As baseball prepares to return to the Olympics in 2028, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is throwing his hat into the ring to lead Team USA.
Speaking to Dylan Hernandez of The California Post, Roberts said his connection to Los Angeles makes it a “it’s a no-brainer” that he should have the job.
“I want to manage the Olympic team,” Roberts explained. “That’s what I want to do. In L.A., I want to manage that team.”
The 2028 Games are taking place in Los Angeles. It will be the first time the United States has hosted the Summer Olympics since 1996.
Baseball was an official Olympic sport from 1992 to 2008 before being dropped from the rotation for two cycles in 2012 and 2016. It was added back to the rotation in 2020, but was again dropped for the ’24 cycle.
The International Olympic Committee voted in October 2023 to bring baseball back to the Summer Games in 2028. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed interest in allowing big leaguers to participate in the event, though it would require adjusting the regular-season calendar to do so.
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper said he would like to play for Team USA and has had discussions with people in the league about finding ways to make the schedule work.
Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have also expressed their hope about being able to participate at the 2028 Olympics.
Roberts, who has managed the Dodgers since 2016, previously played for the club for three seasons from 2002 to ’04. He also went to college and played baseball at UCLA, as well as played for Team USA in the 1999 Pan American Games.
Dodger Stadium will host the Olympic tournament from July 15-20.