Los Angeles Dodgers’ first practice at the Tokyo Dome saw the stands of the stadium packed with fans, which is a sign of the interest generated by the visit of the MLB champions and their Japanese players.
More than 10,000 fans filled the stadium to watch local heroes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, along with the rest of their teammates, as they took part in a pre-game practice session ahead of the two 2025 MLB season-opening games against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series, which begins on Tuesday.
For fans who wanted a preview of the World Series champions, admission to the training session cost 2,000 yen, or about $13, and tickets sold out in about an hour.
“The guys are excited to see how people welcome Shohei, Yamamoto and Roki,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Most of our players have not been to Tokyo or Japan, so they are excited to try different dishes and get to know Tokyo as well as possible.”
Shohei Ohtani can’t hide his excitement about playing at home
During their media sessions, Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki expressed their excitement to put on a show for the fans.
It’s hard to say if this is the golden age of Japanese players in the United States. I know there were many Japanese players before me, but to have five players from Japan in the same game is very important. It really is something very important.
The Dodgers have been well received in the Japanese capital, as fans were present from the moment they arrived at Tokyo airport.
Probable pitchers for the Tokyo Series
The Dodgers will have Yamamoto on the mound in the first game, while the Cubs will send Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga as their pitching rival.
In the second game, Sasaki will make his MLB debut with the Dodgers, while Justin Steele will pitch for Chicago.
Considering how popular practice was, we can safely say it will be the must-see event of the week!
With information from AP
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