The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the 2025 MLB season in Japan as a part of the two-game Tokyo series. They played in this series last year, so they should know what to expect this time around. It is an excellent experience for all the players involved as they get to spend time in a different country and connect with a different culture.
As the Dodgers prepare to leave for Japan, Shohei Ohtani’s wife, Mamiko Tanaka, sent gifts to all the Dodgers players’ wives. Although she could not attend the series, she wanted to ensure the rest of the families had a great time.
Mamiko Ohtani Sends Heartwarming Gift
On the team’s flight to Japan, Tanaka gave the other Dodgers players’ wives a care package, including Hello Kitty gear. Ohtani is entering his second year with the team, and you can tell he is already a part of the Dodgers family.
LOOK WHAT MAMIKO AND DECOY DID FOR THE DODGER WIVES STOP 😭 pic.twitter.com/nkIITMfjNR
— Morgan (@mmorgang_) March 12, 2025
It is speculated that Tanaka cannot attend the series in Japan because she is pregnant. The other families appreciated the Tanka and Decoy’s, Ohtani and Tanka’s dog, awesome gesture.
Dodgers Hoping to Repeat
The Dodgers hope to become the first team since the 2000 Yankees to repeat as World Champions. It isn’t easy to have back-to-back winners in MLB because anything can happen across a 162-game season. Players get injured, and many other concerns pop up throughout the season, making it difficult to compete for championships yearly.
However, the Dodgers have the best roster in baseball and should once again be the best team in baseball. This offseason, they also added starting pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. Ohtani is expected to return to the mound around May. You can argue that the Dodgers have the best lineup and pitching rotation in baseball.
It will be interesting to see what Ohtani can do for an encore in 2025. He is coming off one of the greatest seasons of all time after reaching 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. He also drove in 130 runs and scored 134. Even if he takes a step back at the plate, he should still be one of the most productive players in baseball.
Ohtani has a few more question marks entering this season. He is coming off Tommy John surgery from two years ago and left shoulder surgery from this past offseason. Yet, he seems fully healthy and ready to dominate again. Ohtani is the most enthralling player in baseball, as he is a must-see on TV. It will be fun to see his incredible numbers this year, both at the plate and on the mound.