So, here’s something I didn’t have on my 2025 bingo card: Tanjiro Kamado helping open the Major League Baseball season. Honestly, it sounds like some fever dream cooked up by a marketing intern who stayed up too late watching Crunchyroll. But it’s real. The MLB x Demon Slayer collaboration is officially a thing, and it’s way deeper than just a couple of stickers on a water bottle.
If you’ve been living under a rock, the MLB kicked off its 2025 season with a massive "Tokyo Series." We’re talking the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Chicago Cubs right in the heart of Japan. And because you can't go to Tokyo without bumping into anime royalty, the league decided to lean all the way into the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba craze.
Why the MLB x Demon Slayer collab is more than just a gimmick
You might be wondering why a 150-year-old American sports institution is hanging out with a kid who fights demons with a katana. It’s basically about the "torch." That was the big theme of the short film the MLB released back in March 2025.
The animation was actually wild. It featured Sakonji Urokodaki (the guy with the red goblin-looking mask) talking about the history of Japanese baseball. It wasn't just a commercial; it was a high-budget tribute to the "passing of the torch" from legendary players like Hideo Nomo and Ichiro to the current era of superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga.
They even showed anime-style versions of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Seeing Ohtani drawn in that Ufotable art style? It’s kinda exactly what fans have been wanting since he first signed with the Dodgers.
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Dodgers and Rangers: The theme nights you probably missed
If you weren't in Tokyo for the opener, the collab hit US soil in a big way during the summer. The Los Angeles Dodgers—who are basically Japan’s national team at this point—hosted a full-blown "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Night" on August 15, 2025.
They played the Padres, but most people were there for the giveaway. If you had a ticket, you walked away with a co-branded Dodgers x Demon Slayer hat. Not some cheap plastic thing, either. It was a legit cap featuring the iconic checkered pattern of Tanjiro’s haori mixed with the LA logo.
Later that night, they did a post-game drone show. It wasn't just some blinking lights; they literally recreated scenes from the Infinity Castle arc in the sky over Chavez Ravine.
Then the Texas Rangers jumped in on September 9 at Globe Life Field. They went even harder with the merch, offering a custom Rangers x Tanjiro Kamado jersey for fans who bought a special ticket pack. Seeing a MLB jersey with Tanjiro’s signature green-and-black blocks on the sleeves is... a choice. But a cool one.
The merch situation is a total mess (in a good way)
If you're trying to find this stuff now, good luck. The MLB x Demon Slayer gear sold out almost instantly. Most of it was tied to the 2025 Tokyo Series and the "Infinity Castle" movie trilogy launch.
Fanatics released a collection that included:
- Dodgers t-shirts featuring the main quartet (Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke).
- Hoodies with the Demon Slayer Corps logo and team branding.
- Limited edition pins that are currently going for stupid amounts of money on eBay.
There was even a capsule collection by 100 Thieves that dropped in September 2025. It wasn't "official" MLB on-field gear, but it used the same Demon Slayer IP to create streetwear-style baseball jerseys and shorts. It’s all part of this weird, beautiful ecosystem where nerd culture and sports culture have finally stopped pretending they don't like each other.
What this means for the future of the MLB
Let’s be real: baseball is trying to get younger. The median age of a baseball fan is... well, it’s high. By bridging the gap with an IP as massive as Demon Slayer, they’re reaching kids who care way more about the "Hinokami Kagura" than they do about a 6-4-3 double play.
It also helps that the Dodgers have turned into a literal bridge between the US and Japan. With Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki all on one roster, the Dodgers aren't just a team anymore. They’re a global brand. The MLB x Demon Slayer collab is just the smartest way to capitalize on that.
Is it a bit "corporate"? Sure. But when the animation is that good and the hats actually look decent, it’s hard to complain.
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How to get your hands on the gear
If you missed the stadium giveaways, you're mostly stuck with the secondary market. Here’s what you need to look for if you’re hunting:
- Check the tags: Real Fanatics x Demon Slayer gear will have the official Shueisha/Aniplex licensing stickers alongside the MLB hologram.
- Search for "Tokyo Series 2025": A lot of the best shirts were exclusive to the games at the Tokyo Dome and weren't sold in US stores.
- Verify the jersey style: The Texas Rangers giveaway jersey is "SGA" (Stadium Giveaway Quality), meaning it’s not a $300 authentic Nike jersey, so don't overpay thinking it’s the high-end on-field version.
Honestly, keep an eye on the 2026 schedule. Given how much money this made, there’s no way the MLB stops here. We’ll probably see more anime nights as the Infinity Castle movie trilogy continues to roll out.
Next steps for you? If you’re a collector, set your eBay alerts for "MLB Demon Slayer" and "Dodgers Infinity Castle hat." Prices usually dip a bit a few months after the event before they skyrocket once the merch becomes "vintage." If you just want to see the animation, the MLB YouTube channel still has the Sakonji Urokodaki short film up—it’s worth a watch just for the visuals alone.