Can Ohtani and the Dodgers pass the all-time wins record in 2024?
USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale shares his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani in LA and if the Dodgers can beat the 2001 Mariners’ all-time win record.
Sports Seriously
Major League Baseball’s 2024 regular season begins overseas, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres meeting Wednesday (6 a.m. ET) for the first of two games in Seoul, South Korea.
The Dodgers enter the new season as World Series favorites after spending more than a billion dollars on free agents in the offseason. Los Angeles gave two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani a 10-year, $700 million deal and a 12-year, $325 million contract to Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will make his MLB debut in the second game of the Seoul Series on Thursday.
Wednesday marks the first time an MLB regular-season game will be played in Korea.
Keep it here throughout the morning for live updates and highlights from the 2024 MLB season opener:
The Dodgers threaten to score in the third inning.
Shohie Ohtani, baseball’s highest-paid player, picks up his first hit as a Dodger − a 112.3 mph shot off the bat to right field with two outs. He immediately stole second base on the first pitch to Freddie Freeman.
Freeman and Will Smith both walked to load the bases, but Yu Darvish was able to get out of the inning by striking out Max Muncy.
Dodgers 0, Padres 0 — Middle of the third inning.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy delivers the first base hit of the 2024 season after working a 3-ball count off Padres’ Yu Darvish. But the Dodgers were unable to capitalize. In the bottom half of the inning, Tyler Glasnow works around a two-out walk to Jurickson Profar to pitch another scoreless inning. The score remains 0-0 after two innings.
Dodgers 0, Padres 0 — End of the second inning.
After a leadoff walk that culminated with a pitch-clock violation to Mookie Betts, Padres starter Yu Darvish retires the next three batters. Shohei Othani grounds into a fielders choice, Freddie Freeman strikes out and Will Smith flies out to left field to end the top of the first inning.
Tyler Glasnow, making his regular-season debut as the Dodgers’ opening-day starter, shut the Padres down 1-2-3.
Dodgers 0, Padres 0 — End of the first inning.
Chan Ho Park, who was the first Korean player to play in the major leagues, throws out the ceremonial first pitch to Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
The Dodgers vs. Padres game in Seoul, South Korea begins at 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s Dodgers vs. Padres game will air on ESPN, getting underway at 6 a.m. ET.
The Dodgers lineup is posted and it features three former MVPs batting 1-2-3 − SS Mookie Betts, DH Shohei Ohtani, 1B Freddie Freeman.
For the Padres, top prospect Jackson Merrill starts in centerfield, making his MLB debut at just 20-years-old. Merrill joins only Ken Griffey Jr. and Andruw Jones as players in the last 50 years to start Opening Day in centerfield before turning 21.
A look at the two lineups:
The Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul is hosting the Dodgers vs. Padres games on Wednesday and Thursday. It’s the home ballpark of the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes.
Here are the stadium dimensions:
- Left Field – 325 feet
- Right Field – 325 feet
- Center Field – 400 feet
After signing a $700 million contract – the largest in North American pro sports history – Shohei Ohtani will make his regular season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in Seoul.
Ohtani, a two-time MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, won’t pitch in 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery but will be the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter as the team seeks its 12th consecutive postseason appearance.
Ohtani joins a loaded Los Angeles lineup that also features former MVPs in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
San Diego shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is back in his come country for MLB’s Seoul Series, returning to the Gocheok Sky Dome where he formerly played his home games for the KBO’s Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes.
Kim made his debut at age 19 and spent seven seasons with the Korean team, batting .294 with an .866 OPS, averaging more than 20 home runs. He joined the Padres prior to the 2021 season and won his first MLB Gold Glove award last season.
“I think that this is only possible because of the former Asian players who played in the big leagues,” Kim told reporters in Seoul this week. “They kind of paved the way for me and other Asian players who are going now. … Hopefully, that will inspire more Asian baseball players to dream that they can play in the big leagues.”
MLB’s official Opening Day with all 30 teams in action is scheduled for Thursday, March 28.
Here’s the full schedule for March 28 (all times Eastern):
- Milwaukee Brewers @ New York Mets – 1:10 p.m.
- Los Angeles Angels @ Baltimore Orioles – 3:05 p.m.
- Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies – 3:05 p.m.
- Washington Nationals @ Cincinnati Reds – 4:10 p.m.
- San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres – 4:10 p.m.
- St. Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers – 4:10 p.m.
- Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays – 4:10 p.m.
- Minnesota Twins @ Kansas City Royals – 4:10 p.m.
- Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox – 4:10 p.m.
- Pittsburgh Pirates @ Miami Marlins – 4:10 p.m.
- New York Yankees @ Houston Astros – 4:10 p.m.
- Chicago Cubs @ Texas Rangers – 7:35 p.m.
- Cleveland Guardians @ Oakland Athletics – 10:07 p.m.
- Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks – 10:10 p.m.
- Boston Red Sox @ Seattle Mariners – 10:10 p.m.
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
