Shohei Ohtani shines in Dodgers' triumphant debut in Seoul MLB kickoff. Fan hails him as 'a once-in-a-century talent'

Shohei Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against Kim Ha-seong's San Diego Padres in South Korea on Wednesday night, with the Dodgers securing a 5-2 victory. This marked the start of the two-game Seoul Series, kicking off the MLB season and highlighting the growing presence of Asian stars in the sport. Ohtani, a talented two-way player from Japan, made headlines by signing the most lucrative deal in MLB history when he joined the Dodgers during the offseason.

Earlier today, South Korean police received a report regarding an email threatening to detonate a bomb to harm Ohtani. Approximately 150 police officers were sent to the stadium to search for any potential threats, but thankfully no explosives were found.

Fans make their way to the stadium prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Dodgers and the Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20.

Fans make their way to the stadium prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Dodgers and the Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

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It was evident that many fans at Seoul’s Gocheok Skydome came to see Ohtani, who impressed the crowd with two hits, an RBI, and a stolen base.

In a heartwarming moment, Ohtani’s wife, Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, was spotted in the crowd. The ESPN broadcast captured her giving high fives to women nearby after one of her husband’s hits.

Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani shares first picture of wife, Mamiko Tanaka.

Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani shares first picture of wife, Mamiko Tanaka.

@Dodgers/Twitter (X)

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Shohei Ohtani has recently shared the identity of his new wife, who happens to be a star athlete as well. Despite Ohtani's fame in the baseball world, in South Korea, the spotlight is on Padres shortstop Kim Ha-seong.

The crowd cheered the Korean star the loudest, showing that his San Diego team was clearly the fan favorite - and rightfully so. This was no surprise since the Skydome used to be Kim's home stadium during his time playing for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization's (KBO) League.

The stadium erupted with applause when Padres starter Yu Darvish managed to strike out a batter and escape a bases-loaded situation in the top of the third inning.

But in the eighth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs. This proved to be too much for the Padres to handle, as the LA team scored four runs to secure the victory.

Padres shortstop Kim Ha-Seong throwing in the top of the fourth inning against the Dodgers at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20.

Padres shortstop Kim Ha-Seong throwing in the top of the fourth inning against the Dodgers at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20.

Gene Wang/Getty Images

The Dodgers rally sparked enthusiastic cheers from the fans, showing the excitement of the local community as MLB brought its top star to Seoul to kick off the season.

The MLB game not only highlighted Asia on the field, but also off the field. The most popular players were Asian, and during breaks, the cheerleaders from each team entertained the crowd with K-pop performances.

Korean fan Park Jun-hyuk expressed his excitement about seeing Ohtani at the stadium. He described Ohtani as the best player he had ever seen in 100 years. Park mentioned that it was meaningful for him to see such a talented player like Ohtani, who was playing for the Dodgers in the opening game in South Korea.

Motoki Sato, a 26-year-old from Japan, shared that he has been a fan of Ohtani since the baseball star's high school days. Attending the Dodgers game was a special experience for Sato as it was his first time seeing the two-way superstar in person. In the past, Sato cheered for the Angels, the team where Ohtani used to play. He mentioned this with a smile on his face.

He was dressed in Dodger colors on Wednesday, just like many others in the crowd. Before the game, lots of fans were busy buying their merchandise from a souvenir tent outside the stadium.

Shohei Ohtani has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Loren Elliott/MLB Photos/Getty Images

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Fans started lining up outside the MLB merchandise tent over two hours before the game, with staff allowing them in small groups to avoid overcrowding. Those wearing team gear had their items tagged before entering.

Once inside, most of the cheaper souvenirs were already sold out, but the popular Ohtani number jerseys were quickly flying off the shelves as soon as they were put on display.

The Padres section of the store was calmer compared to the rest, but it was still bustling with activity. One of the popular players among fans was South Korea’s Kim.

The Seoul Series is a special two-game series between the two teams, marking the first time MLB regular-season games are being played in Korea. This is the ninth occasion that MLB has kicked off its season outside of the 50 US states and Canada. The most recent time this occurred was in 2019, when the Oakland Athletics took on the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo.

Chan Ho Park, who 30 years ago became the first Korean player in MLB when he was with the Dodgers, threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Fans cheer during pregame ceremonies prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

Fans cheer during pregame ceremonies prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

Yuki Taguchi/MLB Photos/Getty Images

Padres shortstop Kim, originally from Bucheon (approximately 15.5 miles from Seoul), was warmly welcomed by the crowd during his first at-bat in the second inning. He was back at the stadium where he used to play for the Kiwoom Heroes. Kim showed his gratitude by lifting his batting helmet to acknowledge the fans. Despite going 0-for-3, he managed to draw a walk during the game.

Brenda and Gerardo Marquez had traveled from San Diego to Seoul for the two-game series, lucky winners of tickets for reserved for Padres fans.

They had to see Kim play in his home country.

Brenda Marquez expressed her excitement for the game tonight, focusing on Ha-Seong Kim and hoping for a win to see him play at home.

Gerardo shared that he and his partner, along with their three young daughters, had planned to attend the game in Seoul even before winning the ticket lottery.

A general view of the Gocheok Sky Dome during the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Dodgers and the Padres on March 20.

A general view of the Gocheok Sky Dome during the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Dodgers and the Padres on March 20.

The Marquez family may have been disappointed by the Padres' loss, but their trip was still a success. Their daughters are big fans of BTS, with Gerardo describing them as "obsessed." Brenda, on the other hand, was content just to be near the stadium.

"If we hadn't gotten tickets, we would have just walked around outside," she mentioned after her family had the opportunity to see Kim in his home turf. They also enjoyed watching K-pop routines between innings.

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Ohtani makes Dodgers debut as Major League Baseball goes global

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CNN’s Yoonjung Seo and Jill Martin contributed reporting.

Editor's P/S:

The Seoul Series marked a significant moment in the history of baseball, showcasing the global reach of the sport and the growing prominence of Asian players. The presence of Shohei Ohtani, Kim Ha-seong, and Yu Darvish underlined the increasing influence of Asian stars in MLB. The enthusiastic response from fans in Seoul demonstrated the growing popularity of baseball in Asia and the excitement surrounding these talented players.

The bomb threat incident highlighted the importance of security measures in major sporting events. The swift response of South Korean police ensured the safety of attendees and allowed the game to proceed without disruption. It also served as a reminder of the potential risks associated with high-profile events and the need for vigilance in protecting athletes and spectators. paid off, showcasing the growing popularity of baseball in Asia and the potential for further expansion of the sport globally.