Six Asian-Born Players On The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs

The 2025 Major League Baseball regular season will open up at the Tokyo Dome on March 18, when the Chicago Cubs take on the defending champion, Los Angeles Dodgers at 6 a.m. EDT. on FOX. The second game between the Dodgers and the Cubs at the Tokyo Dome will be on March 19 at 6 a.m. EDT on Fox Sports 1. 

The MLB World Tour Tokyo Series will be broadcasted on FOX Deportes in Spanish for both games on March 18-19 between the Cubs and the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome. 

The Cubs will be the home team at the Tokyo Dome for both games on March 18-19 at the MLB World Tour Tokyo Series. 

MLB researcher Sarah Langs reported on February 18 that Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get the nod for Game One of the 2025 regular season, while the Cubs announced that left-hander Shota Imanaga will take the mound on March 18 at the Tokyo Dome.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs Shota Imanaga in Game 1 in Japan will be:

– the first matchup of Japanese-born SP in a regular-season MLB game at the Tokyo Dome

-the first matchup between Japanese-born SP in an Opening Day game https://t.co/PKLtLG2Eu2

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) February 18, 2025

The Dodgers and Cubs will play the first game of spring training for the 2025 Cactus League season on Thursday, February 20, at 3:05 p.m. EST at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. This will be the only game scheduled for that day, as the remaining 28 teams will begin exhibition play between February 21 and March 25.

As part of their MLB World Tour Tokyo Series preparations, the Dodgers will face two Nippon Professional Baseball teams at the Tokyo Dome. They will play the Yomiuri Giants on March 15 at 6 a.m. EDT and the Hanshin Tigers later that day at 11 p.m. EDT.

The Cubs will also take part in NPB exhibition games, facing the Hanshin Tigers on March 14 at 11 p.m. EDT and the Yomiuri Giants on March 16 at 6 a.m. EDT, both at the Tokyo Dome.

Six Asian-born players will be featured in the Tokyo Series, including three Japanese-born players on the Dodgers: two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki. The Cubs’ roster includes two Japanese-born players, left-handed starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

Yamamoto, Ohtani, Sasaki, and Imanaga all played for the No. 1 World ranked, Japan national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. They helped Japan capture its third WBC championship, defeating the United States 3-2 in the final at loanDepot Park in Miami.

The last time Yamamoto, Ohtani, Sasaki, and Imanaga played together at the Tokyo Dome was during Pool B of the 2023 WBC, where Japan swept South Korea, China, Australia, and the Czech Republic.

Seiya Suzuki

Suzuki did not appear in a game during spring training with the Cubs in 2023 and was not on Japan’s active roster for the 2023 WBC. He was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain on March 30, 2023.

The 30-year-old right-handed hitter from Arakawa, Japan was not activated by the Cubs for his second season until April 14, 2023.

Last season with the Cubs, Suzuki played in 132 games, batting .283 over 585 plate appearances. He recorded 145 hits, 27 doubles, six triples, 73 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 63 walks, and 160 strikeouts, finishing with an .848 OPS.

Suzuki made his North Side debut on April 7, 2022, and has played three seasons with the organization. In 381 career games, he has 1,614 plate appearances, hitting .278 with 396 hits, 80 doubles, 14 triples, 55 home runs, 193 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, 164 walks and a .824 OPS. 

Suzuki had to sign with the Cubs on March 18, 2022 due to the 2021-22 MLB lockout between the 30 team owners and the MLB Players Association resulting in his posting period being paused. 

Suzuki has two years remaining on his contract with the Cubs, which he signed on March 18, 2022. He will earn $85 million through the 2026 season.

Prior to heading over to the United States, Suzuki played nine seasons in NPB with the Hiroshima Carp from 2013-21. He was selected as an NPB All-Star five times from 2016-19 and 2021. He was a six-time Best Nine Award winner from 2016-21 and won the Gold Glove Award in 2016, 2017, and from 2019-21. Suzuki also led the Central League in batting average in 2019 and 2021.

Over 902 games in NPB, Suzuki posted a .315 career batting average in 3,539 plate appearances. He recorded 937 hits, 182 doubles, 16 triples, 182 home runs, 562 RBIs, 82 stolen bases, and 486 walks, finishing with a .985 OPS.

Shota Imanaga

Imanaga got the nod from second-year manager Craig Counsell early in camp to start the first game of the 2025 season.

Imanaga, 31, was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, and signed with the Cubs on January 11, 2024, agreeing to a four-year, $53 million contract that also included a fifth-year option. The Cubs also paid $9.825 million to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as a release fee for Imanaga.

Imanaga added to his international résumé by winning gold at the 2019 Premier12 tournament as a member of the Japan national team.

Nicknamed “The Throwing Philosopher,” Imanaga played eight seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars from 2016-23. He was selected as an NPB All-Star twice, in 2019 and 2023, and led the Central League in strikeouts in 2023 with 174.

Imanaga appeared in 165 games with the BayStars over eight seasons, posting a 64-50 record with a 3.18 ERA. He recorded 13 complete games, seven shutouts, and 1,002.2 innings pitched, allowing 841 hits, 354 earned runs, and 114 home runs. He walked 280 batters, struck out 1,021, and finished with a 1.118 WHIP.

Imanaga pitched a no-hitter on February 22, 2022, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, walking one batter and striking out nine.

He was posted on September 6, 2023, before signing with the North Side.

In his rookie season with the Cubs in 2024, Imanaga went 15-3 with a 3.0 WAR, posting a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts. He pitched 173.1 innings, allowing 149 hits, 56 earned runs, and 27 home runs, while issuing 28 walks and striking out 174 batters. He finished with a 1.021 WHIP and was selected to his first MLB All-Star team.

On September 4, Imanaga pitched seven no-hit innings as part of a combined no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. He threw 95 pitches, allowing two walks and striking out seven while facing 25 batters. Cubs relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge followed in the final two innings, preserving the no-hitter without allowing a baserunner. The Cubs committed three defensive errors, all by third baseman Isaac Paredes.

The Cubs did not make the 2024 postseason due to ending the year tied for second place with the St. Louis Cardinals with their record at 83-79 and 10 games back of the first place Milwaukee Brewers at 93-69. 

With Imanaga touching the ball in the first game of the 2025 season against the mighty Dodgers lineup, it will be interesting to see how he can manage their offense with full preparation during spring training. 

Dodgers Ready to Defend 2024 World Series Title

The Dodgers are coming off their eighth World Series championship after defeating the New York Yankees in five games last October. They have four Asian-born players listed on their roster and in camp to start spring training for the 2025 season.

Hyeseong Kim

Dodgers rookie middle infielder Hyeseong Kim is the only Korean-born player on both rosters for the MLB World Tour Tokyo Series.

The left-handed hitter signed with the Dodgers on January 3, 2025, agreeing to a three-year, $12.5 million guaranteed contract. His deal includes two additional option years that could increase the total value to $22 million. The Dodgers paid a $2.5 million posting fee to the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization to acquire Kim.

Kim is on the active roster with the Dodgers heading into spring training and is positioned second on the depth chart at second base behind Enrique Hernández.

Kim, 26, was born in Goyang, South Korea, and played for the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes from 2017-24. He won the KBO Golden Glove Award four times from 2021-24 and led the league in stolen bases with 46 last season.

Kim has represented South Korea in multiple international competitions, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the 2022 Asian Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Last season with the Kiwoom Heroes, Kim played in 127 games, hitting .326 over 567 plate appearances. He recorded 166 hits, 26 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, 47 walks, and 62 strikeouts, finishing with an .841 OPS.

Kim played in 119 games at second base and started in 118 during 2024, through 1,015 innings, with 616 chances, 258 putouts, 342 assists, 16 errors, 83 double plays, and a .974 fielding percentage.

In eight seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO, Kim has played in 953 games with 3,819 plate appearances, posting a .304 career batting average. He has recorded 1,043 hits, 150 doubles, 39 triples, 37 home runs, and 386 RBIs, while stealing 211 bases. He has also drawn 325 walks and struck out 623 times, finishing with a .766 OPS.

Roki Sasaki

Sasaki, 23, was born in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan, and is nicknamed the Monster of the Reiwa Era due to his phenomenal pitching abilities. He has been heralded as a once-in-a-generation talent as he prepares for his MLB rookie season in Chavez Ravine.

The right-handed slinger signed with the Dodgers on January 22, 2025, agreeing to a $6.5 million signing bonus contract. He was ranked as the No. 1 international prospect by MLB Pipeline entering the 2025 regular season. He signed a minor league contract and was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee on January 24.

The Dodgers will evaluate Sasaki through multiple outings during Cactus League play to determine whether he will make the active roster before the start of the Tokyo Series against the Cubs.

Sasaki is not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster ahead of their spring training opener on February 20.

Brandon Kramer of World Baseball Network explained on November 20, 2024, the rules of the NPB posting system for players from Japan, detailing the eligibility process for those looking to play their rookie season in MLB.

On November 9, 2024, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reported, “Under the current rules, the release fee from the Chiba Lotte Marines would have to be paid at 20 percent of the total guaranteed value of the contract Sasaki signs. For contracts with a total guaranteed value of $25 million or less, the release fee will be 20 percent of the total guaranteed value of the contract. We know that Sasaki’s contract will fall under that $25 million threshold because he is subject to international bonus pool money restrictions, as he’s under 25 and has less than six seasons of service time in a foreign league recognized by MLB.”

Sasaki was selected as an NPB All-Star twice in 2022 and 2023 in his four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines, compiled a 2.02 ERA, 11.4 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 rate while allowing just 6.0 hits per nine. He made a big splash on the international stage by striking out 11 over 7.2 innings at the 2023 WBC.   

Jim Callis of MLB.com reported on January 29, 2025, “that Sasaki’s splitter creases at 88-91 mph and features shockingly low spin rates, floating toward the plate before tumbling at the end. It may be the best pitch in the world right now, and many evaluators say they’ve never seen a better splitter. He also sat at 96-98 mph with his fastball last year, has touched 102.5 mph in the past and can flash a plus slider at 83-85 mph with two-plane depth”.

In four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki posted a 30-15 record in 69 appearances, throwing 414.2 innings, with three complete games, one shutout, allowing 275 hits, 93 earned runs, 16 home runs, 91 walks, 524 strikeouts, and a 0.883 WHIP. 

Sasaki in his NPB career pitched a perfect game on April 10, 2022 against the Orix Buffaloes at home at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Japan and struck out 19 batters. 

According to Sasaki’s scouting report on FanGraphs.com, his grade percentile from his fastball rates at 55/70, slider at 55/60, splitter 80/80, and command at 40/45. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto will start Game One of the 2025 season under two-time World Series champion manager Dave Roberts. 

Yamamoto, 26, was born in Bizen, Japan and signed with the Dodgers to a 12-year, $325 million contract on December 27, 2023. 

In order for the Dodgers to receive Yamamoto they had to pay a $50.625 million posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes prior to his rookie season in the United States. 

Yamamoto made his first MLB start in Seoul, South Korea at the Gocheok Sky Dome on March 21, 2024 against the San Diego Padres. 

Yamamoto has also played for the Japan national team on the international stage with helping them win a gold at the 2019 Premier12 tournament and the 2020 Olympics. 

Yamamoto made 18 starts in 2024 and posted a 7-2 record with a 3.00 ERA, throwing 90 innings, allowing 78 hits, 30 earned runs, seven home runs, 22 walks, 105 strikeouts, and a 1.111 WHIP. 

He made four starts in the postseason and went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA, rifling 18.2 innings, allowing 12 hits, eight earned runs, three home runs, six walks, and 15 strikeouts en route to winning the World Series in his rookie season. 

Yamamoto was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list back on July 13, 2024 with triceps tightness prior to being activated on September 10. 

During seven seasons in NPB with the Orix Buffaloes from 2017-23, Yamamoto was selected as an NPB All-Star in 2018, 2019, and from 2021-23. He won the Japan Series championship in 2022, captured the Japanese Triple Crown from 2021-23, and was named Pacific League MVP. He also won the Eiji Sawamura Award, the Best Nine Award, the PL Gold Glove Award, and the Best Battery Award with Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki from 2021-23. He led the Pacific League in wins from 2021-23, was the PL ERA champion in 2019 and from 2021-23, led the PL in strikeouts from 2020-23, and won the Interleague Play MVP in 2021.

Yamamoto threw two no-hitters in NPB on June 18, 2022 against the Saitama Seibu Lions and on September 9, 2023 against the Chiba Lotte Marines alongside becoming the first pitcher in league history to throw no hitters in consecutive seasons. 

Yamamoto went 70-29 in his NPB career, throwing 897 innings with a 1.82 ERA in 172 appearances alongside 14 complete games, eight shutouts, and one save. He allowed 633 hits, 181 earned runs, 36 home runs, 206 walks, 922 strikeouts and a 0.935 WHIP. 

Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani is entering his eighth season in the MLB and his 13th professional season. 

Ohtani, 30, was born in Oshu, Japan and signed for a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers back on December 11, 2023 after he spent his time on the other side of town with the Los Angeles Angels from 2017-23. 

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported on December 11, 2023,  with the Dodgers to continuing to spend around stars Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, Ohtani agreed to defer all but $2 million of his annual salary — $68 million of his $70 million per year — until after the completion of the contract. The deferred money is to be paid out without interest from 2034 to 2043.”

Ardaya also said, “The annual competitive balance tax (CBT, or luxury tax) figure for the Dodgers is expected to be around $46 million. The CBT is a penalty tax on payrolls in MLB that hits teams when they clear certain thresholds. A team’s payroll for CBT purposes is calculated in terms of average annual value. For players on long-term contracts, their exact salary in a given season is not what’s relevant. For instance, a player on a two-year, $20 million contract who’s paid $5 million in year one and $15 million in year two is nevertheless a $10 million CBT hit in both years because that’s the average annual value of his contract. In Ohtani’s case, his AAV is not $70 million – $700 million over the stated 10 years of the contract – but something around $46 million because of those massive deferrals spread across many years”. 

Ohtani’s first season in Chavez Ravine was one for the ages. Selected to his fourth All-Star team, he became the first player in MLB history to record a 50/50 season, finishing 2024 with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.

During his 2024 campaign, Ohtani became the first and only player in MLB history to win three MVP awards unanimously. He also became the first player to win back-to-back unanimous MVP awards, and the first to win unanimous MVP awards in both the American and National Leagues. Additionally, he became the second player after Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson to win MVP honors in both leagues.

Ohtani led MLB in 2024 with 134 runs scored, 411 total bases, and 99 extra-base hits.

The left-handed slugger led the National League with a 9.2 WAR, a 1.036 OPS, 731 plate appearances, and 130 RBIs.

During his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani played in 159 games and batted .310 with 197 hits, 38 doubles, seven triples, 81 walks, and 162 strikeouts.

Ohtani made his postseason debut in 2024, playing in 16 games. He hit .230/.373/.393 in 76 plate appearances, scoring 14 runs, collecting 14 hits, including one double and three home runs, drawing 13 walks, and striking out 22 times, while capturing his first World Series championship.

Ohtani made his MLB debut with the Angels on March 28, 2018, at home against the Oakland Athletics. He finished his career in Anaheim playing in 701 games, posting a 19.5 WAR over 2,871 plate appearances. He hit .274 with 681 hits, 129 doubles, 29 triples, 171 home runs, 437 RBIs, 86 stolen bases, 351 walks, 755 strikeouts, and a .922 OPS before electing free agency on November 2, 2023.

Ohtani pitched five seasons with the Angels in 2018 and from 2020-23, compiling a lifetime record of 38-19 with a 15.1 WAR.

He started in 86 games, throwing 481.2 innings with a 3.01 ERA, one complete game, and one shutout. He allowed 85 hits, 46 earned runs, and 18 home runs, issuing 55 walks and striking out 167 batters, finishing with a 1.061 WHIP.

The Dodgers did not allow Ohtani to pitch in 2024 due to his elbow injury and subsequent surgery in September 2023.

Ohtani suffered an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow, which ended his 2023 season. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on September 16, 2023, after suffering an oblique strain, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Ohtani underwent elbow surgery on September 19, 2023, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, to repair the UCL tear in his right elbow.

Ohtani threw his first bullpen session of spring training on February 15.

FIRST LOOK: Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound throwing his first bullpen of Spring Training. pic.twitter.com/E06ND3O5SJ

— MLB (@MLB) February 15, 2025

Ohtani is expected to be in the mix for the Dodgers’ starting rotation alongside Yamamoto, Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw during the 2025 regular season.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the front office will also evaluate Dustin May, Landon Knack, Tony Gonsolin, and Emmet Sheehan for the rotation during the 2025 Cactus League season. Both Gavin Stone and River Ryan are currently on the 60-day injured list.

Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani shined on the international stage during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, leading Japan to a championship. He won MVP honors for Pool B and was selected to the All-Tournament Team as both a designated hitter and a pitcher.

Ohtani played in seven games at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and batted .435/.606/.739 in 23 at-bats. He scored nine runs, collected 10 hits, four doubles, and one home run, drove in eight RBIs, stole one base, drew 10 walks, and struck out six times, helping Japan capture its third WBC title.

During his five seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from 2013-17, Ohtani won the Japan Series championship in 2016 and was named Pacific League MVP that same year. He was selected as an NPB All-Star five times from 2013-17, won the PL Best Nine Award in 2015, and became the first player to win the award at two positions in 2016. He also won the PL Battery Award in 2015.

During his five seasons pitching in NPB, Ohtani has a lifetime record of 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA, throwing 543 innings in 85 appearances. He accomplished 13 complete games, seven shutouts, allowing 384 hits, 152 earned runs, 24 home runs, 200 walks, 624 strikeouts and a 1.076 WHIP. 

Offensively, Ohtani played in 403 games in his five seasons, while hitting .286 with 1,170 plate appearances, slapping 296 hits, 70 doubles, four triples, 48 home runs, 166 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 119 walks, 316 strikeouts, and a .859 OPS. 

Ohtani is a four-time All-Star from 2021-24 and a three-time MVP winner in 2021 and from 2023-24. He was selected to the All-MLB First Team five times from 2021-24, won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, claimed the Silver Slugger Award in 2021 and from 2023-24, and won the Hank Aaron Award twice from 2023-24. His success continues to pave the way for the next generation of two-way players in MLB.

The stars are aligned for Tokyo to host the 2025 MLB season opener. Stay tuned for World Baseball Network’s coverage of the MLB World Tour Tokyo Series, beginning March 18.