Shohei Ohtani Admits Feeling ‘Nervous’ in Tokyo but Shines with Two Hits and Runs

TOKYO – Shohei Ohtani, often unfazed by high-pressure situations, revealed that playing a regular-season MLB game in his home country made him unusually anxious. Despite this, the Los Angeles Dodgers star delivered an impressive performance in the team’s 4-1 Opening Day victory over the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

After the game, Ohtani made a surprising admission: “It’s been a while since I felt this nervous playing a game,” he said. “It took me four or five innings to settle down.”

Despite his nerves, Ohtani recorded two hits and scored twice, showcasing his signature talent. One of his hits was a scorching line drive exceeding 96 mph, proving that his emotions did not affect his performance. However, the magnitude of the moment and the week-long buildup to the game visibly impacted his usual composed demeanor.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shohei Ohtani nervous,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But one thing that stood out was how emotional he got during the Japanese national anthem. That spoke volumes.”

This historic MLB Opening Day game was significant not only for Ohtani but also for Japanese baseball history. For the first time ever, two Japanese starting pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers and Shota Imanaga of the Cubs, faced off on Opening Day. Both delivered solid outings, with Imanaga throwing four hitless innings before being pulled after 69 pitches.

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“Seventy was our limit for Shota,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “It was the right time to take him out.”

The Dodgers capitalized on this, scoring three runs in the fifth inning off reliever Ben Brown. Imanaga kept the Dodgers lineup off balance, but his four career-high walks inflated his pitch count, leading to his early exit.

On the other side, Yamamoto thrived in front of his home crowd, frequently hitting 98 mph on his fastball and keeping Cubs hitters off balance with a devastating splitter. He pitched five strong innings, allowing only three hits. The performance showcased a newfound confidence that had eluded him in his first MLB season.

“Compared to last year, his belief in his fastball within the strike zone is night and day,” Roberts said. “If he continues this, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in the Cy Young conversation this season.”

Meanwhile, Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki struggled at the plate, going hitless in four at-bats. The Cubs managed only three hits in total, failing to register any in the final four innings against the Dodgers’ bullpen.

The series finale will feature the Dodgers’ highly anticipated rookie, Roki Sasaki, making his first MLB start. With the game drawing massive attention, Roberts stated, “I don’t think there’s a single Japanese baseball fan who wasn’t watching tonight.”

The Dodgers were without Mookie Betts, who left Japan due to illness, and Freddie Freeman, who was scratched from the lineup just an hour before the game due to rib discomfort, a lingering issue from last year’s postseason.

The night began with an Olympic-style pregame ceremony, featuring Pikachu mascots on the field and a dramatic video portraying the Dodgers and Cubs as mythical monsters. Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh was also in attendance, a moment Roberts described as “a dream come true.”

The crowd remained subdued, seemingly unsure of whom to cheer for, except for Shohei Ohtani, who was met with overwhelming admiration. Every move he made carried an aura of once-in-a-generation magic, solidifying his status as the face of baseball in Japan and beyond.