Dodgers bring their star power – topped by Shohei Ohtani – to Seoul Series
Supporters of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hold signs as they wait for the team’s arrival at Incheon International Airport on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Incheon, South Korea, ahead of the team’s series against the San Diego Padres. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, center, walks with his wife Mamiko Tanaka, center left, through a terminal during the team’s arrival at Incheon International Airport, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Incheon, South Korea, ahead of the team’s baseball series against the San Diego Padres. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, bottom center, tosses a ball with a child while participating in a skills clinic with local players during a baseball workout at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, top right, is greeted by local players while participating in a skills clinic during a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, center, is greeted by a supporter during a skills clinic ahead of a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow gestures as he arrives to participate in a skills clinic with local players during a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, second from left, poses with Korea national team players during a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, left, Mookie Betts, center, and Freddie Freeman attend a news conference prior to a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, left, Mookie Betts, center, and Freddie Freeman attend a news conference prior to a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts speaks during a news conference ahead of a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts during a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman participates in a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara leave after a news conference ahead of a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts listens to a question during a news conference ahead of a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts during a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, left, and Mookie Betts react during a news conference ahead of a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers players take the field during a baseball workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts during a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a news conference ahead of a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman fields a ground ball during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talks with catcher Austin Barnes during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers utility man Kike Hernandez fields a ground ball during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy fields a ground ball during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts runs a drill during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, center, stretches with teammates during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas looks on during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers outfielder/infielder Chris Taylor sits on a bucket during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto attends a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani takes the field for a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stretches with teammates during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts throws a football during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, stands with teammates during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas fields a ground ball during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talks with infielder Miguel Rojas during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani talks with teammates during a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani attends a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A member of the grounds crew rakes the infield after the Dodgers attended a workout at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The photo caused a stir in Japanese media, where reporting had already identified the woman as Mamiko Tanaka, a 27-year-old former basketball player in Japan.
Ohani, 29, was asked for more details about his marriage and, particularly, the courtship during a press conference before the team’s workout on Saturday and he seemed to blush as teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who were on stage with him, started laughing at the thought of Ohtani being so forthcoming.
“I answered all of the questions in an interview earlier so I don’t really want to,” he said Saturday, drawing laughter. “But it is the first time she’s coming to a game with me so I think it’s going to be really great memories for both of us. But like I said earlier, I’m focused on baseball.”
Ohtani was certainly well-rested for his arrival in Korea. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani led the team in hours logged sleeping during the 14-hour flight from Phoenix to Seoul – 11 hours, the early leader for Ohtani’s most impressive statistic as a Dodger.
As for focusing on baseball, that might be easier for Ohtani to do than anyone else, having lived the life of a celebrity for some time now. For the Dodgers, their way of life has changed – as indicated by the more than 200 media members who attended Saturday’s workout and the beefed up security detail now surrounding the team at every step.
“It’s been a lot. It’s been a lot,” Betts said of the extra attention the Dodgers are receiving now. “But, it’s cool. It’s kind of what comes when you get somebody like this (he pointed to Shohei), an international star.”
Freeman looked at the added attention the Dodgers’ billion-dollar binge this winter has attracted as a positive thing.
“When you have this kind of stuff going on, that means something exciting happened in the offseason,” he said. “When you sign Shohei, (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto, trade for Glas (Tyler Glasnow), sign him – just all the people we brought it. Mostly Sho. But this is because something really, really special happened in the offseason.
“I think we’re kind of starting to get used to it a little bit, but I don’t know if anybody can get used to this like this (pointed to the media crowd). This is exciting. It’s fun for us. It’s fun to be playing in front of a lot more new fans this year.”
Ohtani (who had to be persuaded by MLB officials to attend Saturday’s press conference) shrugged off his status as the center of attention.
“I wouldn’t say I’m used to all the attention,” he said through his interpreter. “But I just try to focus on what’s in front of me, whether it’s practice or being in the cage. I just focus on what’s in front of me.”
“Being accepted like this and welcomed is a very good feeling. And I want to put on a very good show for everybody.”
ALSO
Roberts said the Dodgers will use Sunday’s exhibition game (Saturday, 8 p.m. PT) against the Kiwoom Heroes as “essentially a bullpen game.” Right-hander Bobby Miller will start Monday’s exhibition game against Team Korea. … The Dodgers-Padres games on March 20-21 will be the first MLB regular-season games played in Seoul.