In four years, baseball will officially return to the Olympics in Los Angeles. After being excluded from the 2024 Paris Games, America’s pastime is set to make its comeback, this time with the hope of a more prominent showing.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Historically, players on MLB teams’ 40-man rosters were not allowed to participate in the Olympics due to the event’s timing in the middle of the MLB season. Consequently, baseball stars from around the globe have gathered for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which takes place every three to four years in late winter. While the most recent WBC was a tremendous success—highlighted by Japan’s victory over Team USA in the championship—fans are eager to see their favorite players compete on the Olympic stage.
Recently, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hinted at the possibility of MLB players joining their national teams in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, “But when you’re in L.A., you focus on L.A.; it is an opportunity that we need to think about.”
In The Athletic’s new MLB Power Rankings, the staff selected one player from each MLB team they would like to see represent their home country in the 2028 Olympics.
For the Diamondbacks, who moved from 11th to 7th in the rankings, Kaitlyn McGrath chose catcher Gabriel Moreno to represent Team Venezuela. She noted, “There are a few exciting options for catcher on Team Venezuela. If we assume Salvador Pérez is in an elder statesman role, and William Contreras is the presumptive everyday guy, Moreno and Francisco Alvarez might be battling for the team’s backup job. Moreno is already a Gold Glove-winning catcher, at just 24 years old, so in four years, he might be in his prime at the position. But his versatility and athleticism means he can play infield and even corner outfield, which may make him a better pick for a condensed tournament like the Olympics.”
In 2023, Venezuela went 4-0 in their pool, which included Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua. However, after holding a 7-5 lead over Team USA in the quarterfinal, Trea Turner hit a memorable grand slam that ultimately led to Venezuela’s elimination.
Venezuela’s roster was stacked with big names, including Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Eugenio Suárez (now Moreno’s teammate on the Diamondbacks), Luis Arraez, Ronald Acuña Jr., David Peralta, Eduardo Rodriguez (also Moreno’s teammate on the Diamondbacks), and many more.
Omar Narváez was Venezuela’s starting catcher in 2023, but he will be 36 years old by the time the Olympics return in 2028. This sets the stage for the emerging Gabriel Moreno to compete with Brewers’ William Contreras for Venezuela’s starting catcher.
