Two of the few Japanese-born players playing in the MLB will be reunited during this season’s All-Star game. Shohei Ohtani, who was selected to his fourth straight All-Star team and his first with the Dodgers, will join Japanese rookie Shota Imanaga on the National League roster.
The MLB All-Star break always provides the players and fans with a fun environment and brings players together who otherwise wouldn’t be seen hanging out. Some players, however, get reunited during the All-Star festivities, which can be a special moment for fans to see players reconnect.
Imanaga is in his first season in the MLB with the Cubs after playing eight seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. After being selected to the All-Star team in his first year, Imanaga is excited to join an old friend on this year’s team.
Another milestone in Shota's journey. pic.twitter.com/IXZwX08v4y
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 7, 2024
Imanaga recently spoke about the opportunity to reunite with Shohei, saying, “I never thought I would be reunited with him in that setting. He’s a player who is at the top of the game. It’s a chance to see what he is doing, and I’d like to ask him the secret to his success.”
The two played alongside each other in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Japan won gold, and Ohtani won tournament MVP. Their paths also crossed in the NPB, where Imanaga and Ohtani played in 2016 and 2017 before Ohtani jumped to the MLB.
Both players quickly jumped from NPB to MLB and immediately became stars for their teams. Now, they have a chance to come together during the midsummer classic, which will provide fans with a fun opportunity to see two of the brightest Japanese MLB stars in the same place.
Photo Credit: Shota Imanaga #18 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on June 27, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
