Shohei Ohtani hits 2-run homer in Japan during Dodgers' win over Yomiuri Giants
Ohtani and the Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan with a two-game series against the Cubs.
Shohei Ohtani delivered in front of a sold-out Tokyo Dome as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Yomiuri Giants 5-1 in an exhibition matchup Saturday.
The three-time MVP recorded one hit in two at-bats — a two-run home run during a five-run Dodgers third inning off Giants pitcher Shosei Togo. The 391-foot blast came after Michael Conforto led off the inning with a solo blast and before Teoscar Hernández capped the scoring with a two-run shot of his own.
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SHOHEI OHTANI HOMERS AT THE TOKYO DOME! #TOKYOSERIESpic.twitter.com/04dK1gKnt5— MLB (@MLB) March 15, 2025
“With so many fans in the stands, it really felt like I’ve come back [home] after a long time," Ohtani told Japanese reporters, via MLB.com. "I think it was a great at-bat.”
The Dodgers are in Japan ahead of next week's season-opening Tokyo Series, which brings games against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will square off against Shōta Imanaga in the teams' first meeting, and Rōki Sasaki will make his MLB debut against Justin Steele in the second game.
Before he joined the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the 2018 season, Ohtani played in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
The Dodgers finish their two-game exhibition schedule with a game Sunday against the Hanshin Tigers.