Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter player Shohei Ohtani Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

In the apples-to-oranges world of television audience comparisons, this may be a bridge too far. But through two games of the World Series, Japanese viewers are tuning in at larger numbers than Americans.

According to a press release by Major League Baseball on Monday, the showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees is averaging 15.15 million viewers per game in Japan, about half a million more viewers than the Fall Classic is drawing through two games in the United States. For reference, the population of Japan is about one-third that of the United States, and games begin at 9 a.m. local time.

That is not to say viewership in the United States has been poor. Quite the opposite, in fact. Through two games, the World Series is on track for its highest viewership in the United States since at least 2017, averaging 14.55 million viewers for Fox through two games. Those figures include Spanish-language viewership and streaming, with a Univision simulcast in Game 1 contributing to a Spanish-language record audience of 1.3 million viewers.

The overseas viewership data is, however, a testament to the strength of the Japanese audience, and the magnetism of one player in particular.

Drafting off the star power of Dodgers DH/pitcher/real-life superhero Shohei Ohtani, who hails from Japan, Game 2 drew the second-largest audience for an MLB game ever in the country, averaging 15.9 million viewers. The most-watched game came during the season opener this year when Ohtani and the Dodgers played in Seoul, South Korea. That game drew 18.7 million viewers in Japan during a more favorable time slot.

The massive audiences for America’s pastime outside of the United States have to be heartening for Major League Baseball who, like other major professional sports leagues, is making a concerted effort to globalize its fan base.

With Games 3 through 5 slated for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday — more favorable nights than Friday and Saturday for American viewers — viewership should be strong stateside. However, with games starting off in the morning during workdays in Japan, Game 2 may prove to be a high-water mark until a possible weekend tilt for Game 6.

[MLB PR]

About Drew Lerner

Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.