Category: MLB

With Jordan Walker shocking the baseball world by winning the Home Run Derby, safe to say the St. Louis Cardinals have had an eventful week in Philadelphia. The Cardinals presence in the actual All-Star game was underwhelming with one very big exception. More on that later.

The American League did what it seems the American League always does in All-Star games as they jumped out to a lead in the first inning. After Mike Trout struck out, Yordan Álvarez singled up the middle and Shea Langeliers walked. Junior Caminero then grounded out moving both Álvarez and Langeliers up to second and third with two out. Bobby Witt Jr. drew a walk to load the bases. Back-to-back singles by Cory Bellinger and Ben Rice gave the AL a quick 3-0 lead.

The first St. Louis Cardinal to enter the All-Star game was Riley O’Brien and to say he had an eventful top of the 3rd inning would be an understatement. After giving up a leadoff single to Shea Langeliers, Riley lost control of a 97 mph sinker which plastered Junior Caminero in the left hand fingers causing him to collapse to the ground in pain. The good news is the x-rays taken at the park came back negative for broken bones according to the TV broadcast.

Leave it to Riley to create a crisis and then pitch his way out of it. He got Bobby Witt Jr. to ground out to third for what looked like a double play, but was denied on a challenge. O’Brien got Cody Bellinger to fly out to left and then struck out Ben Rice to end the top of the 3rd inning with no runs scored. Drama, but no runs has been the story of many St. Louis Cardinals bullpen moments in the first half of the season, so including it in an All-Star game appearance makes sense.

Brief Editorial Rant: I am a lifelong diehard baseball fan, but I was honestly bored to death for the first 7 innings of this All-Star game. There were no extra base hits until the top of the 8th inning. That streak was interrupted by Miguel Vargas who launched a 88 mph slider into one of the upper decks of Citizens Bank Park to make it 4-0 American League. Combine that dearth of offense with awkward pauses in the game for MLB skits and you get a recipe for a substandard All-Star game. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I also sat impatiently waiting for Cardinals not named Riley O’Brien to enter the All-Star game. I know it must be a challenge for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to work all the players into the game, but how did Jordan Walker not make a more prominent appearance after his stunning Home Run Derby appearance? Iván Herrera finally was given an at-bat in the bottom of the 8th inning with PCA on first base. He grounded into an inning-ending force out at 2nd.

Jordan WalkerFINALLY entered the All-Star game in the bottom of the 9th inning. He was first up to face Aroldis Chapman. Chapman didn’t seem to want to throw Jordan a fastball as he threw 2 splitters and 2 sinkers to strike Walker out with only 1 four-seam fastball in the mix.

For the night, the National League only managed three miserable hits (all singles). The American League notched 7 hits and 4 runs including the 1 exciting home run, but even that seemed dull overall. Oh, PCA did say that he likes the turf in Busch Stadium during his in-game interview with the Fox broadcasters, so that was news. Can it be Friday any faster so we can resume the real entertaining baseball season again?

The fireworks were delayed, but Miguel Vargas made sure it was worth the wait.

The Chicago White Sox third baseman woke up Citizens Bank Park with an absolute bomb for the first home run of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in the top of the eighth inning. Vargas connected on a slider on the inner half of the plate from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski and boomed it 433 feet into the second deck in left field to put the American League up 4-0.

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game has been all about the pitchers, and the top of the seventh inning was no exception for Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski.

Wrobo rung in his 26th birthday by striking out the American League side, putting down Cleveland Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana, Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela and Tampa Bay Rays slugger Yandy Díaz in order on 12 pitches.

Through all three batters, the first-time All-Star was aggressive in the zone and showed exceptional command of his fastball, drawing five whiffs on the six times he threw it, two of which punched out Rafaela and Díaz for the third strike.

Wrobo strikes out the side in his first career All-Star Game. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eIBJlFeI3z

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 15, 2026

It's a departure from Wrobleski's usual style of pitching for contact, though the third-year pitcher out of Oklahoma State finished off the first half of the season with 20 strikeouts over his last two starts, an uptick from his 21% K rate and 10% whiff rate.

After the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night, everything stopped.

Players, coaches, managers, umpires and fans joined in to remember those we've lost and those among us who are fighting a battle against cancer.

Providing the music for this year's Stand Up To Cancer moment this year was Philadelphia band Boyz II Men. They came up together at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts before "Motown Philly" and "End of the Road" turned them into one of the biggest R&B acts of the 1990s. The city liked them enough to name a street after them – Boyz II Men Boulevard is real in Philadelphia. Patti LaBelle, also a Philadelphia native, opened the night with the national anthem.

"I'll Be There," is what Boyz II Men chose to carry the crowd through the Stand Up To Cancer moment.

As they sang, fans, players, coaches and umpires held the names of those close to them touched by cancer, including Derek Jeter, who held up the name of former Yankees outfielder Gerald Williams. The 14-year major leaguer died in February 2022 after a battle with cancer. Jeter announced the death himself, calling Williams "one of my best friends in the world."

Together, we stand up to cancer. pic.twitter.com/BanDQxo7C0

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026

Boyz II Men weren't just a hit for the hometown crowd. American League manager John Schneider was into it, too. He went up to them after their performance and shook their hands.

"That was cool. Me and (Twins manager Derek Shelton) were sitting there talking like, wow, this is kind of cool here in Philly. You know, brings you back to your teenage days a little bit," the Toronto Blue Jays manager said. "I thought that everything, every performance, was cool. From that to the anthem to 'God Bless America.' Everything was really cool. Awesome to shake their hand and say, hey, huge fan. You know what I mean, for a 46-year-old dude saying huge fan."

The partnership between MLB and Stand Up To Cancer goes back to 2009, and they have done the same moment at every All-Star Game to help raise awareness. MLB and its 30 teams have put tens of millions of dollars behind Stand Up To Cancer ever since, money the organization credits with helping produce nine FDA-approved cancer treatments.

Rays fans can catch their breath — for now.

Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero exited Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in the top of the third inning after getting drilled on the left hand on a pitch from Cardinals right-hander Riley O’Brien.

Immediately after being hit with a 98-mph fastball from O’Brien, the American League All-Star fell to the ground as his helmet also came off. 

Caminero remained on the ground in pain before popping up shortly after and walking off under his own power.

X-rays came back negative, and he is considered day-to-day, a good sign for the Rays.

View this post on Instagram

“Yeah, in the moment I was just scared, right,” Caminero told reporters after the AL’s 4-0 win through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. “Kind of in that situation, right there in the moment, you’re thinking the worst, and I honestly thought something might have been broken. But look, thank you to God that everything’s fine, and now it’s just a little bit sore, but we’re all good.”

The Rays lead the AL East at 56-38 despite low expectations entering the season, and part of that reason is because of Caminero. 

Caminero has been their offensive engine, as he’s hit 28 home runs and has a .927 OPS through 94 games. 

The 23-year-old also took part in Monday night’s Home Run Derby and fell to eventual winner Jordan Walker in the semifinals.

It’s the type of welcome you’d expect a rival crowd to give you. 

And no, it wasn’t just for a player or coach. 

At the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, Phillies fans loudly booed Mr. and Mrs. Met as they were introduced and presented on the scoreboard. 

In front of a sea of Phillies shirts and hats, Mrs. Met led the charge by walking on top of the first base dugout with her hands out wide. 

Mr. Met followed, and it’s safe to say he had fun on top of the dugout — even if Philadelphia fans were jeering loudly. 

Mr. Met crouched down and appeared to be doing pushups before pumping his fist. 

Even if it seemed harsh, the welcome makes sense. The Mets and Phillies are longtime division rivals. The Phillies lead the all-time series 565-534-1, though the Mets won the only playoff series between the two teams during the 2024 NLDS.

This season, the rivalry has swung in the Phillies’ favor, as they lead the season series 4-2, which includes a convincing 15-3 win on June 20. 

In addition to booing Mr. and Mrs. Met, attendees booed Juan Soto, who’s been in the National League East for the majority of his career, starting with the Nationals and now with the Mets. 

Fans also booed the contingent from the rival Braves when they were introduced, and even chirped at Jordan Walker, who won the Home Run Derby in a thriller over Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber on Monday. 

Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez fittingly got the start for the NL, but yielded three runs in the first inning, courtesy of singles from Yankees stars Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice.

PHILADELPHIA — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was struck on the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien in the top of the third inning and was immediately removed from the 96th All-Star Game, but appears to have avoided injury.

X-rays were negative, and Caminero said he will play Friday, when the Rays open the second half with a doubleheader at Boston.

O'Brien's 97.6 mph sinker came on the second pitch of the at-bat and hit Caminero on the outside of his left hand. He immediately sprawled on the ground, stayed down for a minute and then bounced up and jogged into the American League dugout.

Junior Caminero left the game after being hit by a pitch in the hand pic.twitter.com/gVuzV9XCbH

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 15, 2026

He was replaced by pinch runner Miguel Vargas.

"I'm fine. Thank God nothing is broken," Caminero said via a translator in the middle innings of Tuesday's game. "I was just scared."

O'Brien was with Caminero in the AL clubhouse when Caminero received his X-ray results.

American League and Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he texted his Tampa Bay counterpart Kevin Cash with Caminero's test results, relieved one of the league's greatest players seemingly dodged a bullet.

"That's the last thing anyone wants to see," Schneider said after the AL's 4-0 victory. "I know X-rays on Junior's pinky were negative, and everything seems to be okay. I shot Kevin Cash a text right after that happened, and he was appreciative of that.

"We'll see them in about a week, so I hope Junior is all right. He's an unbelievable baseball player and even better person. You're trying to do what's right by everyone."

Caminero, 23, made his second consecutive All-Star appearance and hit 28 home runs before the All-Star break. O'Brien saved 24 first-half games for St. Louis.

PHILADELPHIA — In the early going of Tuesday’s All-Star Game, the Yankees were outscoring the National League, 3-0.

After a pregame ceremony heavy on pageantry and patriotism at Citizens Bank Park, the American League got to bat and rallied immediately against Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez, with run-scoring knocks courtesy of Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice.

Sánchez got into trouble quickly, watching Yordan Álvarez shoot a one-out single through the middle and walking Shea Langeliers, the pair then advancing a base on a ball Junior Caminero chopped into the ground.

After a Bobby Witt Jr. walk, the bases were loaded with two outs and the stage set for a couple of Yankees hitters to inflict some left-on-left damage.

Bellinger, excellent against southpaws, smacked a single through the middle to score two.

Two pitches later, Rice singled to virtually the same spot to score one more, the two accounting for the three runs the AL would plate in the inning.

Sánchez only allowed more than two earned runs in four of his 20 starts this season.

Editor's note: Follow along for live updates and highlights from the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

Philadelphia fans embraced Mike Trout like one of their own at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

The event serves as a homecoming of sorts for the Los Angeles Angels star. The three-time MVP is a New Jersey native but has deep ties to Philadelphia, which is located 45 miles south of his hometown.

Trout received a loud ovation from the crowd as he was introduced before the Midsummer Classic.

A nice cheer for Mike Trout as he makes his return to the All-Star Game!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/1jixyUfXM0

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026

"It's been everything," Trout said about this All-Star experience during a pregame interview on the broadcast. "… Philly is a special place, it's where I grew up and it's awesome."

Trout served as the American League's leadoff hitter but struck out in his first at-bat against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez.

Among those in the crowd cheering for Trout were his friends and family.

It was Trout's first All-Star Game appearance since 2019, allowing his two sons, Beckham Aaron and Jordy Michael, to watch him play in the event.

Trout was named as an All-Star for the 12th time in his career. He was selected eight consecutive times from 2012 through 2019.

Paul Skenes might not be pitching in the All-Star Game, but that didn’t stop him from getting dressed up – with his girlfriend, Olivia “Livvy” Dunne. 

Skenes, who was selected to be an All-Star but won’t pitch due to his schedule, posed in an Instagram selfie with Dunne — and on the red carpet — wearing a blue suit, blue pants, a white shirt and a dark blue tie. 

He was pictured next to Dunne, who donned a black and blue dress. 

Dunne held a blue bag in her selfie, which was captioned: “throwing a fit.” 

While being interviewed by reporters on Tuesday, Skenes talked more about his outfit, talking about his alligator boots and an American flag on his tie. 

Dunne, who said she’s wearing Miss Rosier, added she hoped to match Skenes and that he always wears red, white or blue and is a “Patriot.” 

Skenes and Dunne have been together since 2023, when they met while attending LSU.

Skenes’ baseball career has forced their relationship to be long-distance at times, but Dunne said they’ve remained close. 

“I mean, he makes time to come to my events,” Dunne told People in March. “I make time to go watch him pitch. I try to make every start I can.” 

After being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes has blossomed into one of the league’s top pitchers.

He followed his Rookie of the Year win and 1.96 ERA in 2024 by striking out 216 hitters in a Cy Young-winning 2025 campaign. 

Skenes has taken a slight step back in 2026 with a 3.57 ERA but remains one of baseball’s premier young players on an ascending Pirates team. 

While Dunne is no longer a gymnast, she’s now coming to the small screen in the fall and will be part of Fox’s “Baywatch” reboot in her first true foray into acting.

The MLB All-Star Game brings the best players in the game together for a friendly exhibition. But if the game is close as the end draws near, the pressure and the intensity rise to another level.

And if it goes down to the wire, there won't be any extra innings. Instead, if the game is tied after the bottom of the ninth, MLB has created a fun way to settle the score that borrows from the Home Run Derby the previous night.

And last season, a home-run tiebreaker was used for the first time since the new rule was implemented.

Roch Cholowsky is having the time of his life — and his bank account isn’t doing badly either.

Just days after being selected No. 1 overall by the White Sox in the 2026 MLB Draft, Cholowsky signed his rookie contract that includes a record-breaking $10.35 million signing bonus, sources told ESPN.

Cholowsky’s bonus tops the previous mark of $9.25 million for Chase Burns and Charlie Condon in 2024 draft. The slot value for the first pick this year was $11.3 million, so even with the record, the bonus came in slightly under value.

While Chicago hasn’t confirmed the deal, Cholowsky threw out the first pitch at Sunday’s White Sox win and sat in a luxury suite with friends and family. 

“I did see the video [of the first pitch], and I saw the crowd. So it was very exciting,” Cholowsky’s father, Dan, told reporters.

“He flew out 2 or 3 weeks ago and fell in love with the city [Chicago]. I want what’s best for him.” 

“Since he’s been young, I’ve always treated him like a man and I respect his decisions. He said everyone was great to him and he loves it,” Dan added. 

Cholowsky, a 6-foot-2 shortstop, hit .320 with 21 home runs, 60 RBIs and a 1.088 OPS in 60 games for UCLA in 2026. 

Despite falling short of a College World Series title, the Bruins went 51-6 in Cholowsky’s final season. 

Cholowsky hit .329 with 52 homers, 167 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS in 178 games across three seasons with the Bruins. 

He also became the first UCLA player selected first overall since Gerrit Cole went to the Pirates in 2011. 

“You look at what he has done throughout his baseball career, both at UCLA, but prior to that,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz told reporters Saturday. “We had interest in him in high school and then to be able to watch his college career unfold and see what he accomplished and the impact that he had on his teammates and that program and now to envision that type of influence within this organization is something that attracted us to select him at No. 1.”

Cease, bullpen combine on 3-hitter in AL's 4-0 win, first All-Star shutout since 2013 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, combining with 10 relievers on a three-hitter in a show of pitching dominance that led the American League to a 4-0 win over the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

All-Star MVP Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single and Ben Rice followed with an RBI single in the first against Cristopher Sánchez of the host Philadelphia Phillies.

Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox added an eighth-inning home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Justin Wrobleski, who was pitching on his 26th birthday, for the game’s only extra-base hit. The AL won for the 18th time in 23 games and holds a 49-45-2 advantage overall.

Singles by Juan Soto in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth and Otto Lopez in the ninth were the only hits by the NL, which failed to advance a runner past first.

Pitchers combined for 27 strikeouts, 15 by AL hurlers.

Cease struck out Kyle Schwarber, Soto and CJ Abrams around a walk in the first inning. He became just the seventh pitcher to strike out three in an All-Star opening inning after Carl Hubbell (1934), Warren Spahn (1949), Jim Palmer (1977), Dave Stieb (1983), Pedro Martinez (1999) and Brad Penny (2006) — four of them Hall of Famers.

Parker Messick, Michael Wacha, Joe Ryan, Nick Martinez, Cade Smith, Drew Rasmussen, Jacob Latz, Louis Varland, Aroldis Chapman and Bryan Baker finished the first All-Star shutout since the AL’s 2-0 win in 2013 at New York’s Citi Field.

Some starting star power was missing, with Jacob Misoriowski, Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani all unavailable. Just six pitches reached 100 mph, the fewest in an All-Star Game since 2021.

Bellinger and Rice both singled on up sinkers from Sánchez, who struggled through a 34-pitch inning that included three hits and two walks.

“It just took me a little time to soak it all in and enjoy it,” Sánchez said through a translator.

Mike Trout, a 12-time All-Star who hadn’t played in the game since 2019 because of injuries, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Documenting the day

Managers and starters entered through replica Liberty Bells in front of each dugout, walked to home plate and used a feathered quill to sign an oversized lineup card, as if they were Founding Fathers affixing names to the Declaration of Independence. The dirt was surrounded by 13 stars, one for each of the Colonies.

Fireworks were set off after the fourth inning to a video of Ray Charles singing “America the Beautiful” at Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Philadelphia was awarded this year’s All-Star Game in 2019 an unusually long lead time to coincide with the U.S. 250th semiquincentennial. The Phillies hosted the 1976 and ’96 games at Veterans Stadium and the Athletics in 1943 and ’52 at Shibe Park.

At the 1996 game, there was a hard hit even before the first pitch. Cal Ripken Jr.’s nose was broken when struck by a forearm of Chicago White Sox reliever Roberto Hernandez when he lost his balance on a platform during the AL team picture.

Next year’s game is scheduled for the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field for the first time since 1990 but is threatened by possible labor strife.

Philadelphia's All-Star Game gave Brandon Marsh “that October feeling” originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Brandon Marsh didn’t sound like a guy who had just struck out twice in his first All-Star Game.

No. He sounded like a guy who’d just had the time of his life.

The All-Star Game is an exhibition. A respite from the intensity of the regular season. A chance to get to know some rivals as teammates for a couple of days. It’s supposed to be entertaining for the fans and fun for the players.

Marsh, who started for the National League in right field, had a blast.

“That was some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time on a baseball field,” he said after leaving the game. “Seeing all the guys out there, dudes that I’ve looked up to for a long time. Being able to learn and pick their brains for a couple of days. And tonight – just the game – I got that October feeling. A little shakiness in the legs in that first at-bat.

“It was everything I could have asked for.”

The NL lost the game, 4-0, to the American League squad in the electric environment of Citizens Bank Park.

It wasn’t the best of nights for the members of the Phillies. NL starter Cristopher Sanchez gave up three runs in the first inning and took the loss. Two of the runs came on a base hit by Cody Bellinger, the game’s MVP. The NL had just three hits. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper went hitless with a pair of strikeouts in three total at-bats. Pitching ruled. There were 27 strikeouts in the game.

Thank goodness for Jesus Luzardo and Jhoan Duran. They gave Phillies fans something to pump their fists about. Both pitched scoreless ball. Luzardo got through the fourth inning on just six pitches. Duran covered two outs in the ninth in just four.

Despite the struggles of some Phillies, it was a win of a night for the organization. The Phillies and MLB put on a heck of a show, one the late David Montgomery would have been proud of. He’s the guy who held off pushing for an All-Star Game in the years following the opening of Citizens Bank Park. He always wanted the game in 2026 as part of the nation’s 250^th birthday celebration.

“Philly made these last couple of days really special,” Marsh said. “It’s been nothing short of amazing. And it’s been everything I ever dreamed of. I’m blessed to be here. I made a bunch of memories that I know I’m going to keep forever.”

One of Marsh’s memories came in the fifth inning when the movie Sandlot came to life on the field. Kids with baseball gloves dangling from their handlebars pedaled bikes onto the field as a video of Ray Charles singing America the Beautiful at the 2001 World Series played on the scoreboard. The kids interacted with players on the field as fireworks filled the sky. For a moment, everyone in the ballpark was a kid again on the Fourth of July.

“Honestly, that was one of my favorite parts of the game because that was my favorite baseball movie growing up,” Marsh said. “When I hear that song, it almost brings tears to my eyes because it takes me back to being five years old watching that movie. It was special.”

Marsh was able to chat with one of the kids who rode his bike onto the field.

“We were talking,” Marsh said. “He told me his grandma was a huge fan of the Phillies and of me personally. We took a video and sent it to her.”

Wow!

An in-game video with the NL’s starting right fielder. What a memory for that kid.

“He was ready,” Marsh said of the iPhone-carrying kid. “Locked and loaded.”

Marsh’s improvement this season has been a huge factor in the Phillies’ cutting their deficit in the NL East from 10.5 games on May 22 to two games at the All-Star break. Since the start of May 2025, he’s hitting .302, fourth-best in the majors.

Marsh, 28, believes his All-Star experience will only make him a better player.

“Just watching the best pros in the game, how they do it, learning to be more of a professional, little insights in the game,” he said. “Putting some stuff in the routine and just learning.

“I could go on and on with all the intel I got the last couple of days. To keep it short and sweet, just how to be a better pro.”

Good stuff.

Marsh, Sanchez, Schwarber, Harper, Luzardo and Duran will all get a day off Wednesday. On Thursday night, it’s back to the grind – a series against the New York Mets.

Philadelphia’s All-Star Game is over.

Before you know it, October will be here. Marsh wants that feeling again.

“More than anything,” he said. “I’ll do just about anything to get there. And I know the guys in our clubhouse would say the same thing. We put ourselves in a better position right before the break. We started slow but we’re back in the fight. We’re within striking distance. We just have to keep it day to day and enjoy it.”

Disagreements between MLB, the MLB Players Association and officials with the 2028 Olympics has slowed momentum from the game’s biggest stars participating in the Summer Games, according to a new report. 

The three sides have been in ongoing conflict over the specifics of baseball at the Olympics for months per ESPN. 

Particular sticking points revolve around hotel rooms, tickets and a mandatory-participation agreement.

LA28 and MLB are seeking a quick solution as the two plan to shut down the league for 11 days to accommodate an All-Star Game and a six-team Olympic tournament. 

The MLBPA has been reluctant to sign an agreement, seeking a deal similar to what the International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League and NHLPA signed to bring NHL players back to the Olympics in 2026 after 12 years away. 

“We made a proposal to the union which included a schedule and a mandatory participation agreement,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said, according to ESPN. “The union then pursued a negotiation with LA28 over largely economic issues, including housing and tickets, and told us they would not respond until they finished with LA28.”

Sources told ESPN that MLB is seeking mandated participation that would place players who avoid participation in the Games on the restricted list — without pay — from July 12 to Aug. 3. 

The MLBPA strongly opposed the idea, specifically the punishment, and commissioner Rob Manfred’s ability “to discipline for just cause” with “a fine and/or unpaid suspension” under the clause. 

The players union also pursued negotiations over housing and tickets, seemingly asking for hotel rooms for players and tickets available for their friends and family.

Despite four All-Stars telling ESPN on Monday they would be willing to stay in the Olympic Village on UCLA’s campus, LA28 offered 435 hotel rooms on top of the 100 reserved by MLB and another 100 for the Japanese national team.

The desire to allow MLB players to participate in the Olympics has risen drastically amongst players and fans after the success of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

The United States, Dominican Republic and WBC champion Venezuela have already qualified, with others coming from the Premier12 tournament set to take place in November 2027. 

“I hope LA ’28 happens,” Harper told USA Today in March. “I’m hoping the next CBA agreement can happen where teams and players can come to an agreement on taking that two-week break, especially it being in our home country.

“It would be great for baseball. You talk about growing the game and being able to grow it at that, at the highest level would help out tremendously.”

Baseball became an official Olympic sport in 1992 and ran through 2008. It returned for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, with Japan winning gold and the United States taking silver. The U.S. roster included the likes of Joe Ryan, Triston Casas, Shane Baz and Nick Martinez.

The players union added that the league’s stars would like to play in the Olympics under the right conditions.

“In general, our players want to play in the Olympics,” Bruce Meyer, head of the MLBPA, said Tuesday, according to The Athletic. “They’re patriotic, and for them it’s a special opportunity, and we want them to have that opportunity.

“Having said that, we want to make sure that they have things like travel and accommodations and things that they deserve based on who they are.”