Dodgers bring their star power – topped by Shohei Ohtani – to Seoul Series – Daily News

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SEOUL, South Korea — The Dodgers are making history with their games in South Korea this week. But even that was upstaged by Shohei Ohtani.

Just about two weeks after announcing his marriage on Instagram without identifying his new wife by name, Ohtani brought her on the trip and the two were photographed by Dodgers team photographer Jon Soo Hoo as part of the team’s travel party.

The photo caused a stir in Japanese media, where reporting had already identified the woman as Mamiko Tanaka, a 27-year-old former basketball player in Japan.

Ohani, 29, was asked for more details about his marriage and, particularly, the courtship during a press conference before the team’s workout on Saturday and he seemed to blush as teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who were on stage with him, started laughing at the thought of Ohtani being so forthcoming.

“I gotta hear this,” Freeman said, putting in the earpiece of the translator device provided to each player. “Go ahead, Sho.”

Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract to join the Dodgers in December, referred to his original post-marriage announcement interview at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.

“I answered all of the questions in an interview earlier so I don’t really want to,” he said Saturday, drawing laughter. “But it is the first time she’s coming to a game with me so I think it’s going to be really great memories for both of us. But like I said earlier, I’m focused on baseball.”

Ohtani was certainly well-rested for his arrival in Korea. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani led the team in hours logged sleeping during the 14-hour flight from Phoenix to Seoul – 11 hours, the early leader for Ohtani’s most impressive statistic as a Dodger.

As for focusing on baseball, that might be easier for Ohtani to do than anyone else, having lived the life of a celebrity for some time now. For the Dodgers, their way of life has changed – as indicated by the more than 200 media members who attended Saturday’s workout and the beefed up security detail now surrounding the team at every step.

“It’s been a lot. It’s been a lot,” Betts said of the extra attention the Dodgers are receiving now. “But, it’s cool. It’s kind of what comes when you get somebody like this (he pointed to Shohei), an international star.”

Freeman looked at the added attention the Dodgers’ billion-dollar binge this winter has attracted as a positive thing.

“When you have this kind of stuff going on, that means something exciting happened in the offseason,” he said. “When you sign Shohei, (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto, trade for Glas (Tyler Glasnow), sign him – just all the people we brought it. Mostly Sho. But this is because something really, really special happened in the offseason.

“I think we’re kind of starting to get used to it a little bit, but I don’t know if anybody can get used to this like this (pointed to the media crowd). This is exciting. It’s fun for us. It’s fun to be playing in front of a lot more new fans this year.”

Ohtani (who had to be persuaded by MLB officials to attend Saturday’s press conference) shrugged off his status as the center of attention.

“I wouldn’t say I’m used to all the attention,” he said through his interpreter. “But I just try to focus on what’s in front of me, whether it’s practice or being in the cage. I just focus on what’s in front of me.”

“Being accepted like this and welcomed is a very good feeling. And I want to put on a very good show for everybody.”

ALSO

Roberts said the Dodgers will use Sunday’s exhibition game (Saturday, 8 p.m. PT) against the Kiwoom Heroes as “essentially a bullpen game.” Right-hander Bobby Miller will start Monday’s exhibition game against Team Korea. … The Dodgers-Padres games on March 20-21 will be the first MLB regular-season games played in Seoul.

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