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On Thursday, the MLB announced that the Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Japan to open the 2025 season. On March 18 and 19, MLB will take over Japan as two of the most popular clubs in the world will play two games in front of a packed crowd on the other side of the globe.
Following the news that the Cubs and Dodgers would be taking their squads across the Pacific Ocean, baseball fans praised the decision on X (formerly known as Twitter). Many of these elated fans are not only excited about the fact that the MLB is making its way back to Japan but also praised the choice of clubs that will be playing.
"They 10000% got this right," a fan said.
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"Best matchup possible for it too," another fan said.
"It's a very exciting match!" one fan posted.
Some of the most famous Japanese players will take part in the two international games in Tokyo. The Los Angeles Dodgers will have two of the biggest stars in the game, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the Chicago Cubs will feature star outfielder Seiya Suzuki and rookie sensation Shota Imanaga.
"The Shohei effect is real! Love this for MLB!" - a fan wrote.
"Hope we can see a duel between Imanaga and pitcher Ohtani," another fan said.
Although things can change between now and then, the two rosters will be loaded with talent and will look to put on a show for the Japanese crowd. Aside from the players mentioned above, there will be the likes of Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Dansby Swanson, as well as any offseason additions.
Another Japanese star could be playing for the Cubs or Dodgers by the time they square off in Tokyo
One of the most sought-after international baseball players right now is Japanese star Roki Sasaki. However, there is no guarantee that Sasaki will be posted this offseason by his NPB club, the Chiba Lotte Marines. That being said, if he is indeed eligible to be signed, MLB teams will be lining up to land the 22-year-old pitcher.
Even though there has been no news on whether or not Sasaki will be posted, he has been linked to both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. If he does get posted and signs with either team, he could make his MLB debut at home in Japan next season.
