DODGERS OHTANI "I LIKE KOREA, I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD MEMORY WITH MY WIFE"

Official press conference ahead of the MLB Seoul Series... “I want to prove that I am a member of the Dodgers.”

‘700 Million Dollar Man’ Shohei Ohtani (29, Los Angeles Dodgers) shared his thoughts on visiting Korea again after 12 years.

He, who visited Korea in 2012 as a high school student on the 'Black Hair' baseball team, has now become the most famous and highest-paid baseball player in the world.

At a press conference held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 16th, Ohtani said, "(In 2012) I was a high school student, so the situation is different now, but Korea is one of my favorite countries," and added, "I'm really happy to play in Korea again.

I'm really happy to play baseball again."

“It’s very special to come back to Korea,” he said.

Otani visited Mokdong Stadium in Korea to participate in the 2012 World Youth Baseball Championship while he was a student at Hanamaki Higashi High School.

After achieving numerous milestones on the field in 12 years, he signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth a total of $700 million (about 932.4 billion won) ahead of this season.

Ohtani's team, the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, will play the opening two-game series of the MLB Seoul Series regular season at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th and 21st.

Otani, who received a warm welcome from the airport upon entering Korea on the 15th, said, "Korea and Japan have always been rivals in sports.

While watching games against Korea, I have always respected Korean players and the Korean team.

“So it feels even better to be welcomed like this.”

Ohtani, who made a surprise marriage announcement last month, revealed her wife for the first time during this trip to Seoul.

His wife is Mamiko Tanaka, a former Japanese women's professional basketball player.

Otani said, "This is the first time we have been abroad together (other than the United States) since we got married.

I think it will be a really good memory for both of us."

He also added, “I’m very excited to be able to experience not only baseball but overall Korean culture in Korea.”

Dodgers hitters will have to face San Diego starting pitcher Yu Darubish in the opening game on the 20th.

Ohtani said, "Tarubitshu is a pitcher I have admired since I was young, and I had the opportunity to play with him at last year's World Baseball Classic (WBC)," and added, "I haven't had a chance to face him yet, but I'm happy to meet him this time."

'Transfer' Ohtani said he wanted to be fully recognized by his teammates through this two-game series.

He said, “I want to prove that I am a Dodgers player.”

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who entered the press conference together, also expressed their expectations for the Seoul Series.

“It was exciting to be able to move around a little bit with his wife and experience a new culture,” Betts said.

“Flying all this distance to have breakfast together, spend time in a hotel together, and just learning about the culture is an opportunity to bond even more.”

“The team added a lot of great players in the offseason,” said Freeman.

“I’m excited to play in front of new fans in Korea.”

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Pub: 02 Apr 2024 04:51 UTC
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