Shohei Ohtani has hit a home run on Los Angeles Dodgers spring training debut in a game against Chicago White Sox.
With his team 4-1 down in the bottom of the fifth, $700m man Ohtani hit a massive two-run home run over left and deep for his team.
Ohtani had earlier struck out in his first appearance at the plate at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, facing Garrett Crochet.
Ohtani even lost his helmet in one wild swing and was hitless in the second but normal service was resumed soon after with his first homer of spring training.
The 29-year-old Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers from Los Angeles rivals the Angels, will only be a designed hitter in his first season for his new team as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Ohtani received a standing ovation before his first at-bat, where dozens of fans wore Ohtani’s No. 17 jersey and cheered his every move.
The Dodgers – already one of MLB’s premier franchises – have become even more popular after spending more than $1billion to sign Ohtani and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
‘Just seeing Shohei in the lineup makes us a lot better,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ‘There’s been a lot of anticipation, so we’re excited.’
Yamamoto is expected to make his spring training debut on Wednesday.
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