Ohtani impressed in last year’s Tokyo Series, going 3-for-10 with two RBI and a stolen base against the rival Padres. Ohtani recently posted an Instagram picture featuring a group photo of him and every Asian person affiliated with the Dodgers organization. The picture included players, coaches, and even team photographer Jon Soohoo.

Hundreds of fans at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, who lined up 10 deep and hoped to catch a glimpse of Shohei Ohtani as he arrived on Thursday, saw nothing of the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar.

Hundreds of fans lined up 10 deep, hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar on Thursday, but a temporary white wall was set up to shield the players in case they came through the arrival area.

Although the 2025 MLB Opening Day is on March 27, the season will start earlier than that. That's because Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to play the Chicago Cubs for two games in the Tokyo Series that will begin next Monday at the Tokyo Dome.

The D-backs will get their first taste of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.