Shohei Ohtani may have hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers team to a special dinner in Tokyo. However, the one who stole the limelight was not him but – Freddie Freeman! (not the first time, though, with the MVP!) The first baseman continues to experience what the hard-working nation offers.
But, just ahead of their much-anticipated Tokyo Series, Ohtani and his other Japanese teammates—Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki—treated the team to a lovely dinner. Plus, it featured a massive tuna because no high-profile gathering in Japan is complete without one. They love their fish, don’t they?
Shohei Ohtani captured and shared the event. And it showed the entire tuna-cutting affair. And the rest of the team for him, this was a new experience—was simply in awe of it. But the real show was watching Freddie Freeman really get out of his comfort zone and hit a home run with those chopsticks.
A chef placed a piece of raw sea urchin sushi on the table for him. And Freddie Freeman has a really say-it-all face—and it said he was skeptical. And why not? He had never tried anything like this before. Imagine if you get a bowl of sea urchins on your plate. For some, it may feel icky. But his friends were not letting him off the hook.
“Open mind! Open mind!” came the chants, requesting Freddie Freeman to try it. Kike Hernandez’s encouragement could have worked wonders. With the cameras and all eyes on him, steady Freddie finally plunged for it.
He took a full bite, looked surprised, and said, “It’s not bad. Wonderful!”
Everyone cheered enthusiastically, just like Dodgers fans do when he hits the ball out of the park. Notably, the moment has gone viral, and the internet is talking about Freddie Freeman and his sushi endeavors!
Get some sea urchins to LA for Freddie Freeman!
Tuna, particularly bluefin, is held in high regard in Japanese culture. One fan raved, “Tuna ~~ The best hospitality~>” Well, he isn’t wrong. In 2019, a bluefin tuna sold for $3.1 million at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market. But anyway, it’s not just about the food. Dodger mania has just swept Japan. Hundreds of fans had made it to the airport just to catch a glimpse of their favorite players.
The Dodgers are putting on a show of team spirit. One user said, “Well done, Freddie! And nice support from our man Kike!!” And well, it isn’t only Kike Hernandez who has come to the rescue now. When Shohei Ohtani suffered an injury during the World Series stretch, Freddie Freeman and Kike Hernandez stepped up together. With Teoscar Hernandez, of course. In fact, Dave Roberts called them the heart of the team. Says a lot!
Expectations are high for Freddie Freeman. One fan said, “Let’s do our best this season to reach the world’s bestWe’re cheering you on from Kyoto.” And the Dodgers blue fans expect it because Freeman really showed his power last season. Even though he isn’t at his prime age, his game was far from imperfect. It was impeccable! His grand slam in the World Series set a record. And he played after four hours of prep, struggling with his injuries. It just shows his resilience, and hence, expectations remain high too.
Freeman really won over the Los Angeles Dodgers fans’ hearts last season. Highlight this comment: “Just watching Freeman’s reaction makes me happy.” And yes, Freeman does have a bright smile. However, this was wiped out, and he broke down in tears back in the last season because of his son’s battle with health. It was a major one, and the MLB world had come together in prayer, and thankfully, his son is recovering well. Moreover, Freeman, through all those advisories played, did well, winning over all the fans.
Japan has shown love like no other. A user said, “Wow! This is so special for everyone! ” But well, the Japanese fans made the experience better than anything for the players. Thousands of fans showed up near the Tokyo Dome. They all donned the team’s gear just to watch the team in practice. It was not even game day, but 10,507 fans were packed in the lower bowl. It was like a sea of blue in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Now, though, with the craze going around, the real spotlight will be the game itself. They will face the Chicago Cubs in an intense faceoff tomorrow. Who do you want to place your bets on?
The post Freddie Freeman Steals the Show at Shohei Ohtani’s Team Dinner Ahead of High-Stakes Tokyo Series appeared first on EssentiallySports.
