After six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract during the offseason.
Ohtani faced his former team on several occasions during Spring Training and is now set to play them for the first time in the regular season. The Dodgers open the annual Freeway Series against the Angels on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
While a lot of the attention will be on Ohtani facing his former team, manager Dave Roberts does not expect him to get caught up in the hype, via Dennis Georgatos of the Southern California News Group:
“I think he’s worried about today and once tomorrow comes, tomorrow comes,” Roberts said Thursday ahead of the Dodgers’ series finale against the Colorado Rockies. “I think that he is grateful for his time in Anaheim, grateful for the fans. And I think he just wants to help the Dodgers win, but I think he wants to get it over with.”
Ohtani tries to stay focused on one game at a time but admitted he is excited to play the Angels:
Ohtani acknowledged “looking forward” to playing them and added that he still follows the Angels “here and there” to keep up with what he called the regular news.
After the Dodger Stadium portion of the Freeway Series, the Dodgers and Angels will meet two additional times at Angel Stadium on Sept. 3-4. Ohtani believes those games will be more emotional:
“I believe more so when I go to Anaheim (it will be emotional for him),” Ohtani said. “But since we’re playing at Dodger Stadium, I’m just going to be focused on playing the game.”
Ohtani began his MLB career with the Angels and had many great moments for the team despite never advancing to the playoffs. He was the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star and two-time MVP Award winner during his time in Anaheim.
Ohtani has picked up where he left off in his debut season with the Dodgers and is well on track to playing in the postseason for the first time in his career.
Through 74 games, Ohtani is hitting .318/.391/.615 with 21 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs and 53 RBI in 337 plate appearances.
Shohei Ohtani thriving as Dodgers leadoff hitter
With Mookie Betts landing on the 10-day injured list due to a fracture in his left hand, Ohtani has taken his spot as the Dodgers leadoff hitter.
The 29-year-old has thrived in his new role as he is batting .444 with five extra-base hits and seven RBI across four games.
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