For months, baseball enthusiasts have been waiting for Major League Baseball (MLB) to come back. It is that time again, as the season of 2025 is about to begin. Similar to any sport, there will be thrilling match conditions, young stars starting to make their names and established superstars starting their same level of play as the previous season.
The MLB is expanding globally as they have two sets of teams playing in the season opener in Japan’s Tokyo Dome, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. This will be the league’s first time playing opening day in Japan since 2019. This is a great move for the MLB as they have a new influx of Japanese fans due to the face of the MLB in Shohei Ohtani. He is a dual-threat player as he is the Dodgers Pitcher and Hitter, which is unheard of. He has the league’s second-largest contract, making $700 million over 10 years.
He won’t be the only Japanese baseball player in the opening match, as he will face talent such as Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cubs’ Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki. This should be a fantastic opener, with the Dodgers coming off a World Series Championship in 2024 against the New York Yankees.. They’ve also put together a very talented group of players: Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
The Cubs improved their roster from the year before. Their goal is to be contenders that other teams are wary of in the MLB. This game will set the atmosphere for the season. Once the Tokyo Series is over, the rest of the MLB will play on Mar. 27. Another great matchup is the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Minnesota Twins. As the season starts, this leaves teams to make a great impression on the fans to leave them hopeful for the games to come.
Teams are trying to make these impressions create storylines as well. The Boston Red Sox are bringing in attention. They obtained Pitcher Garrett Crochet, which brought excitement to the fans as they have had very inconsistent play the past seasons. Fans believe he can be a dominant ace.
Crochet is coming off of an impressive 2024 season; this had the media in a frenzy, comparing him to all-time Red Sox legends. His play on the field will determine if this team can contend with the best of the best in the league.
Some major obstacles lie ahead for various teams this year. While some teams can feel excitement about their 2025 overall season advancement, other clubs have greater challenges. The New York Yankees’s ace, Gerrit Cole, was diagnosed with Tommy John surgery. It is a total loss of his 2025 season, and he will likely begin the 2026 season.
This injury undoubtedly changes the state of the Yankees because Cole has been the anchor of their pitching staff for many years, and unless they have Major League caliber arms or strength available, their search for replacements will be difficult. Replacing elite pitching performance in a rotation seems unlikely. This situation has resulted in the Yankees’ possible offseason changes being discussed to replace Cole’s role with competence and dignity.
Some MLB analysts predict that the Yankees could trade for an ace pitcher, while others feel it is just easier not to go through that process and depend on their young prospects. Either potential path will not be easy, and Cole’s absence will put serious stress and strain on the Yankees’ overall depth and resiliency until the end of the 2025 season.
A season of elevated expectations for opening day is on the horizon, and the anticipation throughout the world of baseball is palpable. People are more than ready to experience the joy of watching America’s pastime come back to life. From the international opener in Tokyo to the ensuing competition in ballparks across North America, every baseball fan can expect surprises with the arrival of the 2025 MLB season.
One of the main plots will be if the Dodgers will be able to defend their title. With their star-studded roster, the 2025 season will see them enter as the favorites. But baseball is unpredictable, and you know that the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers will be viable competitors trying to dethrone the defending champion. Another developing story will be young players rising through the ranks.
Every season brings new stars to the forefront of the baseball landscape, and 2025 is certain to provide no shortage of talent. Regardless of whether someone is a rookie exploding onto the scene or a player breaking out from under the radar, a fresh new face will have a direct impact on the league going forward. The postseason race should also be highly competitive, given MLB’s commitment to have more teams in the postseason. As a result, there will be many teams with legitimate postseason contenders, and every game counts.
Teams must remain engaging and competitive right from the get-go. The 2025 MLB season is set to begin with lots of drama and excitement, as well as high expectations. Aside from an international open in Tokyo, there are exciting regular-season games on Opening Day and storylines to follow throughout the season. There is plenty for any baseball fan to follow.
Teams such as the Dodgers enter the season as favorites, but baseball is inherently unpredictable, and surprises will surely happen. Whether it is a star, a dominant pitching performance, or a crazy upset, there will be plenty of moments that won’t be forgotten from the 2025 season. When the first pitch is thrown, the road to the 2025 World Series will begin again, and the quest for baseball glory will be set in motion.
