Mar 18, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after hitting a double in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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“I Was Nervous”: Shohei Ohtani Admits Nerves During Historic Tokyo Return

Yeah, even Shohei Ohtani will feel nerves in front of 40,000 people

Shohei Ohtani made his highly anticipated return to the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday, stepping into the batter’s box to a roaring crowd that quickly fell silent in anticipation. Shohei Ohtani rarely does anything wrong, but this was one of the instances he really couldn’t do anything wrong. Posters all around Japan, the entire Tokyo Dome silently waited for a Shohei Ohtani hit. Naturally, even Shohei Ohtani, human as he is, unlike common belief, succumbed to the most human feeling ever – nerves, though unusual for him.

ALSO READ: How to watch Tokyo Series? TV Channels & streaming options for Dodgers vs. Cubs MLB 2025

“I was actually pretty nervous,” Ohtani told Harold Reynolds of MLB Network through his interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s been a while since I was nervous, but today, definitely felt it.”

A smiling Shohei Ohtani admitted he was nervous playing in front of his hometown fans in the Dodgers opener in Japan:

“I was actually pretty nervous. It’s been a while since I was nervous, but today, definitely felt it."

Ohtani had 2 hits and 2 runs.pic.twitter.com/AwKALrs4JA
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) March 18, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers star acknowledged that the unique setting played a role in his emotions, with fans holding high expectations for him to deliver at the plate.

Facing fellow countryman Shota Imanaga, Ohtani struggled early, grounding out and lining out in his first two at-bats. But in the fifth inning, he finally broke through, ripping a 107 mph single to right field, sending the crowd into a frenzy. He followed it up with a double down the right-field line in the ninth, finishing the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted the heightened anticipation surrounding Ohtani’s every move. “There was just so much excitement for everything he did,” Roberts said. “It was different from any of our other players.”

Shohei Ohtani is just having fun out there 🤩 #TokyoSeries pic.twitter.com/W8SwkZXUiS
— MLB (@MLB) March 18, 2025

On the pitching side, Yoshinobu Yamamoto put together a strong outing for the Dodgers, giving up just one run on three hits over five innings while retiring the last nine batters he faced. Imanaga, despite struggling with command and issuing four walks, was dominant over four no-hit innings.

The Dodgers ultimately secured a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the first game of the Tokyo Series.

Cubs

Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.