Avengers: Doomsday World Series preview put Pedro Pascal in a new arena
Pedro Pascal stepped into an alternate baseball stadium for Marvel, but the brief runtime during Game 1 left audiences asking for more.
Marvel Studios debuted an exclusive preview and crossover spot for Avengers: Doomsday on Friday, October 23, during Fox’s live broadcast of Game 1 of the 2026 MLB World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. The teaser gave viewers a first look at Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, stepping onto the pitcher’s mound to throw out a ceremonial first pitch in an alternate Earth-828 setting at Ebbets Field.
The broadcast surprise followed an announcement shared on October 22 by Major League Baseball on X, which stated, “Something’s coming … Tune in to World Series Game 1 for an exclusive preview of Avengers: Doomsday In theaters everywhere December 18”. The promotional post was quickly reposted by Disney Chief Brand Officer Asad Ayaz, kicking off anticipation ahead of Friday night’s matchup.
Mister Fantastic takes the mound
The sequence shown during the game featured Pascal’s character taking part in baseball festivities on Earth-828, as reported by IGN, TheWrap and Fantasyland News. Prior to the broadcast, the official Fantastic Four Instagram account hinted at the scene, writing, “Our heroes have stepped up to protect the planet, but nothing’s more daunting than stepping up to bat!” The account added that “A fantastic surprise is in store for those tuning in to America’s pastime tomorrow,” noting it was “brought to you by Frosty Treats in collaboration with the Future Foundation.”
MLB Network host Kait Maniscalco also confirmed her involvement on Instagram on Friday, writing, “One of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had was actually getting to be on set during Avengers Doomsday when they filmed an iconic baseball scene.”
Superheroes meet major league stars
According to TheWrap and Fantasyland News, the crossover spot placed real-life baseball talent alongside comic book icons. Current MLB players Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Randy Arozarena, Junior Caminero, and Jacob Misiorowski all made appearances in the sequence.
Alongside the baseball roster and Pascal’s Reed Richards, the spot featured a lineup of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, including The Thing, Steve Rogers played by Chris Evans, Thor played by Chris Hemsworth, Ant-Man played by Paul Rudd, Captain America played by Anthony Mackie, Black Panther played by Letitia Wright, and Doctor Doom played by Robert Downey Jr. The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and remains scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Viewers react to the brief runtime
Reactions to the spot on social media were mixed, according to TheWrap. While some fans defended the studio’s choice to hold back major plot spoilers, many viewers who tuned into the baseball broadcast specifically for the Marvel footage vented about how little new material was shown.
One viewer on X complained about having to sit through three innings of baseball just to see the spot, while another wrote, “oh so like 3 new seconds lol.” Other viewers expressed similar disappointment online, with one writing, “All of that just for like 10 seconds of new footage.” Another asked, “THAT’S IT???”
What comes next
Reports and rumors had circulated ahead of Friday that a baseball sequence set on Earth-828 was originally planned as a post-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps before being filmed for Avengers: Doomsday. However, Marvel Studios has not confirmed the precise narrative context connecting this baseball scene to the broader storyline of the ensemble film. The studio has also not announced an official release date for the movie’s next full theatrical trailer.
