Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar and a main attraction for the historic Major League Baseball Seoul Series this week, flashed his all-around skills in a strong regular season debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

Batting second as designated hitter, Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a steal, as the Dodgers rallied past the San Diego Padres 5-2 at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Ohtani made the biggest splash in free agency this past offseason, when he signed a 10-year, US$700 million contract with the Dodgers.

Ohtani grounded into a fielder’s choice in the top of the first, and picked up his first hit as a Dodger with a single to right field in the third inning. He stole second base later in the same inning.

He grounded out in the fifth and seventh innings, before collecting his second hit and first RBI of the season during the four-run eighth inning.

That big inning allowed the Dodgers to come back from a 2-1 deficit, and Ohtani said afterward the game showed how good the Dodgers can be this season
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“The biggest thing is that we got this win,” he said through an interpreter in a clubhouse scrum. “The way we got it, come back late in the game like that, proves us a really good team. We could have scored a lot more runs.”

Asked if he had been nervous about playing in his first regular season game for the Dodgers, Ohtani said, “I’m not a nervous man, hitting or pitching. I was able to be relaxed.”

The two-time American League MVP with the Los Angeles Angels underwent elbow surgery during the winter. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said the two-way sensation will not pitch in 2024, but the team may have a “conversation” with Ohtani about possibly playing outfield at some point this season. Once the Dodgers return to the United States, Ohtani will start his throwing program, according to Roberts.

Source: Yonhap News Agency