In an unprecedented crossover event, Major League Baseball has unveiled plans for the inaugural Capital One MLB Open, a celebrity-style golf tournament set to debut in Las Vegas this offseason after the World Series concluded.
The event will see some of baseball’s most recognizable stars – from Justin Turner to Jimmy Rollins – competing on the greens instead of the diamond, marking a bold move by the league to expand its entertainment footprint beyond traditional baseball.
The MLB announced the tournament through a joint release with Capital One, which will serve as the title sponsor.
The event is scheduled to take place at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas from November 12-14, 2025, coinciding with MLB Awards Week.
Baseball’s best hit the fairway
According to the official announcement, the inaugural field will include more than 30 current and former MLB players, as well as a handful of celebrity guests.
A big name joining the course is Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who served as an analyst for Fox during the World Series.
“Shadow Creek used to be a place I played all the time. I haven’t been there since my hole-in-one on a par-four, number 11,” Smoltz said to MLB Network jokingly.
“Team Atlanta, we’re out for the Yankees for all those losses we had in the World Series. We’re out for the Blue Jays. Sorry about that, Joe Carter and Ernie Clement. But this is business.”
MLB said the field will include roughly 60 participants representing all 30 clubs, mixing veterans and rookies in a televised competition that benefits charitable causes.
Each team will consist of two baseball players and one celebrity partner, playing under a best-ball format across three days. Smoltz will be partnering with Michael Harris, the Atlanta Braves’ center fielder.
L.A Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will oversee the tournament as the commentator.
The best crossover for American sports?
The Capital One MLB Open marks another step in a broader push by the league to modernize its image and attract new audiences.
In recent years, the organization has invested heavily in player-driven content and offseason engagement, mirroring successful crossover events from leagues like the NFL and PGA Tour.
For Baseball stars like Betts, the tournament represents an ideal way to extend their competitive streak while giving fans access to their lighter side. Betts once competed in the U.S. Amateur Open qualifiers and will give his expertise behind the microphone.
Choosing Las Vegas as the host city underscores the league’s growing relationship with the entertainment capital. The city has already become a hub for major sporting events, from the NFL Pro Bowl to Formula 1‘s return to the Strip.
For MLB, hosting the tournament there is a way to blend competition with spectacle – the same formula that has fueled success in its Field of Dreams and London Series ventures.
The Capital One MLB Open will stream globally on TNT from 21:30 ET / 18:30 PT on November 18, 2025, while coverage will be featured on MLB.com and the league’s official app.
As the season gives way to the offseason, the spotlight is shifting from the batter’s box to the tee box. This November in Las Vegas, MLB‘s best will prove that competition never really takes an offseason – it just moves to a different kind of green.
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