The 2025 MLB Season is officially underway with the conclusion of the MLB Tokyo Series. If you blinked (or fell asleep), you might have missed it. The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs traveled to Japan to take the field at the Tokyo Dome.
From Shohei Ohtani's homecoming to other Japanese stars making waves, the series wasn't just the kickoff of a baseball season. It was a prime example of the global impact of the game and the growing interest from around the world.
Let's dive into some of the notable highlights from the week.
NPB Exhibition Games
Before officially starting the first series of the year, the Dodgers and Cubs warmed up with exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. While it was just labeled as an exhibition game for the MLB squads, this was an opportunity for Japan's best NPB teams to showcase their talent in front of an international audience. And they did not disappoint.
The Tigers ended up beating the Dodgers and Cubs 3-0 in both games they played. Not only did they beat the two teams, but they also didn't allow a single run for 18 straight innings.
Of the standout performers from Hanshin, Hiroto Saiki is certainly someone to mention. The right-handed pitcher was one of the best pitchers in Japan last season and went 5 innings against the Dodgers only allowing one hit while also striking out Ohtani. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described Saiki as having "major league stuff".
Prior to beating the Dodgers, the Tigers took on the Cubs the day before. One of the Tigers top prospect Keito Mombetsu took the mound in that matchup throwing a perfect game through five innings. The 20-year-old didn't give up his first hit until the 6th inning.
On the MLB side, Rapsodo's Official Technology Ambassador Shohei Ohtani got warmed up for the Tokyo Series with a two-run home run in the Dodgers first exhibition game against the Giants.
The Main Event
When the games finally counted, the Tokyo Dome was ELECTRIC. The Japanese crowd showed their passion for the game by not only packing the Tokyo Dome but spending a pretty penny on tickets.
The price to get into the Dome was around $2,000 per ticket for the first game between the Dodgers and Cubs with a price tag of $1,500 for the second game of the series. As for the attendance, the Tokyo Dome hosted 42,000 fans for each of the four games it hosted. Game 1 of the Tokyo Series also averaged more than 25 million viewers, making it the most-watched MLB game in Japan history.
The Los Angeles Dodgers would sweep the Chicago Cubs in the two games they played, beating the NL Central team 4-1 in the season opener and 6-3 in Game 2.
Shohei's Homecoming
Billboards. Beverages. Newspapers. Magazines.
Anywhere baseball fans' eyes wandered in Tokyo, they would be greeted with an image of Shohei Ohtani.
Japan's own superhero returned home to play in a professional game for the 1st time since he left there for MLB in 2017. The fans were buzzing for his return, captivated by every step he took, and he did not let them down.
Coming off the heels of his home run in the exhibition game, Shohei went 2-for-5 in the first game against the Cubs with two runs. He brought the noise in Game 2 hitting his first home run of the MLB season, a solo shot that went to an umpire review, but was eventually upheld.
|
|
vs. Hanshin Tigers |
vs. Yomiuri Giants |
vs. Cubs (Game 1) |
vs. Cubs (Game 2) |
4-Game Total |
2025 MLB Season |
|
At Bats |
2 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
8 |
|
Hits |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
|
Runs |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
|
RBIs |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Walks |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
Strikeouts |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Prior to leaving for Japan, Ohtani was seen at Dodgers Spring Training putting Rapsodo's PRO 2.0 unit to work. The two-way superstar is working his way back to the mound after rehabbing from elbow surgery that has kept him away from pitching since August 2023.
Ohtani utilizes Rapsodo's technology to help him rehab back to the pitching form that helped lead him to the 2023 American League MVP Award. Rapsodo not only ensures that he gets back to his elite pitching form but also monitors his progress to prevent further injuries from happening.
Based on the activity we've seen from Spring Training; it seems like the 3-time MVP winner is on track and could return to his two-way role in due time.
Rapsodo's Presence in Japan
To celebrate our Official Technology Ambassador returning to Japan, Rapsodo set up a batting cage experience complete with PRO 2.0 at the Tokyo Dome City. Fans around the Tokyo Dome got the opportunity step in the cage and measure their exit velocity, among other hitting metrics, with the same technology used by Shohei Ohtani. In addition to accessing hitting data with Rapsodo, attendees received one of three limited-edition Ohtani x Rapsodo stickers.
The popularity of baseball is booming in Japan and the data is no exception. From professional teams in the NPB to youth teams across the country, data is a universal language that everyone can understand.
Japanese Talent Take Center Stage
While baseball's biggest star commanded most of the attention, the Tokyo Series saw some other big name Japanese players shine in front of their home town, showing they too belong to be on the global stage.
Setting the stage for Game 1 were Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanga for the Cubs. These two Japanese players made MLB history with their starts, becoming the first all-Japanese Opening Day matchup, all in front of their home country.
Combining those two pitchers with Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs and Ohtani and Roki Sasaki from the Dodgers, Japan saw five Japanese players featured in the MLB Opening Series. Prior to the Tokyo Series, only three Japanese-born pitchers had played a MLB game in the Tokyo Dome.
Needless to say, the game of baseball is alive and well in Japan.
Conclusion
The 2025 MLB Tokyo Series was more than just a set of games—it was a global celebration of baseball.
From Ohtani’s heroics to the emergence of Japan’s next generation of stars, the series showcased the sport’s international reach. With Rapsodo playing an integral role in player development across both MLB and NPB, the future of baseball has never been brighter.
As the game continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the road to the top runs through data, and Rapsodo is leading the way.
Interested in adding Rapsodo to your baseball program? Visit our website or email sales@rapsodo.com to learn more about our industry-leading player development technology.
