Commissioner Rob Manfred discusses possibility of MLB players in 2020 Olympics

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Baseball could return to the Olympics in 2020 when it takes place in Tokyo and Major League Baseball commissioner isn’t denying that the league’s players could take the field when it does. Speaking between picks at Thursday night’s Draft, Rob Manfred was asked about that prospect and didn’t say no to the prospect.

"We think that the Olympics is a really important event and we think that baseball being in the Olympics is really good for the sport,” Manfred said. “Until we know a little bit more about what the program is, how long the tournament is going to take I'm just not going to comment on what's realistic and not."

But the commissioner did spell out the next steps and what might need to happen for that prospect to become a reality. Manfred says he will meet with the international softball and baseball federation before the final vote on baseball’s return to the Olympics and will also discuss it with owners.

Manfred also covered a variety of other topics Thursday night, probably none more pressing than the persistent bugaboo of pace of play. Games have slowed down this season after taking a step forward in 2015.

“Early in the year we went backwards a bit,” Manfred said. “I think some of it was weather. Weather was an issue for us. It does slow the game when we have bad weather. Interestingly, we've been able to kind of regain our momentum. We were 2:56 last year. We were back over three hours. We've gotten it back down to 2:58. Again I think it's a question of focus -- us making sure that players, when they go out on the field, are focused on the topic and we're working really hard at that to try to regain the momentum.”

Manfred said the commissioner’s office has been proactive about rectifying the early-season troubles. MLB has spoken to the player’s Union about it, as well as conversations with individual players.

"It's not about singling out any individual player,” he said. “It's more that you create that buzz that they're making call, they're concerned about it and you get the players thinking about it again. Overall, over the year and third that we've had player cooperation is good. It's incumbent upon us to keep the awareness up."

Manfred also said that there are talks being held with people at the NCAA to find a way for more players to be present at the draft. This year only two players, Ian Anderson and Will Benson, were present at the MLB Network studio. He thinks change could come by 2018.

He also expressed happiness with the results of the change to the draft that created the current slotting system.

“I think the reform of the draft that we accomplished in 2011 has been tremendous for the game,” he said. “It's restored the draft to its original purpose. Clubs can pick the very best player with a really solid understanding of what the economics of that selection is and I think that's good for the sport.”