- Title: Ohtani, Dodgers train before opener with Cubs in Tokyo
- Date: 14th March 2025
- Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) LOS ANGELES DODGERS PLAYER, ROKI SASAKI, SAYING: “I haven't played any games in Major League Baseball yet, so I don't know how it feels like. But it has been a stage I've always dreamed of, so I'll just play in my own way. Although I think I'll feel nervous and anxious, I hope I can play well.” VARIOUS OF OHT
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Chicago Cubs Dave Roberts Freddie Freeman Japan Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Major League Baseball Roki Sasaki Shohei Ohtani Tokyo baseball
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Baseball,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA004883414032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Baseball mania reached fever pitch in Japan on Friday (March 14) with public appearances of national hero Shohei Ohtani and other Japanese players set to take part in MLB season-opening games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Ohtani's World Series champion Dodgers and the Cubs will take the field at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday and Wednesday after playing exhibition games against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers of Japan's pro league at the weekend.
Ohtani told reporters he was still recovering from jet lag and was quick to share the spotlight with his fellow Major Leaguers. In the two-hour open training on Friday, Ohtani only appeared on the pitch, doing running drills and stretching for less than 15 minutes.
"In addition to the Japanese players I mentioned before, there will be other great players who represent the world with their own unique personalities. So I think it would be great if people could genuinely enjoy the power, speed, and other aspects that are the real appeal of Major League Baseball," Ohtani said in a press conference before the training.
The homecoming for Ohtani, who won his third Most Valuable Player award last year, follows a story book year for the pitching and batting phenomenon, as well as growing success for Japanese players in the majors.
Giving his surgically repaired pitching arm a rest, Ohtani became MLB's first 50 home run, 50 stolen bases man, culminating in a World Series in his first year with the Dodgers after six frustrating seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani is joined by Japanese teammates Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, both pitchers, on the Dodgers, while the Cubs have outfielder Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga.
It marks the highest representation of Japanese players in the six times MLB has held season openers in Japan since 2000.
"It's really all thanks to the Japanese players that came before us who created the stepping stones for us to be here now," Suzuki told reporters. "And I think I want to be kind of the stepping stone for the future generation of Japanese players to come and play in the MLB."
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