Tokyo – The moment the ball left the hei bat, Tokyo Dome stopped being a baseball stadium and became something completely.
Otani, of course, he did so, in front of his home country, in a major league match, he was finally home. For a while, there was confusion as to whether the towering fly ball actually cleared the yellow line on the middle right field.
Fans were breathless, not knowing the outcome. Cole’s broadcaster thought it was double from the wall. Otani knew it was a home run. The judge did that too. After a few minutes of replay review, the phone was standing there and the fans did it all at once as they roaed and cheered on their hometown hero. It wasn’t just a home run. It was an instant. The moment the whole country was waiting for me.
Otani’s home run swing was a perfect symphony of control and power and precision, despite being a vintage shoe hei. And it was an exclamation point for the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs, who completed a two-game sweep of the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series.
Before Otani sent Japan to Euphoria, another homemade star welcomed Sasaki Roki, center stage, to make his highly anticipated major league debut for the Dodgers. The 22-year-old genius was sometimes unstable, publishing five walks in just three innings, but when he found the groove, he was being promoted.
He hit three batters with pure electricity. His fastball was routinely touched 101 mph. The Tokyo Dome scoreboard flashed numbers, and every time it did, a tweet rolled through the crowd.
His final innings were the epitome of his outings and the complete personification of what it means to be a major league rookie. After an infield single, Sasaki walked the next three batters he faced to surrender the Cubs’ first run. The bass was loaded and in just one time, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Mark Pryor came out for a mound visit to calm Sasaki’s nerves.
Sasaki hit the next two batters he faced as the Cubs batsmen were mesmerized and mystical by the fastball/sinker combination of Japanese flamethrower. They scratched their heads and when they returned to the Cubs dugout, they seemed to waving the sky at first glance. Sasaki sent his arms out in the air and roared in excitement. Welcome to the big league, Kid.
The Dodgers made sure to back up the rookie pitchers with immediate support. Max Muncie closed the double in two innings and after a passing ball and sacrifice fly turned it into a 2-0 lead, the Cubs learned what to hit them.
After the innings, Tommy Edman, the most modest power hitter you’ve ever seen, defeated a solo shot to the left. 3-0, Dodgers.
Fourth, Enrique Hernandez turned on an internal fastball and yank a two-run homer into the seat on the left field. The Dodgers’ lead swelled to 5-1.
The Cubs did not go quietly. Ian Hap delivered an RBI single that cuts the deficit to 5-2. It was Otani who provided the dagger and recovered the Dodgers’ four-rank cushion in one majestic swing in five innings.
From there, the depth of the Dodgers bullpen took over. Dansby Swanson double-down the left field line that cut the Dodgers and roped them to 6-3, but that’s close enough for the Cubs to get.
Alex Vescia worked ninth for a save, and after the final was recorded, the Dodgers won in Tokyo and poured into the field.
The 2-Game Series was theirs. But at night? At night it belonged to Otani.
It wasn’t just him home. When was that? where. how.
Tokyo, Japan – March 19: Los Angeles Dodgers shoes hei #17 will appear on the field while introducing players before the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Dome match held in Japan on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Photo by Yuki Taguchi/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
For years, Japan has been chasing his major league exposure from afar, and has been awake at impossible times to see his brilliance unfold. For the first time this week, they didn’t have to squint their eyes on the screen or resort to highlights. They could see him – met him enthusiastically – played the game at the highest level under Tokyo Dome Light.
And this night they saw him do what he would do his best: something unforgettable.
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