How MLB is Taking Over the World

Use code SRS10 for 10% off your SeatGeek order*. seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/SRS10
$25 max discount
Creator: ​⁠‪@SRSMike‬
X: / srsmike
MLB's plan for growing both its own brand and the game of baseball internationally is powerful, and it's working...
______________________________________
SOUNDTRACK - • International MLB SRS
SRS MERCH - starkravingsports.com
SRS X - / starkravesports
SRS INSTAGRAM - / starkravingsports
SRS TIKTOK - / starkravingsports
______________________________________
FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES - [e-mail]
#mlb #baseball #sports

[@StarkRavingSports]

Use code SRS10 for 10% off tickets on SeatGeek (up to $25 off). seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/SRS10 Sponsored by SeatGeek

[@ThatC1official]

They blacklisted me

[@TheOGSticks11]

@@ThatC1official lol they did what?

[@mavensbaseball]

I wish MLB The Show would have a WBC mode. Big miss leaving it out a couple of years ago.

[@mahmouds3126]

Im from Morocco, never been to the US but i have barely missed any Yankees game despite +5H timezone difference. Im a almost a lunatic when i talk abt my baseball fandom here.

[@Azeria]

MLB TV needs regional pricing, you can’t expect Brits to drop $180 a year on a sport they don’t even know if they really like yet.

[@WhiteBeard640]

Americans will uses VPNs then 😂

[@user-lz5dz1qx2q]

As someone from the Middle East, a place where baseball is unknown for centuries, let me tell you that baseball has huge international potential . Baseball here grew with the recent growth of Japanese anime. There was a baseball game in Dubai last year Baseball is a unique sport because there is no time limit for the game so the table may flip at any given moment so in order to defend you actually fight a feature we don't find in the common sports here

[@aljon5947]

i have no idea what theyre doing though. they just keep posting random posters/graphics and like every month theres an ex-mlb player that becomes a co-owner. what do they have like 20 co-owners now?? Edit: talking about the Baseball United league in middle east

[@user-lz5dz1qx2q]

@@aljon5947 They are plenty of ideas to grow the sport inside the US and outside For example in Japan NPB teams play some regular season games in minor league stadiums especially at the end after clenching the playoffs spots . NPB teams sacrifice few profits in order to keep the sport popular national wide

[@user-lz5dz1qx2q]

​​@@aljon5947 There are plenty of ideas MLBA can use For example in Japan NPB teams some regular season games in minor leagues stadiums in smaller cities these means decrease the revenue in short term to get more in the longer term

[@mpaulm]

I agree! Baseball in Arab nations would be huge. One day we could actually have a real “World Series”.

[@baseballisfun35]

hi from poland

[@LaSlattance]

Im from Congo and Ivoiry Coast, I live in France for my studies and I turned into baseball bc of Ohtani. At first, it was bc I'm on sorare, fantasy app with football, basketball and baseball. I was playing football and basketball bc i know those sports but baseball...not so much. So I went to learn some things about the rules, the teams and then the players etc. My first experience was at the end of the 2022 season, I fell in love with CJ Abrams i dont really know why, I watched a lil bit of the postseason and after that...the WBC omg what a crazy event. I love sports it was like a duty for me to watch the baseball when I saw that the so-called "best player ever" was active and that this label was real, baseball got me

[@krystalissoojung5114]

I also began to like MLB because of WBC 😂😂

[@icecube3618]

I know this will never happen but I would really like to see a event like the Champions League. Take the winners of each respective baseball league across the planet and pit them against each other in a global tournament to see which country really has the best team.

[@linktown-blue907]

I’d love to see this, the MLB would usually win but it’d be good for us to see talent from other places. Sucks that the MLB would probably never allow this

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

The MLB gets the best players from every country, so in theory it’s like international all stars. Would be a nifty idea though and could fill in time between the world baseball classic

[@willster8759]

I have thought about this so much too! It would be really cool to see! I think unfortunately MLB would shoot this idea down.

[@RealBlueony]

@@linktown-blue907 Japan would win many years too IMO. I think Japan is every bit as good as the American majors in terms of their domestic league.

[@ubereats3047]

@@linktown-blue907I wouldn’t guarantee a MLB win every year tbh I mean the Dominican team for example didn’t even make it to the knockout stages of the WBC

[@castlewhite1577]

Will you make baseball outside of the US videos again? Your video about baseball in Japan is what got me into your videos in the first place

[@corbincox8onpride43]

I literally told myself that I hoped a stark raving sports vid came out today. Thank you all members of stark raving sports!

[@joshwinnnnnn]

I'm a person of Filipino descent. I'm not bluffing when I say the Philippines has a crap ton of potential when it comes to baseball. The Philippines was once part of the States following its victory against Spain. It was decently popular during that time after its introduction, and was a sport contested during the Far Eastern Championship Games (considered to be a precursor to the modern day Asian Games). Arlie Pond, a former Baltimore Orioles (not the modern day team) pitcher and US Army doctor during the Spanish-American War and the Great War (WW1), was key in popularising the sport. In 1934, Yankees superstars Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were part of an all-star team that played during the Games (bet you didn't know that before). In 1954, the Philippines participated in the inaugural Asian Baseball Championship, both hosting and winning the tournament. This helped boost the popularity of the sport once more. Despise this, its popularity declined drastically during a period of political turmoil within the country, allowing basketball to take over as the most popular sport. In the present day, baseball has been re-emerging. The sport is played amongst students at many levels. The Philippines has even appeared in the Little League World Series (though a scandal in the 1990s somewhat tarnished its legacy in the LLWS). The popularity of Japanese and Korean media has also played a role in its resurgence. Japan itself has also greatly contributed in efforts to once again grow the sport. In 1921, Claudio Manela debuted for the Cuban Stars (West), becoming the first Filipino-born player to play in a recognised major league. 34 years later, in 1955, Bobby Balcena became the first player of Filipino ancestry as well as the first Asian American baseball player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Interestingly enough, he had close ties with the Slavic community in the US, even being considered a honorary Slav. Present day players who have appeared in MLB games of Filipino descent include longtime San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum, fellow pitcher and Giants teammate Geno Espinelli (believed by many to be the first full-blooded Filipino to appear in an MLB game since Balcena), Atlanta Braves catcher Travis D'Arnaud and his older brother Chase, former Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, Los Angeles Angels reliever Robert Stephenson, and New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Several Hawaiian-born players also have some Filipino ancestry, including Benny Agabayani and Kolten Wong. Kelsie Whitmore, a pioneer in women's baseball, has a Filipino mother. And believe it or not. so does Darren Baker, son of famous manager Dusty Baker and a current minor leaguer in the Washington Nationals system. On the other side of the Pacific, in Japan (who occupied the country during WW2), which boasts a large Filipino expat community, has several players of Filipino ancestry, including longtime Yokohama DeNA BayStars reliever Yasuaki Yamasaki and Orix Buffaloes reliever Yuki Udagawa. Carreon Jonhil Mallari, who plays in the BC League (an independent league) for the Kanagawa Future Dreams, was born and raised in Japan by Filipino parents. In 1939, 16 years prior to Balcena's MLB debut and 13 years after Manela's debut, Adelano Rivera made his debut with the Tokyo Giants (now known as the Yomiuri Giants), becoming the first and so far only Filipino-born player to play in NPB. In short, the sport is experience growth in the Philippines. Had things played out differently, baseball could have been the most popular (or one of the most popular sports) in the country. It is not unreasonable to feel optimistic about the future of Filipino baseball. Perhaps soon we'll see a winter league be established in the country, or MLB teams signing its first ever Filipino players, and seeing those players be the first Filipinos to appear on international prospect lists, rank in the top 100 prospect, top 10 in their positions, and top 30 in their farm systems. Only time will tell.

[@carinito6708]

That 1992 little league game really had a HUGE impact on how baseball is treated today in the Philippines

[@willchu2601]

As a Taiwanese I hope our austronesian neighbors can grow the sport! Y’all did great in the 2023 Asian baseball championship!

[@hoodiewaffles]

The only mexican city that would make sense for a mlb expansion team would be Monterrey. Its relatively closer to the texas teams so much less travel on flights. Its elevation isnt ridiculous either. Plus its regarded as one of the safest cities in Mexico

[@Chorizero2369]

I mean Mexico City is a rly good place to have an expansion team too, it’s a relatively safe city. I mean it’s literally just a Spanish speaking New York City

[@hoodiewaffles]

@Chorizero2369 too far away for travel times. The elevation is too high. Its almost 2000 feet higher than denver.

[@sosa0]

​@@hoodiewaffles maybe we can finally have a team that can finally take advantage of the elevation advantage (unlike that one team)

[@Max_imagination_station]

That’s the place from perfect game

[@Chorizero2369]

@@hoodiewaffles yeah true I forgot abt the elevation. It’s higher than Denver but if they do eventually make an expansion team and it’s in Monterrey i think they should still do like a Mexico City series because there’s a lot of baseball fans in that area and the ballpark there is rly nice

[@karneshwarj]

As a new baseball fan from India , My first game was the NLCS Phillies vs Padres Game 5 . It was something new for me other than Cricket . Then watched some videos on the rules and about their teams . It was bottom of the 8th inning Bryce Harper was on the plate and then shot a 2 run HR off the Robert Suarez's fastball . I was like " Omg this Bryce Harper guy is awesome!!!! " . From then I watched most of the games i could possibly watch and I chose to become a Dodger's Fan . I hope one day there will be a series like Seoul and London in India too.

[@khaikhuc1432]

Welcome, it's refreshing to see somebody from India not constantly shoving arguments of why cricket is better than baseball down our throats.

[@rickycamilo4342]

dude hardly mentioned DR, probably the most baseball obsessed country on the planet

[@TheOGSticks11]

All of their best wind up here. No need to discuss a feeder program.

[@Tu_Padre31]

Understandable, but the DR is already baseball strong. It's their main sport. MLB wants to actively put effort into expanding and growing. Baseball can't possible cant grow anymore in thr DR

[@elvisac4425]

Baseball is already established in the Caribbeans (Cuba, Puerto Rico, DR, the coast of Colombia and Venezuela)

[@Gallalad1]

As someone who isnt American and wasnt raised watching baseball I gotta say nothing got me as interested in the sport as the WBC. Because I didnt know anything about Mike Trout but I could easily understand "that's the USA captain" and from there I learned more about the league and the game. Also if they do more internationals they should do one in Rotterdam, massive population of baseball lovers there and alot of the Dutch Caribbean emigrate there.

[@linktown-blue907]

It’s a real shame that a lot of MLB teams don’t like the WBC. It’s already a very good event but it could be great

[@Tu_Padre31]

​@@linktown-blue907after the 2023 wbc, teams will without a doubt be on board, MLB will enforce their participation if they're not. It's too big, and grows their players popularity which with only bring in more revenue.

[@RealBlueony]

IMO the best way MLB can continue to expand, at least in the Americas, is to make an entire 6-10 international division in Latin America. Here's my thoughts: 2-4 teams in Mexico, 1 in Mexico City (duh), 1 in Monterrey, and potentially 1 in Tijuana and Cozumel. 1 team in the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo). 1 team in Puerto Rico (San Juan) 1 team in Venezuela (provided politics aren't an issue) at least 2 teams in Cuba (again, provided politics aren't an issue) 1 in Jamaica (Kingston) Obviously, if they do this, the AL and NL monikers become a thing of the past, but really, they kinda already are a thing of the past in all but name. I'd envision (provided all of these teams are added in this scenario) 8 divisions of 5 teams, with the winners of each division making the playoffs, along with 8 wildcards. The top 4 division winners would be guaranteed homefield advantage in the 1st round, but after that a strong wildcard could be as high as the 5th seed. The World Series would thus be a lot closer to a "true" World Series, and could feature some interesting yet currently impossible matchups (Red Sox vs Yankees WS?) Canada would no doubt also get more teams, most likely in Montreal and Vancouver, but they're a lot closer to the US geographically and wouldn't require a complete realignment on their own.

[@stu8095]

I was there in London on day two. It was awesome! I know it must suck but im really grateful to people in the US for giving me to opportunity to see it live.

[@shawklan27]

Used to caring much about the Mets (more into Yanks) but after the match, I'm all about that Mets life due to my constant engagement with the fans at the open practice and batshit game ending.

[@jfmedits1577]

I started watching 2 seasons ago after never being a sports fan for like 24 years.

[@wrecker132]

I’m dying to see a yearly exhibition series between the World Series champs and NPB champs. If that can’t happen, I’d still like more crossover and cooperation between both leagues. The WBC every 4 years isn’t enough to celebrate the vast diversity the sport has

[@S_Over_Street]

I’d like to see the WBC finals & championship game held in a ballpark that isn’t on US soil. Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea & Japan have to ability to host the championship round. As team Japan has won the WBC several times, they deserve to host the final round.

[@MrLatrunks14]

MLB is following the NFL playbook on getting international. They did it in the early 2000's when they did games in Japan because they had great Japanese players like Ichiro and Hideki Matsui

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

I would love to see MLB spread baseball into countries that do not currently play the game. Baseball came from an English game called Rounder's. It's not shocking that the Brit's would be curious about the American version of the game they grew up playing. I've heard that Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Japan, and S Korea all have their own professional baseball leagues. Also, Baseball isn't super popular in Australia but it is played there. The MLB should create free baseball camps for kids in countries that do not currently play baseball.

[@Gallalad1]

There are Irish and British people who are (such as myself) but rounders is a schoolyard game, its not played competitively and so sadly alot of people who just hate America push the narrative its just boring. Its a sport that needs to be watched ya know? But there's so much potential for it.

[@linktown-blue907]

@@Gallalad1people need to actually go to a baseball game and then they’ll understand

[@Gallalad1]

@@linktown-blue907 definitely. I found that out in person.

[@Tu_Padre31]

There are baseball leagues all throughout Latin America and east Asia. Europe (aside from the netherlands and Italy a bit), Africa, and West Asia are the only regions that haven't really gotten on board.

[@Gallalad1]

@@Tu_Padre31 the leagues exist this is true but I think this guy meant that they gain popularity and become a big sport in other countries. Outside the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Cuba, DR and a couple others who are slipping my mind it isnt massive. Like I love seeing how Uganda is growing the game but if we head out there today I doubt many even know they have a baseball system. The Dutch certainty dont despite being real contenders.

[@jcdagoat14]

I think during the preseason there should be an mlb vs the world game where the best players in the mlb play the best of everyone else

[@andrewberardinelli1749]

The difference between baseball and soccer is that when a friendly is played between two European league teams is played in the US, then US fans will be in attendance. For baseball I feel that the locals will travel to the destination country and take up a large percentage of the fans in the stands. MLB has a long way to go to get the numbers international soccer is getting

[@Tu_Padre31]

Soccer is by far the world's biggest sport, no one is taking that away or saying MLB is close. But MLB has the potential to big as big some day years in the future. At the very least, at the level of modern day basketball

[@krystalissoojung5114]

I'm from Indonesia and just started like MLB like a year ago because of Shohei and WBC, but sadly baseball still relativity unknown in my country, as far as I know we didn't even have the pro-league for baseball... and the community online (like youtube or Instagram or X that talk about MLB in Bahasa) almost nothing... I really hope baseball could grow in Indonesia also...

[@kellengriffin254]

International baseball is super smart incredible

[@leejack78]

actually when talk about baseball in China, the college baseball is more popular than most people imagine and has grown a lot of baseball fans here, there're regional tournaments across the country(Beijing/Shanghai/Canton) featuring college teams for serveal years with MLB supporting, you can't get those 30-40s grown up to like a different sport easily,but those 18 years teens can get to learn baseball and make it a habbit(like me lol

[@khaikhuc1432]

No mention of Jiangsu? I thought the game is big there

[@flyingfox8447]

I went to the London series last year and I’m not even a cardinals/cubs fans. It’s probably the only time I’ll see a mlb game in person for years until I actually move to the states. However, I’d say that the vast majority of people at the games were American expats (so ‘locals’ who aren’t really locals), very few other British fans. All but one of my friends and colleagues have no interest in baseball and it’s considered a boring cricket knockoff here. I think the growth of baseball in countries like the uk will only be contained to Americans abroad. Football on the other hand (nfl) is actually growing quite fast among British people. I know people who’ve come away after watching an nfl game get broadly interested in the sport whilst they come away form a baseball game thinking even less of the sport.

[@stu8095]

I have been every year it has come to London and I have noticed a fair mix of Brits and ex pats. The ex pats generally spend a lot of time in the game explaining the rules lol. I played American Football at uni so I know it is growing here, but I can see baseball doing the same thing. It's just a different vibe. Like cricket. But I get what you mean, Brits are pretty snooty about American sports.

[@RobSmith-ye3rk]

I would like baseball ⚾️ to become more popular deeper into South America

[@wizardoferror9942]

And people say MLB is dying. *HA!*

[@Phantom_madman]

among americans maybe

[@wizardoferror9942]

@@Phantom_madman I know. It’s ridiculous.

[@Icanthearyou202]

It's just old-heads tbh

[@wizardoferror9942]

@@Icanthearyou202 Yeah.

[@user-bq3ht7ii8z]

maybe people from even more countries will join mlb

[@user-lz5dz1qx2q]

There are baseball leagues in Uganda and Kenya and there are plans to make the African series like the European and Caribbean series Also there are leagues in Iran which might form a south Asia confederation with India and Pakistan

[@jonathandinottia6077]

Vibing to cruel summer is lit

[@desamster]

I can't help but wonder that if the early Massachusetts version of baseball had won out, it would have been an easier sport to grow. Finland even has their own weird version of it with a lot more running and action in the field. To the average European, baseball just looks like a slow, static game with nothing going on. Coupled with the dominance of existing sports like football (soccer), it is very difficult indeed to grow it into anything but a niche sport. I personally love baseball but the current emphasis on strike outs and home runs is not good for the game. It now has an international event which garners plenty of attention and prestige, because the last World Baseball Classic was something of a breakthrough. Those Asian and Latin-American teams brought a deep passion for the game and it was visible on the field.

[@khaikhuc1432]

Which is why you should push American college and Japanese high school baseball when you wanna spread the game to normies. Have way more excitement and emotional substance to them than the pros that got desensitized by just their 100s of games a season.

[@kennygourmet]

They need to have a Canada series and have it in Vancouver... Vancouver takes over Seattle in Blue Jays series

[@captain-nacho]

4:34 Tyler at msg for cmiygl was crazy

[@austinrodriguez4272]

Great video I’m excited for the future

[@GeeEm1313]

Great video, Mike!

[@CCSUnit13]

1:07 is that Frank the tank??

[@PedersonPantry]

How the hell did I not know about the London series………

[@EnriqueReyes]

I am all for MLB promoting the game but they seem to only promote THEIR league. Few month ago, two top teams from the Dominican Republic played exhibition games in Miami, in the Marlins MLB Stadium. MLB made NO mention of the series on their English social networks. Only a few mentions on Spanish channels. Seems like if MLB does not have the rights, they don't care. If would be better if MLB promoted any and all Baseball. That would grow Baseball even more worldwide and grow MLB even more. I guess the love of money...

[@linktown-blue907]

The problem is that we basically treat MLB as the rules of world baseball. They put on the WBC. It’s like if the premier league was also FIFA

[@Corneilus1]

I love this!

[@mayquelmiranda6282]

Love this video

[@samboni702]

Behind soccer, the 2nd most watched sport is Cricket so there's potential. Some countries might need to ease into baseball through kickball 😅

[@Icanthearyou202]

Add a team in Vancouver and bring back the Expos

[@Cheesefist]

I’m pretty sure you had Ohtani in the thumbnail

[@Chxetah]

im craving hot dogs

[@StarkRavingSports]

so real

[@asatroki]

Giants to Sweden plz.

[@lovesgucci1]

Mexico is definitely not getting an NBA, NFL or MLB team but will play along with that notion in hopes of building up a fan base there.

[@jacobbyers7914]

China got relegated and will have to try to re-qualify for the 2026 WBC. By the looks of it they will have to play against Columbia, Germany and Brazil all of whom have better teams, especially if the rumors that MLB players can play in the qualifiers from now on are true. I would definitely take the "China is embracing baseball" reports with a bit of salt as it's what MLB wants to have happen probably more than anything.

[@Speedster___]

6:54 ehhh A: MLB jealously gaurd thier players refer to WBC B: less local teams and more local talent again re: WBC

[@diegoarmando5489]

Of course, there's a space being squandered on Team "Israel" that could be given to a country where people actually play baseball if they make a few tweaks to the eligibility rules. We don't need two teams of Americans in the WBC.

[@anthonyhague6526]

TRUE

[@diegoarmando5489]

@@anthonyhague6526 The ultimate participation trophy: Israel gets international representation in a sport that nobody in Israel actually plays and Americans who aren't good enough to play on their own national team get to compete internationally.

[@cardinalsbaseballclassics]

I'm sorry, but you're woefully off base here. Seeing things with Baseball Fan Rosy Glasses on doesn't change reality. As a few others have pointed out, Baseball has not seen any type of dramatic growth amongst Europeans. The overwhelming majority of baseball fans abroad are exports from the US that brought their love of baseball with them, and not locals that developed a love for the game. Don't get me wrong; there are SOME overseas natives that have grown to love baseball, but the percentage is incredibly small. MLB has done an AWFUL job of marketing themselves, both domestically and abroad. They sat on their hands for decades and let the NFL and the NBA outclass them in style, marketing, and player notoriety. I hate football, I am "meh" on basketball, but I love baseball. It's the only sport watched in my home, and yet my teenager (who is not into sports) can name me more NFL players than MLB players despite baseball being on TV here daily from Spring Training through the end of the World Series. That says a lot. My friends that live in England (not into sports) can name me NFL players, but other than Ohtani, not one baseball player. That says a lot. Baseball is the best game ever invented, but the people in charge at the highest level do an incredibly shitty job of promoting it.

[@macas4255]

By getting less fans every year in north america and being a sport almost no other country thinks of? Baseball is never taking over the world lol c'mon be real

[@jomo4lif331]

Cmon you Irons 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@lmSKMLASNJOCNSKPMLK]

its funny because British people cant even say "Only America likes Baseball" anymore

[@Tu_Padre31]

They've never really been able to say that. Ignorance simply had them assuming only Americans played the sport. They're now starring to realize that only Europe has failed to get on board with baseball. It's even picked up some traction in the middle east and Africa

[@saulgoodmans]

change thumbnail back to soto pls

[@sveltercube4070]

Heh China making it to 2026, that’s funny.

[@billkerns9258]

Is it MLB or baseball? There's a difference.

[@Gliztard]

Alternate title: MLB realizes baseball is losing fans and realizes it needs to pull it's pants up

[@billkerns9258]

@@Gliztard An irony is that MLB could learn some things from the professional leagues in Japan, S. Korea, and Taiwan for example in terms of growing popularity back. And, MLB has got to address the way that fewer and fewer percentage of athletes are Black compared to say the 1980s.

[@zeta9950]

As a free Cuban in US it’s embarrassing watch a KZbinr that I like suggest Cuba as a destination to play for MLB just validating the dictatorial regime existing there that kill and let their population starve. You should look a little more information before making this videos because is disrespectful.

[@Spikelangelo]

I don't really get the *I'm determined to call it Soccer* thing. The sport is AsSOCiation Football. Most of us abbreviate it to the relevant part - football. If you want to abbreviate it to something that needs a bit more clarification fine but its still the same thing.

[@ilovesportsANDgaming]

Ngl not a good video