Shohei Ohtani, a baseball sensation, enthralled his fans with his regular season debut with the LA Dodgers in Seoul on Wednesday.
Since the Japanese sports hero arrived in South Korea last week, both game tickets and Ohtani memorabilia have been sold out.
Despite the fact that Japan is South Korea’s longstanding sporting foe, Ohtani was warmly welcomed.
The MLB’s first-ever season opening in South Korea is between the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
With two singles and a run batted in, Ohtani helped the Dodgers win 5-2. He and his new wife, former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, made a big entrance into Seoul last Friday. Following the announcement of their marriage in February, it was the first time he had disclosed the identify of his spouse.
Mina Kim, a native of Seoul, claimed that she had watched the 29-year-old play in two exhibition games prior to Wednesday and was taken aback by the sight of the crowd yelling Ohtani’s name and donning jerseys.
“And everyone pulled out their cameras when Ohtani appeared. The 27-year-old, who has been following the Japanese player since his professional debut in 2018, added, “I just heard Ohtani, Ohtani the whole game pretty much.”
Ohtani, who is recognised as one of the greatest players of all time, was the most sought-after target in the MLB during the off-season. Ohtani is comparable to American baseball icon Babe Ruth because he is equally adept at both pitching and batting, unlike most players who specialise in one or the other.
After inking the largest-ever 10-year contract in MLB history, for $700 million (£552 million), he became a member of the LA Dodgers in December of last year. He became one of the highest-paid athletes in the world as a result.
After his marriage was announced in February, there was a weeks-long speculation over who his bride might be.
Some supporters claim that Ohtani has surpassed Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres, another MLB export from South Korea.
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