That trio of Dodgers gamers won’t solely play a front-and-center position for a membership seeking to defend its World Collection title from final season — they’ll even be probably the most outstanding gamers on the sphere when the MLB season formally begins of their native Japan.
It’s an enormous homecoming for Ohtani, who isn’t simply baseball’s largest famous person but in addition a cultural icon in Japan. The Dodgers’ star is recent off a historic 50-50 season that resulted in Ohtani taking residence his third MVP Award and serving to lead Los Angeles to the Fall Traditional.
“I’m positive my teammates are having fun with Japan proper now and I hope that they proceed to take action,” Ohtani stated by means of a translator. “I hope that the followers get to see my teammates take pleasure in Japan.”
Yamamoto will toe the rubber within the first sport of the Tokyo Collection in opposition to fellow countryman Shota Imanaga. Whereas Yamamoto missed three months of his first MLB season because of a proper shoulder damage, the right-hander was glorious within the common season (3.00 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 90 innings) and gave the Dodgers 4 key begins within the postseason, together with a win in Sport 2 of the World Collection.
“I actually really feel the joy of the nation with the video games being performed right here,” Yamamoto stated. “ I’m wanting ahead to pitching in entrance of the followers.”
Sasaki is the newest Japanese phenom to hitch forces with the Dodgers. The 23-year-old right-hander signed with the Dodgers over the offseason and can make his MLB debut within the second sport in opposition to the Cubs.
“I used to be actually in Japan till a couple of months in the past so for me, it’s about pitching in a distinct uniform for a brand new workforce and ensuring that I carry out at my greatest,” Sasaki stated.
Roberts — who was born in Okinawa, Japan, however grew up in america — spoke about how he expects the membership to play good baseball in all sides of the sport. Roberts additionally talked in regards to the workforce’s pleasure for this distinctive expertise.
“I do know guys are excited to see how Shohei, Yamamoto and Roki are obtained by their folks,” Roberts stated. “Most of our gamers haven’t been to Tokyo or Japan so that they’re all excited to strive a bunch of meals and see as a lot of Tokyo as they’ll.”
