LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was happy with the standard of his at-bats and “grateful” for the nice and cozy reception he obtained from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day — however he got here away from all of it with one remorse.
“I used to be the one man who could not hit a homer,” Ohtani, talking by way of an interpreter, stated with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Ohtani was referring to the famous person trio atop the Dodgers’ lineup, of which he’s on the heart. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the 2 hitters who flank Ohtani, every homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas within the third inning. However all three of them positioned their imprint on the Dodgers’ residence debut, combining for five hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs whereas scoring every of the Dodgers’ first six runs.
By means of the season’s first three video games — the crew opened with a two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres in South Korea final week — Betts, Ohtani and Freeman are slashing .455/.578/.788 whereas driving in 13 of the Dodgers’ 23 runs.
“There’s been loads of expectations on the surface,” Betts stated, “however internally no one expects something greater than what Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and all people down the lineup can do. We’re simply going to do what we will.”
Betts, Ohtani and Freeman mark the fifth time in main league historical past that three gamers who completed throughout the high three in voting for the earlier yr’s MVP have begun the following season on the identical crew, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Ohtani was the unanimous selection within the American League for the second time in three years in 2023; Betts and Freeman completed second and third, respectively, in Nationwide League voting.
Betts started the sport with a stroll, then moved to 3rd on a double by Ohtani — who thought Betts would try to attain however as a substitute obtained caught between second and third base — and scored on Freeman’s single. Two innings later, Betts smacked a homer to left, Ohtani drew a stroll and Freeman homered to right-center subject, giving the Dodgers 5 runs earlier than recording their seventh out.
“I believe in any dialogue you possibly can argue that they are one of the best hitter in baseball,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman. “Whenever you speak about these three guys, and also you lump one other handful or 10 gamers, they’re in that dialog. We’re lucky to have three on the high of the order. The primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘daunting.'”
“Daunting” will also be used to explain the occasions of the previous week for Ohtani, amid a betting scandal centered on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers from his checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s underneath federal investigation. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and good buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after Ohtani’s camp alleged that he transferred the cash with out Ohtani’s information, which Ohtani repeated whereas addressing the matter Monday. Three days later, Ohtani emerged from the center-field fence and strolled down an extended blue carpet to punctuate opening ceremonies. He was cheered extra loudly than any of his teammates. An identical reception awaited him as he ready to take his first at-bat.
“Clearly I have been right here earlier than as an [opposing] participant, so it was just a little intimidating,” Ohtani stated by way of his new interpreter, Dodgers supervisor of efficiency operations Will Ireton. “However I am very grateful for the followers. And there have been loads of them.”
Dodger Stadium was filled with 52,667 followers for one of the crucial anticipated residence openers in current reminiscence, a response to an offseason spending spree that totaled greater than $1.2 billion. The main focus was on Ohtani and his place inside what has been casually known as the Huge Three. However Tyler Glasnow, one other main addition this winter, pitched six innings of one-run ball. And different hitters — particularly Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman, making up the 4 to 7 spots — additionally made contributions.
Freeman, talking from a house clubhouse overflowing with media largely due to Ohtani, needed to make that clear.
“It isn’t simply the highest of the order,” Freeman stated. “There’s 9 guys on this lineup. I’ll deflect that for each single query from right here on out. It’s 9 guys on this lineup. We did a very good job at present.”