Baseball fever has officially taken over Tokyo as thousands of fans packed the Tokyo Dome to witness the Los Angeles Dodgers in action. But the surprising part? It wasn’t even for a game—it was just a team workout ahead of their highly anticipated MLB Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Massive Turnout for a Practice Session
More than 10,000 fans eagerly filled the stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of local superstars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki alongside their Dodgers teammates. The event, which gave spectators an early preview of the defending World Series champions, was an instant sellout, with tickets priced at ¥2,000 (approximately $13 USD) selling out within an hour.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the excitement surrounding the team’s arrival in Japan, stating:
“Guys are excited to see how Shohei, Yamamoto, and Roki are received by their people. Most of our players haven’t been to Tokyo or Japan, so they’re just excited to try a bunch of different food and see as much of Tokyo as they can.”
Ohtani, Yamamoto & Sasaki Ready to Shine
During media sessions, Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki expressed their excitement about performing in front of their home crowd. The enthusiasm for the Dodgers was evident from the moment they arrived, as massive crowds flooded the airport to welcome them to Japan.
Dodgers vs. Cubs: Pitching Matchups & Game Schedule
The Dodgers will open the two-game series against the Cubs on Tuesday, March 19, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. Meanwhile, Shota Imanaga, another Japanese native, will take the hill for Chicago.
Game 2 will feature Roki Sasaki making his much-anticipated MLB debut for the Dodgers, while Justin Steele will start for the Cubs.
Given the overwhelming excitement just for a practice session, it’s clear that this series will be the most anticipated baseball event of the week!
