LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtanimania descends on Dodger Stadium on Saturday, with followers getting their first in-person have a look at the two-way famous person in blue.
OhtaniAfter all, he spent the final six seasons taking part in for the Crimson Angels in Anaheim, which for Dodgers followers could also be as far-off as his native Japan.
Now, Ohtani is his.
And Dodgers followers embraced him with screams. Males, girls and youngsters wore their new jerseys to DodgerFest, the place followers have been charged — $10 every — for the primary time to enter.
Concession stands have been open, music was taking part in, the workforce retailer was filled with customers, and followers crowded the sector to get near the stage the place supervisor Dave Roberts and about 30 gamers talked concerning the 2024 season.
“The one selection is to win the World Sequence,” Ohtani stated via his translator.
Ohtani will bat however not pitch this season as he recovers from a second Tommy John surgical procedure.
“The rehab went very well,” he stated. “I’m very satisfied that we’re proper on schedule. We’re not forward and we aren’t behind.”
When Ohtani will get to spring coaching in Arizona this month, he’ll proceed to take cuts in opposition to a pitching machine.
“The best way you discuss Babe Ruth,” stated first baseman Freddie Freeman, “is who Shohei is.”
Along with Ohtani, who signed a $700 million, 10-year deal in December, the Dodgers have been quick on right-handers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a $325 million, 12-year contract. They added free brokers Teoscar Hernandez from Seattle on a $23.5 million, one-year contract.
“It's wonderful,” Roberts stated of the workforce's offseason spending. “Prices like this don't occur, so I'm glad it occurred to the Dodgers.”
The ninth-year supervisor displays on his early coaching.
“I don't assume we're going to nail it from the beginning and say regardless of the prime three are on opening day goes to be seamless all season lengthy,” Roberts stated. “I need Mookie (Betts), Freddie and Shohei to be a part of the dialog.”
Betts and Freeman drew the loudest cheers outdoors of these for Ohtani.
“A number of nice additions, loads of pleasure for a purpose,” Freeman stated. “We’ve got the possession, the entrance workplace come out and inform everybody that we try to win and win for a few years. That's what you wish to be part of.”
Many of the workforce is simply getting to satisfy Ohtani for the primary time earlier than spring coaching. Reliever Blake Treinen was instantly impressed.
“He's all the time glad. He brings an power, he's simply cool,” Treinen stated. “I really stated welcome to the workforce in Japanese, however he stated it was actually good.”
Andrew Friedman, the workforce's president of baseball operations, instructed Betts and Freeman a couple of week after final season ended with a bang that the workforce was going after Ohtani and Yamamoto.
“Not loads of groups actually try this sort of factor and to me, it's simply good to know that they saved their phrase,” Betts stated. “They instructed me, and I'm certain they instructed Ohtani and all the opposite guys once they signed, they've all the time acquired an opportunity to win and so they have. It's simply on us as gamers. We've acquired to go and execute. “.
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