The Los Angeles Dodgers posted their Opening Day hype video today in which they embraced the role as the “bad guys” for the upcoming season.
After back-to-back World Series wins and a payroll north of $400 million, many baseball fans are angry with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
All offseason, and especially after they signed outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract in January, fans alike have accused the Dodgers of “ruining” baseball.
The Dodgers, though, seem unbothered by this claim and instead are embracing their role as the villain for the new season.
The Dodgers posted their Opening Day video to their X account that had the words “BAD GUYS” appear on screen in the first few seconds of the video. Actor Jason Bateman, who’s also a Dodgers fan, narrated the video.
“If being the best makes you bad, then so be it,” Bateman said. “They’ll come for the crown, take a swing at the champ.”
If being the best makes you bad, then so be it. #OpeningDayLA pic.twitter.com/WAb4ERTqke
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 26, 2026
The minute and 44-second-long video showed highlights from the Dodgers’ postseason run last year, such as infielder Miguel Rojas and catcher Will Smith’s home runs in game seven of the World Series, the pitching staff striking out various batters and the team celebrating after winning game seven.
“They wanna beat us because they wanna be us,” Bateman said. “But if we’re being honest, sometimes it’s fun to root for the bad guy.”
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In the late 90s to early 2000s, the New York Yankees embraced their role as the “Evil Empire” for their high amounts of spending and winning four World Series in five years. Twenty years later, the Dodgers have embraced an “Evil Empire” of their own.
The Dodgers begin their season at 5:30 today against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
The wait is over! Opening Day is here 🙌
Will the Dodgers be the third franchise ever to three-peat? Or will someone knock them off? 🍿 pic.twitter.com/NsiSdTUwjd
— ESPN (@espn) March 26, 2026