new communities and celebrate the game we all love.”
Here's a look at each of the four international series in 2024.
Seoul Series
The Dodgers and Padres will open up the 2024 season with two games in Korea from March 20-21.
The Seoul Series will mark the ninth time that the MLB season has opened outside the 50 U.S. states and Canada, and the first time in five years. Previous international openers include:
• 1999 -- Monterrey, Mexico (Rockies vs. Padres)
• 2000 -- Tokyo, Japan (Mets vs. Cubs)
• 2001 -- San Juan, Puerto Rico (Rangers vs. Blue Jays)
• 2004 -- Tokyo, Japan (Rays vs. Yankees)
• 2008 -- Tokyo, Japan (Red Sox vs. A's)
• 2012 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners)
• 2014 -- Sydney, Australia (Dodgers vs. D-backs)
• 2019 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners)
It will be the Dodgers' first international games since they played the Padres in Mexico in 2018, and their second Opening Day abroad after the 2014 season opener in Australia.
"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," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "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."
The Padres will be playing internationally for a second straight season, but in a new country, going from the 2023 Mexico City Series to the 2024 Seoul Series. Like the Dodgers, they've also played abroad on Opening Day before, in the inaugural international season opener back in 1999.
"Korea is a great baseball country with a rich tradition, passionate fans, and talented players, including current Padre and San Diego fan favorite Ha-Seong Kim," Padres CEO Erik Greupner said. "The Padres are proud to serve alongside the Dodgers as global ambassadors for the game of baseball with our historic 2024 Korea Series."
Mexico City Series
The second Mexico City Series will feature the Astros and Rockies for a pair of games on April 27 and 28, almost exactly a year after this season's inaugural Mexico City Series.
Both Houston and Colorado last played internationally in Mexico, but in Monterrey, not Mexico City. The Astros played two regular-season games against the Angels there in 2019, and the Rockies played an exhibition series against the D-backs that same year.
The Astros have played exhibition games in Mexico City before, in 2016 against the Padres and 2004 against the Marlins.
London Series
The London Series returns for its third edition overall, with the Mets and Phillies facing off at London Stadium on June 8 and 9.
The Mets will be playing abroad for the first time since 2010, when they faced the Marlins in Puerto Rico. But they're no stranger to international games, having participated in both MLB's first-ever international regular season games in 1996 in Mexico and MLB's first-ever regular-season games in Japan in 2000.
"Interest in baseball is growing all over the world, and to bring the Mets' 'never-say-die' attitude to sports fans in London is a tremendous honor," Mets owner Steve Cohen said. "Our Queens family is ready to show London a great time with exciting baseball and amazing experiences that create new fans and build the Mets community throughout the United Kingdom."
The Phillies have never played regular-season games internationally, and have left the U.S. and Canada only once, over 50 years ago, for a pair of exhibition games against the Pirates in San Juan in 1977.
"Major League Baseball has done an excellent job of expanding its footprint internationally, and we are honored to play a role in that effort as part of the 2024 London Series," Phillies managing partner John Middleton said. "This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our players' talents and highlight the excitement that comes with a Phillies-Mets matchup for our fans in the UK and for those who have never attended a baseball game."
Dominican Republic Series
In addition to the three international regular-season series planned for in 2024, the Red Sox and Rays will play a Spring Training series in Santo Domingo at Estadio Quisqueya from March 9-10.
"This unique opportunity builds on our long-standing connection to the Dominican Republic and allows us to celebrate the remarkable talents and rich cultural heritage of a country whose passion for the game has distinctly shaped our organization," Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said. "From the players who have passed through our Dominican Republic Academy to those who have helped us win championships, we have been fortunate to witness the profound impact of Dominican players within our game, and we are thrilled to be able to bring Red Sox baseball to such a vibrant baseball community next year."
Exhibition games are also a key part of the MLB World Tour, which includes up to 16 exhibition games being played internationally between 2023 and ‘26, as well as up to 24 regular-season games spanning Asia, Europe and Latin America.