The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their regular season with a matchup against the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series. It marked the first time Shohei Ohtani wore Dodgers blue for an official contest. A bomb threat before the game caused a scare, but nothing came of it.
Los Angeles was able to come away with a 5-2 victory, earning the first win of any team in the 2024 MLB season. Ohtani began his Dodgers career by going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The designated hitter's first at-bat with Los Angeles ended in a fielder's choice. But in his second trip to the plate, Ohtani got his first hit with the Dodgers, smacking a single into right field.
Shohei Ohtani's first hit as a Dodger!#SeoulSeries pic.twitter.com/tHaep5ZbPo
— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
Shohei Ohtani's wife reacts to first Dodgers hit
Shohei Ohtani just got married to Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball player. She was in attendance in Seoul and can be seen in the above video showing her excitement to Ohtani's first Dodgers hit. Here's another look:
Shohei Ohtani picks up his first hit as a Dodger and his wife loves it pic.twitter.com/cYNzGc7M3D
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 20, 2024
After the hit, Ohtani stole second base. It was the first steal of the major league season, and the only one recorded in the contest. Through the first game of the season, Ohtani technically leads the league in stolen bases.
Major League Baseball's (current) stolen base leader#SeoulSeries pic.twitter.com/NHajUOHowO
— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
LA picks up win
His next two at-bats resulted in outs, as the Dodgers trailed 2-1 after the fourth inning. However, Ohtani singled in Gavin Lux in the eighth inning for his first RBI with LA. It was the finishing touch on a four-run inning that gave the Dodgers a lead they wouldn't look back on.
New team.
Same incredible swing.Shohei Ohtani rips his first RBI as a Dodger! pic.twitter.com/QxUtq172Iy
— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
With an injury to his elbow, Shohei Ohtani is focused on just hitting in 2024. While the Dodgers would surely love to have him on the mound, they won't complain about having him in the batter's box. He came to LA as a .274 hitter with 171 home runs, 437 RBI and 86 stolen bases.
Now, Ohtani has started his Dodgers career off with a bang. He's still waiting for his first long ball, but the two-time MVP's work at the dish helped Los Angeles take down the Padres and start their season off with a W.
Dave Roberts on Ohtani's debut
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed Shohei Ohtani's debut after the 5-2 victory, calling it a “good night overall,” per ESPN.
“Just a good night overall for Shohei,” Roberts said. “The bigger picture, it's significant because you've got such a generational talent that is on your ballclub in a big market in Los Angeles. There's a lot more eyeballs on the Dodgers and on Major League Baseball.”
Ohtani's decision to leave the Los Angeles Angels for the Dodgers sent shockwaves through MLB. The Dodgers will be one of the most-hyped teams to watch in MLB history given the presence of Ohtani on such a stacked roster. Anything less than a World Series win will be a disappointment.
When do Ohtani, Dodgers play next?
The Dodgers are scheduled to face the Padres one more time in Seoul on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 a.m. ET and will feature a pitching matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Joe Musgrove. Yamamoto will be making his Dodgers debut a day after Shohei Ohtani's successful first official game with the club.
Follow Us
Subscribe