KANSAS CITY -- Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani grew up in the rural town of Oshu, in the northern prefecture of Iwate, a region that becomes blanketed with snow during the winter. He played his first five professional seasons with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island that's also renowned for its snow country.
Chilly conditions are nothing new for Ohtani. Pitching in them might be.
Ohtani is scheduled to make his third start on the mound of his rookie season against the Royals on Sunday, when temperatures are forecasted to reach a high of 38 degrees.