The 2025 postseason truly was one of the most thrilling things to watch in recent memory, and MLB found itself at the center of a global audience surge. It is something that the sport has long craved and is finally getting the attention it deserves. Shohei Ohtani and his dominance pushed the Japanese viewership to record levels, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set Canadian fans completely over the moon.

And now, Toronto’s presence in the World Series is evoking emotions, making fans teary-eyed and reminiscing about the glory days of ’92 and ’93. With Rob Manfred always wanting to reinvent the sport and openly eyeing expansion before his expected retirement, the timing just feels perfect for baseball to plant some roots outside. The question, hence, is not if MLB will expand; it is where. And right now, signs hint at Canada and Japan.

The postseason viewership boom

MLB is now the most-watched postseason in the US since 2017 through the League Championship Series. The viewership is averaging 4.48 million, according to MLB and Nielsen, and that’s a 13% jump from last year. Most of the gain comes from the first two rounds. The ALCS on FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes, and streaming averaged around 4.99 million viewers across seven games!

Also, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Game 7 win over the Mariners brought in 9.03 viewers in Canada, the most-watched ALCS game in eight years. It even peaked at 12.35 million in the ninth inning. On the other side, Ohtani’s Game 4 performance of three runs and 10 strikeouts, which is a record in itself, drew 10.26 million viewers in Japan. And get this—there is a 16-hour time difference between the two places.

The NLCS also averaged 7.34 million viewers in Japan, a 26% increase over the last year. This surge shows that MLB is not a sport confined to the gates of the US. Baseball has a heartbeat, and it is global.

Why Vancouver deserves MLB’s return to Canada

For at least the past ten years, expansion has been a top plan for Manfred. Now, Nashville and Salt Lake City have been frontrunners, and it’s no secret, but they are domestic frontrunners. Talk about international, and the opportunities are still plenty. Vancouver in Canada and a potential franchise in Japan are possibilities.

Canada hasn’t had a second MLB franchise since the Montreal Expos left for Washington in 2005. So, Vancouver is not just a nostalgic pick; it is also smart strategically. MLB’s presence in Canada has been anchored by Toronto for decades now, but the nation’s love for baseball is beyond that. The fact that a “mini earthquake” rocked Rogers Stadium says a lot about the craze in Canada for the sport.

Vancouver offers a thriving West Coast economy and proximity to MLB’s Pacific corridor, anchored by Seattle. A Western Canadian team would ignite the rivalry and also have some regional storylines, making things more interesting. BC Place could be a temporary home while a dedicated ballpark plan could happen later. And given the metro population is 4.6 million and there is no eastern city competition in the west, the city really checks the boxes!

The Japanese question: Is MLB ready to go global?

If Canada feels inevitable for MLB expansion, then Japan feels aspirational—but it’s far from impossible.

You can say that Ohtani has changed the game both literally and figuratively. His impact goes beyond the field. When he was at the Tokyo Dome in March this year, it became more than just a game. It was a century of baseball ties between the two countries.

The Dodgers and Cubs opened this season with a Tokyo Series, and it generated over $35 million in ticket and sponsorship revenue. And another $40 million simply in merchandise sales!

Japanese players have always boosted the league’s global reach, right from Ichiro Suzuki to Hideki Matsui, becoming an MVP. But truly, Shohei Ohtani is something else, a two-way superstar who is drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth, the baseball legend.

Ohtani has turned the Japanese viewership and MLB revenue into gold.

The LA Dodgers alone saw an increase of over $120 million in revenue in their first year. Plus, that record-breaking contract the Dodgers paid him—they made it up in the first year itself and pushed the franchise value to $8 billion.

For MLB, this is not just about the money; it is about the growth, the expansion, and getting that attention globally. And it all requires star power, and it’s what Shohei brings to the table. It’s the same way a Son would bring to Korea and football.

The globalized MLB era

The 2025 postseason was not just another raging success; it was a snapshot of baseball’s evolution. The league’s growth would mean a lot for the sport. Fans are not really limited to US ballparks.

They are streaming, posting, and celebrating from Tokyo to Vancouver and worldwide. So expansion is not just an idea; it’s MLB’s next great chapter, honestly.