Shohei Ohtani makes Los Angeles Dodgers debut in a 5-2 win in Seoul
- Published
Shohei Ohtani joined the LA Dodgers for a record-breaking $700m
Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani made his Los Angeles Dodgers debut in a victory over the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 in the MLB's season opener in Seoul - the first time a regular season game has been played in South Korea.
The 29-year-old contributed to the Dodgers win with two hits and a run batted in.
Ohtani joined LA Dodgers last year after signing a record-breaking $700m (拢552m) contract for 10 years.
However, he agreed to defer $680m (拢541m) until 2034 which allowed the Dodgers more freedom to add to their roster.
"The bigger picture is significant because you've got such a generational talent that is on your ball club in a big market in Los Angeles," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Before the season opener got under way, South Korean police searched Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome following a reported bomb threat against Ohtani.
Fans were then treated to a pre-game performance from K-Pop outfit Aespa before Park Chan-ho, the first South Korean to play in MLB, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The second game of the series between LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres will take place on Thursday, 19:00 local time (10:00 GMT).