While Opening Day is still a week away for most teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers got their season started early in Seoul, South Korea, with a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres during the first game of the MLB Seoul Series. After a stunning off-season, the Dodgers look to capitalize on their expected success during this season. In Seoul, pitcher Tyler Glasnow, superstar Shohei Ohtani, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández made their mark on the club, helping their team win.
The New Faces of the Dodgers Come Together
Tyler Glasnow
When the Tanoa Rays traded Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers, the main concern was not his pitching. If he can stay healthy, he can be one of the best pitchers in MLB. Sparks of this have been apparent throughout Spring Training and in the first game in Seoul. In three Spring Training starts, Glasnow allowed one run over ten innings pitched and struck out 14.
In his MLB Seoul Series start, Glasnow went five innings, gave up two runs, and struck out three. He was very efficient, using only 77 pitches before getting pulled.
Tyler Glasnow Filth. ? pic.twitter.com/o3G82m1LqS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 20, 2024
Last year was not the best showing for Glasnow. However, it was the first season back from Tommy John surgery in 2021. With the pair of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Glasnow at the top of the rotation, the Dodgers remain hopeful that he can stay healthy to pitch the entire season. Another hope, of course, is that he is a factor for their inevitable postseason run.
Shohei Ohtani
So far this spring, Shohei Ohtani is living up to the expectations only Ohtani can set. In an eight-game spread, the superstar batted .500 and hit two home runs. In Seoul, he received the loudest cheers during introductions, which is not surprising in the least bit. While Ohtani was not too flashy in the first game, he did cap off a four-run inning with a single to left field to score a run.
Shohei Ohtani’s first game as a Dodger:
2 hits
1 RBI
1 stolen base
Dodgers win pic.twitter.com/nGulwTDmit— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
Ohtani will join an already-stacked Dodgers roster and get even more opportunities to shine. While he will never shake the superstar status he received in Anaheim, he no longer must be the only star carrying the team. This might lead to even more success overall.
Teoscar Hernández
In January, Hernández signed with the Dodgers on a one-year contract to be the new right fielder after Mookie Betts shifted to shortstop. While he signed as a complement to the monstrous lineup, Hernandez has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting in Spring Training, which continued to the MLB Seoul Series. Hernandez provided a spark in the 8th-inning comeback for the Dodgers, lining a single up the middle.
In 11 spring training games, Hernández hit .414 at the plate. The Dominican native will look to continue that success in the regular season. He was a reliable home run hitter throughout his years in Toronto and Seattle and will have more chances to continue this with Los Angeles.
Main Photo: © Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports
