Another season, another victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their first game of the 2025 MLB season. This time, the Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, as part of the league’s global expansion efforts. Shohei Ohtani, right at home in his native Japan, put on a stellar performance in front of his fellow countrymen.
Missing key players like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers demonstrated their depth and competitiveness for the upcoming regular season. Ohtani’s leadership proved crucial as the Dodgers claimed a 4-1 victory, with the Japanese star contributing two runs.
While the crowd in the stands created an electric atmosphere to welcome Ohtani, a curious moment unfolded when the Japanese star stepped up to the plate. The fans fell silent, creating an unusual atmosphere when Ohtani was at-bat.
Reflecting on the moment, Ohtani addressed the situation in an interview with MLB Network, offering an honest take on his experience. “I did notice the silence in the stands. However, it didn’t really bother me when I was at the plate, but I recognized it and had to adjust a little,” Ohtani said.
Ohtani admits he was nervous
Despite appearing calm while playing in front of his home crowd with the Dodgers, Ohtani admitted to feeling nervous before stepping up to the plate in Tokyo. He was candid about the pressure of performing in front of his fellow countrymen, acknowledging the weight of their expectations.
“I was actually pretty nervous. It’s been a while since I felt nervous playing, and today I definitely felt it,” Ohtani said. “It’s a unique environment, a great situation where the fans are expecting me to get some hits, so that was a little different.”
In his five at-bats, Ohtani notched two hits and contributed two runs in the Dodgers’ season opener against the Cubs. With the crowd chanting his name, the two-way star is ready to take the field again on Wednesday for the second game of the Tokyo Series.
Ohtani’s Japanese teammate reflects on playing in front of home fans
The MLB’s decision to open the season in Japan was part of a broader strategy to celebrate Japanese culture and heritage within the league. For the Japanese players on both teams, the atmosphere in the Tokyo Dome was electrifying. One of Ohtani’s teammates, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, shared his thoughts on the experience after the Dodgers’ win.
“It was a very special game in Tokyo. Winning was amazing,” Yamamoto said. “Before the game, I felt pretty good, even when I was in Arizona. All the fan support really encourages me to perform with my versatility, and I also understand that many fans went through a lot to make it to the stadium, so that meant a lot to me.“