8 issues we’re trying ahead to in 2024
nn”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”sort”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”wealthy”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”**7. Spring Breakout to show focus to prospects** nMarch goes to be a lot busy. The week earlier than the South Korea video games, MLB will debut the primary Spring Breakout, with every workforce fielding a roster of its greatest prospects to face off in exhibition video games from March 14-17. The aforementioned Jacksons will probably be there, however there will probably be many prospects to look at … together with your workforce’s.”,”sort”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-12-13T20:06:07.708Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-12/13/b26dceb9-ef3d6243-e077950d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”sort”:”video”,”description”:”MLB’s new Spring Breakout occasion will showcase every membership’s greatest prospects in head-to-head showdowns on March 14-17, 2024″,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”length”:”00:00:30″,”slug”:”spring-breakout-2024″,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”no-pre-roll”,”title”:”no pre-roll”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”spring-breakout”,”title”:”Spring Breakout”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/bpzcnzr8f3jcrluxjphb”},”title”:”Introducing: Spring Breakout”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/spring-breakout-2024″},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”**8. Common-season baseball at Rickwood Discipline** nThe oldest skilled ballpark in the US isn’t Wrigley Discipline or Fenway Park: It’s Rickwood Discipline in Birmingham, Ala., the place the Negro Leagues’ Birmingham Black Barons performed — together with, at one level, a younger outfielder named Willie Mays. On June 20 as a part of Juneteenth celebrations, we’ll have an MLB recreation there between the Giants and Cardinals.”,”sort”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-04T00:13:11.224Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/03/931e0ad9-e125a9ec-31373bde-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”sort”:”video”,”description”:”MLB publicizes that the Giants and Cardinals will play the 2024 Discipline of Desires recreation at historic Rickwood Discipline in Birmingham, AL”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”length”:”00:04:43″,”slug”:”mlb-at-rickwood-field-in-2024″,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”negro-leagues”,”title”:”Negro Leagues”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”press-conference”,”title”:”press conference”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”no-pre-roll”,”title”:”no pre-roll”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”field-of-dreams”,”title”:”Field of Dreams”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/co6et0qktsao1qnxjlpb”},”title”:”MLB at Rickwood Discipline in 2024″,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/mlb-at-rickwood-field-in-2024″}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/information/8-things-we-re-looking-forward-to-in-2024″,”contentType”:”information”,”subHeadline”:null,”abstract”:”As we shut the books on an exhilarating 2023 — one which had a lot occurring, it looks as if many years since everybody was all anxious concerning the new rule adjustments — we flip the calendar, after all, to ’24. Not all of the mud has settled, contemplating we haven’t gotten”,”tagline({“formatString”:”none”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”will-leitch”,”title”:”Will Leitch”,”type”:”contributor”}],”sort”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/qgyqbyz4ewv8ihp4pilw”,”title”:”8 issues we’re trying ahead to in 2024″}},”Staff:119″:{“__typename”:”Staff”,”id”:119},”Particular person:660271″:{“__typename”:”Particular person”,”id”:660271},”Staff:147″:{“__typename”:”Staff”,”id”:147},”Particular person:665742″:{“__typename”:”Particular person”,”id”:665742},”Particular person:808967″:{“__typename”:”Particular person”,”id”:808967},”Staff:140″:{“__typename”:”Staff”,”id”:140},”Particular person:702616″:{“__typename”:”Particular person”,”id”:702616}}}
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As we shut the books on an exhilarating 2023 — one which had a lot occurring, it looks as if many years since everybody was all anxious concerning the new rule adjustments — we flip the calendar, after all, to ’24. Not all of the mud has settled, contemplating we haven’t gotten all these free brokers signed but. However among the large names have discovered new properties, and plenty of storylines have already emerged. The ’23 season was enjoyable. However ’24 guarantees a lot, far more.
This is a take a look at eight storylines to sit up for in 2024.
1. Shohei Ohtani in Dodger BlueHow may the most important storyline be something however this? The worldwide famous person and two-time American League Most Helpful Participant Award winner signed the most important contract in sports activities historical past on Dec. 11 to play for one of many signature franchises within the recreation alongside two different MVP Award winners in Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. (What number of Corridor of Famers is that this workforce going to have?) Ohtani gained’t pitch in 2024, which is a bummer however is significantly offset by the truth that, uh, he’s among the finest hitters in baseball. Ohtani, famously, has by no means performed in a postseason recreation within the large leagues, however we noticed what he did within the World Baseball Basic: He shines brightest on the most important stage. The Dodgers are coming off one more 100-win season by which they didn’t win the World Collection — they didn’t, the truth is, win a postseason recreation. It’s all setting as much as be one other yr of Ohtani. It’s his world. We simply get to look at him in it.
2. Juan Soto within the BronxEven with Aaron Choose on the roster, the Yankees have felt weirdly small the previous few years, haven’t they? After a gradual decline over the previous decade or so, they lastly fell by means of the ground final yr, lacking the postseason for the primary time in seven years. Add that to their ever-expanding World Collection drought — greater than half of baseball has been to the Fall Basic since New York was final there in 2009 — and also you’ve obtained a recipe for some critical urgency within the Bronx. Thus: Soto is right here now, and a long-term contract may observe. The Yankees nonetheless want to determine their pitching, and there are some unsettled spots on this roster. However bringing in Soto is an indication they know they should win proper now. Perhaps they’ll and perhaps they gained’t. However when New York is determined, large issues occur — a technique or one other.
3. The debut of Yoshinobu YamamotoThere’s no query that Yamamoto — who signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday — goes to be one of many recreation’s major sights from his first begin. He has been the very best pitcher in Japan for years, he’s solely 25 and he’s basically getting paid like he’s one of many few aces in baseball from Day 1. Together with Ohtani, Yamamoto will change the face of Los Angeles — and can make the Dodgers a must-watch membership each fifth day.
4. A giant yr for the defending champsWe nonetheless haven’t had a World Collection winner repeat as champions this century, and, effectively, the Rangers are the one workforce with an opportunity to do it this yr. You don’t need to squint very exhausting to see how they may. Nearly everyone who was a part of that World Collection run is again, and whereas Texas hasn’t added to its roster but, it has been in on loads of potential additions. And we all know two the membership will probably be getting sooner or later in 2024: Cy Younger Award winners Max Scherzer (who had surgical procedure on a herniated disk on Dec. 14 and will return by June or July) and Jacob deGrom (who hopes to return from Tommy John surgical procedure on his proper elbow by August). Think about having these guys wholesome on your playoff rotation. There will probably be much more pleasure in Arlington this season: Globe Life Stadium will host the All-Star Sport as effectively.
5. Right here come the JacksonsThere’s nothing fairly just like the arrival of a star in ready, and we actually had two in 2023 with Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson. Pretty early in ’24 — perhaps even on Opening Day — we’ll see the arrival of the highest two prospects in baseball, each named Jackson: the Orioles’ Jackson Holliday and the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio. They’re the apparent preseason Rookie of the 12 months Award favorites, however there are many candidates, from Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes to Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews to Rays infielder Junior Caminero. Oh sure — don’t overlook still-technically-a-rookie Evan Carter, final seen serving to the Rangers win their first World Collection.
6. Baseball all over the world … with a really particular opener in KoreaThe first followers to get to see Ohtani in a Dodgers uniform will probably be in Seoul, South Korea, on the Gocheok Sky Dome: That’s the place the Dodgers will open the season on March 20 and 21 in opposition to the Padres, the primary regular-season video games in South Korea. However there will probably be loads of video games in different nations this yr. Eleven days earlier than the Seoul Collection, the Pink Sox and Rays will play two Spring Coaching video games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. On April 27-28, MLB will return to Mexico Metropolis — the place the Padres and Giants performed final yr — for a two-game set between the Astros and Rockies. And there are London video games once more, with the Mets and Phillies enjoying on June 8-9. You continue to have time to replace your passports.
7. Spring Breakout to show focus to prospectsMarch goes to be a lot busy. The week earlier than the South Korea video games, MLB will debut the primary Spring Breakout, with every workforce fielding a roster of its greatest prospects to face off in exhibition video games from March 14-17. The aforementioned Jacksons will probably be there, however there will probably be many prospects to look at … together with your workforce’s.
8. Common-season baseball at Rickwood FieldThe oldest skilled ballpark in the US isn’t Wrigley Discipline or Fenway Park: It’s Rickwood Discipline in Birmingham, Ala., the place the Negro Leagues’ Birmingham Black Barons performed — together with, at one level, a younger outfielder named Willie Mays. On June 20 as a part of Juneteenth celebrations, we’ll have an MLB recreation there between the Giants and Cardinals.