Shohei Ohtani mania descended on Dodger Stadium on Saturday, with fans getting their first in-person glimpse of the two-way superstar wearing blue.
Ohtani, of course, spent the last six seasons playing for the red-clad Angels in Anaheim, which for Dodgers fans may as well be as far away as his native Japan.
Now, Ohtani is theirs.
And Dodgers fans embraced him with screams. Men, women and children donned his new jersey at DodgerFest, where fans were charged — $10 each — for the first time to get in.
Concession stands were open, music blared, the team store was loaded with shoppers, and fans crowded the field to get close to the stage where manager Dave Roberts and about 30 players talked up the 2024 season.
“The only choice is win the World Series,” Ohtani said through his translator.
Ohtani will hit but not pitch this season as he recovers from a second Tommy John surgery.
“Rehab has been going really well,” he said. “I’m very confident we’re right on schedule. We’re not ahead and we’re not behind.”
JP2021.COM