Shohei Ohtani and four other
Japanese players come home to start the MLB season
[March 14, 2025]
By STEPHEN WADE
TOKYO (AP) — It's only two games to start the Major League Baseball
season — the World Series-champion Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs
on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome.
For the record, the MLB regular season consists of almost 2,500
games.
But it's much more for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was born in
Japan. And for Shohei Ohtani and the four other Japanese players
competing at home for the Dodgers and Cubs.
Then there's MLB, which opens its regular season for the second
straight year in the Asian market. A year ago it was Seoul, South
Korea, where the Dodgers and San Diego Padres split two games. It
was also where the betting scandal broke around Ohtani's
interpreter.
“It's hard to tell if this is the golden age for Japanese players in
the United States,” Ohtani said Friday, speaking through an
interpreter, as both team trained at the Tokyo Dome.
“I know there's been a lot of Japanese players that came before me,"
Ohtani added. "But having five (Japanese players) is a big deal.
It's truly a big deal.”
Asked what he was most looking forward to, Ohtani replied: “Eating
good food, getting over the jetlag, and just being able to enjoy
playing the game.”
Roberts back in Japan
It's a homecoming for Roberts, who was born on Japan's southern
island of Okinawa to a Japanese mother and an American father. He's
expecting relatives to attend from Okinawa, where last year he was
honored by officials there.
“For me it's personal because I get to represent my mom's side of
the family,” Roberts said. “I have a lot of relatives and family
that can watch this baseball game — watch a Dodgers game at night
instead of having to watch us in the morning.”
The time difference between Japan and the American east coast is 13
hours, and Japan is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
Japan is Dodgers country, swept away by Ohtani, the World Series
title, and pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. They are
expected to be the Dodgers starters against the Cubs
“I think our mission was accomplished painting the counry of Japan
in Dodgers blue,” Roberts said.
Yamamoto and Ohtani talked about the joy of being home, as did Cubs
pitcher Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, the likely DH. Imanaga is
expected to start against Yamamoto in the first game.
“I hope my teammates are really enjoying Japan right now,” Ohtani
said. "But also I hope the fans get to see my teammates enjoying
Japan.”
[to top of second column] |
Seiya Suzuki, right, and Shota Imanaga, left, of the Chicago Cubs
attend the official Press conference Friday, March 14, 2025, in
Tokyo, as the Cubs play their MLB opening games against the Los
Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome next week. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Sasaki with something to prove
For Sasaki, it's different. The 23-year-old signed with the Dodgers
two months ago and needs to prove himself, though many feel he's a
can't-miss prospect.
“I literally was in Japan until a couple of months ago,” he said
through an interpreter. “For me it’s more about being able to pitch
in a different uniform on a differnt team and make sure I do perform
at my best.”
Sasaki met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday in his
office and gave him an autographed Dodgers cap. He was accompanied
by Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
"I’m truly happy that the Dodgers are opening the season in Japan,”
Japanese media reported Ishiba as saying.
Cubs party with Imanaga and Suzuki
Cubs manager Craig Counsell talked about a party thrown Thursday by
Imanaga and Suzuki to welcome the other Cubs to Japan. For most it's
the first visit.
What impressed Counsell was a large tuna that was carved up in a
ceremony at the party. Sashimi and sushi for all.
“We had tuna cut open," Counsell said. "Some of the players
participated in that, which was scary for a second with players with
knives in their hands. But other than that it was great.”
Counsell said the trip to Japan was about “kizuna,” which is the
Japanese word for bonding. He's obviously been schooled by his
Japanese players.
“That started for our team last night with the great party and being
able to be together,” Counsell said.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
