The Los Angeles Dodgers will once again kick off the MLB regular season in the Tokyo Series. Last season, they faced off against the San Diego Padres; this year, they will take on the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers get this opportunity in consecutive years largely because of their star player, Shohei Ohtani. He is the most polarizing player in the sport and a hero in Japan. The two-game series will take place on March 18 and 19, and they will count as the first two games of the regular season.
Tyler Glasnow Compares Shohei Ohtani to Justin Bieber
According to SportsNet LA, Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow was asked what he expects the scene to be like when the Dodgers get to Japan; “Wild. Ohtani is like Justin Bieber times 10 over there,” he said.
"Ohtani is like Justin Bieber times ten over there, so it’s probably gonna be insane."
Tyler Glasnow speaks with @kirsten_watson and the media after his final outing of the Spring before his next start in Japan.#DodgersST⚾🌵 pic.twitter.com/DtIkHao14N
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 8, 2025
Japan has produced some top-tier players in recent years, so it’s exciting to have the MLB play games overseas and for Japanese fans to watch MLB players in a series on home soil.
Other Japanese players featured in the series include Seiya Suzuki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga, and Roki Sasaki. This should be an exciting series between two teams with playoff aspirations.
What Can Ohtani Do for an Encore?
Coming off one of the most dominant seasons in MLB history, what will Ohtani have in store for 2025? He became the first player in MLB history to hit 50+ home runs and steal 50+ bases in the same season.
Along with that, he drove in 130 runs and scored 134. But what many people are anticipating in 2025 is his return to the mound. Ohtani is expected to pitch again this season, with some speculating he could make his first start in May.
He is recovering from Tommy John surgery, so the Dodgers want to avoid rushing their prized player. The last time we saw Ohtani pitch was during the 2023 regular season. He threw 132 innings with 167 strikeouts and a 3.14 ERA. He was one of the top pitchers in baseball, contributing to him winning the MVP award that season.
Ohtani is once again the heavy favorite to win the NL MVP. If he continues to hit as expected and can return to the mound in some capacity, nothing is stopping him from winning his third straight MVP.
We are watching the prime of a once-in-a-lifetime player. Hopefully, he will stay healthy for the entire season and produce another year of statistical anomalies.
