The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres got an early start to the 2024 MLB season with game one of the Seoul Series—a two-game series in Seoul, South Korea. After an eighth-inning rally, the Dodgers walked away with a 5-2 victory.

As most teams in spring training work on finalizing their 40-man rosters, the Dodgers and Padres are already eyeing their first-season wins. Although Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 28, fans got a sneak peek a week early. The Seoul game marked MLB's first official game in South Korea, a move towards global expansion influenced by last year's World Baseball Classic success in Japan and Taiwan. With Shohei Ohtani making his Dodgers debut and Ha-Seong Kim's homecoming, tickets sold out quickly within an hour of their release.

The Seoul Series opener was an adjustment for many players, not yet reaccustomed to the demands of a full nine-inning game. To be worked into the season, starters Yu Darvish and Tyler Glasnow were held to an 80-pitch limit. Glasnow, in his debut with the Dodgers, pitched 5 innings, earning three strikeouts and allowing two runs—nearly earning a quality start. Despite giving up just one unearned run, Darvish faced control problems and exited in the fourth inning. The season's first game progressed at a predictable slow pace until the Dodgers displayed their dangerous capabilities in the eighth inning.

Through the first 7 innings, the game seemed like a grudge match, with the only runs coming from a single, a sacrifice fly, and a no-out, bases-loaded double play. It was small ball. However, as many might have expected, the Dodgers wouldn't lose this one-run game. They nickel and dimed the Padres, loading the bases which led to four more runs. Much of this was due to the Dodgers' potent lineup, though luck also played a part. A ground ball from Gavin Lux, seemingly a routine double-play for first baseman Jake Cronenworth, unexpectedly broke through his glove's netting and reached the outfield, allowing an additional run. Instead of ending the inning, two more runs scored, including Shohei Ohtani’s first RBI for the Dodgers.

Ultimately the Padres could not get their bats going again and were the first team this year to fall victim to the late inning Dodgers with a final score of 5-2. While this game did not give off the Opening Day feel that most baseball fans were expecting, it was a big step in expanding the game to a wider audience. Despite the early timing for American viewers, fans should be thrilled for the sport's return.

The Seoul Series' second game is scheduled for March 21 at 6 AM EST, with Opening Day following a week later on March 28. Baseball is officially back in swing!