Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to kick off the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo on Tuesday against fellow Japanese players Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, and the Chicago Cubs. The two-game series, known as the Tokyo Series, will feature Yamamoto starting on the mound for the reigning World Series champions, while Imanaga will pitch for the Cubs.
Roki Sasaki, a highly sought-after free agent, will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday against Justin Steele of the Cubs. Ohtani, the National League MVP last season, had an outstanding performance with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, and 130 RBIs, leading the Dodgers to the NL West title and eventually the World Series championship.
Despite sustaining a shoulder injury during the playoffs, Ohtani has made a full recovery and showcased his skills with a two-run homer in an exhibition game. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts expressed excitement for Ohtani’s return to Japan, acknowledging his significant impact on Japanese baseball.
Yamamoto, with a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA in his debut season, will aim to continue his success against the Cubs. Imanaga, an NL All-Star in his rookie year, impressed with a 15-3 record and a 2.91 ERA for Chicago.
Seiya Suzuki, a former star in Nippon Professional Baseball, reflected on his career in Japan as the Cubs prepared for the upcoming series. Chicago, led by new addition Kyle Tucker, hopes to end their playoff drought and make a strong start to the season.
The anticipation is high for the Tokyo Series, where Japanese talent will be showcased in an exciting matchup between the Dodgers and the Cubs.
Since his debut in 2018, he has accumulated a .274 batting average along with 125 home runs, 135 doubles, and 417 RBIs in 633 career games for Houston.
