The upcoming Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs marks the first MLB games in Japan since 2019, leveraging the presence of prominent Japanese players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. These teams feature five of the eleven active Japanese players in the majors, enhancing the series' significance. Freddie Freeman anticipates the excitement and cultural experience while aiming for a winning outcome. This event coincides with Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame induction, further emphasizing the historical importance of the series for baseball in Japan.
The confluence of these factors has made the Tokyo Series extremely meaningful for the game of baseball in Japan. Seeing the excitement of his Japanese teammates highlights the significance of this moment for the entire country.
'I'm looking forward to it. I think it's going to be 10 times whatever Korea was. With Shohei, Yoshi and Roki, and then you've got Shota and Seiya on the Cubs, I think it's going to be more than we expect. It's going to be exciting,' Freeman said.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto alone will be paid more than $1 billion combined over the course of their Dodgers contracts. There is also Roki Sasaki, who is just starting his MLB journey but arrived with extremely lofty expectations.
The Dodgers and Cubs have five of the 11 active Japanese players in the Majors, making them ideal for the first MLB games in Tokyo since 2019.
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