Japanese star Shohei Ohtani demonstrated prodigious power on his return to the Tokyo Dome on Saturday night in Japan.
In an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yomiuri Giants, the three-time MVP hit a long two-run homer to right field in the top of the third inning to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead, unleashing the joy of the approximately 42,000 fans in attendance.
“He always seems to live up to expectations, he always rises to the occasion,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Once again, he delivered.”
Ohtani opened the game with a walk and came up to bat for the second time in the third inning. It may not have been his best swing, but the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Japanese slugger managed to hit a slider from pitcher Shosei Togo 391 feet, far enough for the ball to clear the fence.
Ohtani, 30, underwent surgery on his left shoulder four and a half months ago, but has recovered remarkably quickly.
His big swing at the Tokyo Dome is another sign that he is feeling good ahead of his eighth season in the Major Leagues, the second with the Dodgers.
“I was a little bit out in front, but it came off at a good angle and I thought it was going to be a home run,” Ohtani said.
The Dodgers’ power show in Japan
The Dodgers put on a great power display in the third inning with Michael Conforto, Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez going deep to give Los Angeles a 5-0 lead. Conforto commented that it was fantastic to hit a home run in his first at-bat, but the conversation quickly turned to Ohtani.
“It’s really amazing,” Conforto said. “At every big moment, he seems to do what the fans want.”
In the end, theMLB champions beat Yomiuri 5-1.
The Dodgers are playing in Japan as part of the Tokyo Series. The team will play two exhibition games against Japanese teams before beginning the regular season with two games against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In 2024, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
He played several seasons for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, before coming to the United States in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels.
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