Before the Dodgers took on the Angels in their recent matchup, Shohei Ohtani engaged in friendly banter with his former teammates, a moment of camaraderie before the competition unfolded on the diamond. Reflecting on the encounter, Ohtani expressed that facing his former team didn’t feel strange, despite the significant transition following his massive $700 million contract signing with the Dodgers. It was a poignant moment of sportsmanship amidst the excitement and tension of the game.
A lot of Angels regulars including Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, Brandon Drury, Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, and Matt Thaiss made the trip to Glendale from Tempe for a chance to say hi to their friend and congratulate him on all of his recent accomplishments.
“A lot of the boys were here today, so I got to catch up with most of them. They didn’t really give me a hard time. It was more a lot of congratulations. They’re happy for me. It didn’t really feel too weird or uncomfortable because it kind of is what it is. If I was playing at the Angels’ home, it might have been a little different story.”
After their final face-off in the pre-season Cactus League, the Dodgers and Angels are set to clash once more in the highly anticipated Freeway Series exhibition games. However, their next meeting won’t occur until after the Dodgers’ return from South Korea. Notably, Ohtani’s inaugural appearance at Angel Stadium as a visitor is slated for March 26, marking the conclusion of the team’s spring training fixtures.
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