PHOENIX —
Shohei Ohtani’s first media scrum from Camelback Ranch as a Dodger went just about as expected Friday. A massive cohort of Japanese reporters, most of whom arrived at 7 a.m., camped in front of a backdrop waiting for him. Cameras clicked, clicked, clicked as he approached. His answers to questions in both English and Japanese were brief. He was polite.
It’s impossible for a person of his stature, but he said he’s just trying to fit in.
“I’m on a brand new team so I’m going to act like I’m a rookie and try to get along with all the guys,” Ohtani said through his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.