The Tokyo Series will kick off the 2025 MLB regular season on March 18 and 19 with a two-game set between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
One of baseball’s biggest stars, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, will return to his home country for the Tokyo Series. He won’t be the only Japanese player on the Dodgers, adding even more intrigue to the event.
David Samson Reveals Shocking Plan for Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani Before Tokyo Series
On Wednesday, March 12, former executive David Samson discussed the upcoming Tokyo Series on his podcast, “Nothing Personal.” And one of the biggest storylines heading into next week is the matchup between Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs.
“They are bringing the Japan to Los Angeles. I want to explain the math here. Because when you see an advertisement that says MLB Tokyo Series, sponsored by Guggenheim, I assume you put it together.
“That Guggenheim is the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I also assume you put it together that for Guggenheim to invest as being a sponsor of the Tokyo Series, it is done with intent. The intent is to make sure that the Dodgers become — not the Cubs, who also have a Japanese pitcher starting, obviously — but that the Dodgers become the team that has the most ability to monetize Shohei Ohtani in a way that they don’t have to split in 30.”
Ohtani is one of the biggest stars in MLB. The sport of baseball is global, and many players from Japan have played for the Dodgers and other teams in the past. The Tokyo Series is nothing new for the sport.
Last season with the Dodgers, Ohtani played in 159 games, posting a .310 batting average with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. He was caught stealing four times and had an on-base percentage of .390.
Ohtani won the National League MVP in 2024 and will be looking to defend his title this season. He will remain one of MLB’s biggest brands for the rest of his career, and his return to Japan is a major event for his fan base.