Dodgers vs Cubs: The return of the Japanese Sensations

Seiya Suzuki, Shota Imanaga, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani return to their native country with their respective teams to start the MLB regular season in the Tokyo Dome. This is a major event because never before have this many Japanese players returned home to Japan in one go.

Seiya Suzuki

Seiya Suzuki made his professional debut on September 14, 2013, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, for which he played until 2021. Stardom wasn’t instant for him, though. He bounced around in the big league and minor leagues in Japan until 2016, when he had his breakout year, averaging .335 while hitting 29 homers and recording an OPS of 1.016, making him an elite player. That same year, he helped his team win the pennant.

Prior to leaving the NPB for MLB, Suzuki amassed two batting titles, 5 all-star appearances, 6 best of nine awards, 5 gold gloves, and a WBSC premier 12 MVP. It seemed to be inevitable he was going to go to the majors sooner or later. In 2022, it finally happened, signing a contract with the Chicago Cubs for 5 years worth 85 million dollars. In his MLB career, he has a BA of .278, recording 396 hits, hitting 55 homers, compiling a WAR value of 8.2. He has proven himself to be a great hitter at the MLB level. Definitely, fans will give him a standing ovation.

Shohei Ohtani

A man who practically needs no introduction. Even non-baseball fans know him. He’s the man, the myth, the legend. After founding the 50/50 club, he became the first player in history to steal 50 bases and hit 50 homers in one season. And, to top it off, he won a World Series in his first year as a Dodger. He did all that while recovering from Tommy John surgery. What a truly remarkable season it was.

Roki Sasaki

The freshest star to have emerged from the NPB, he had still been playing in Japan in 2024 when the Dodgers won the World Series. He forwent hundreds of millions of dollars to join the MLB two years sooner before the age of 25. His first start in the Cactus League seemed on March 11th to have put any doubts of his talent to rest. His splitter appears to be the best in the entire league.

In his short and brief NPB career, he has already compiled quite an impressive resume, having pitched a perfect game in 2022 and holding a world record by striking out 13 consecutive hitters in a single game. He is slated to be the starter of game two of the series against the Cubs.

Shota Imanaga

Undoubtedly, many teams misjudged his ability to succeed at the major league level because he is not a power pitcher. The Chicago Cubs took a chance on him, and it paid off big time. His fastball hovers around 92 mph but is difficult to hit because of his low release point and a high spin rate. It was even nicknamed the “Most Valuable Pitch.” It has a 17.8 inches of induced vertical break and a Height Adjusted Vertical Approach Angle of 1.4, making his fastball one of the best in the league, despite it being only 92 mph on average. It makes his fastball tough to hit because it is difficult to know exactly where the ball is going to land.

In his rookie season, he made history by becoming the pitcher with the lowest ERA in the first nine starts of the season by recording an .84 ERA to start the season. Imanagamania had begun. People love him for his humble demeanor and his passion for the game.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto was the best pitcher in Japan prior to leaving for the US to start his MLB career. It wasn’t a smooth transition. He had to figure it out. It was so bad that some had already dismissed him. In June 2024, he suffered a strained rotator cuff, which placed him on the IL for more than two months until September 10, 2024. That is hardly anyone’s imagination on how to start an MLB career.

The struggle was all forgotten in the postseason, though, where he played a crucial role in the playoffs. What a way to start a career in MLB: a World Series champion in his rookie season.

Whether the Dodgers or Cubs win the series or tie the series 1-1, it will be quite a spectacle. The world will be watching. The Dodgers versus the Cubs. Don’t miss it on March 18th.