Shohei Ohtani has reached Korea with plenty of fanfare.
The Japanese-born MLB superstar landed in South Korea on Friday along with his new Dodgers teammates and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, for Los Angeles’ season opener against the Padres, which is slated for next week.
Ohtani announced on Feb. 29 that he got married, but earlier this week, it was finally revealed that he was together with Tanaka.
“She is a Japanese woman, and I don’t really feel comfortable talking about when I got married, the exact date and stuff,” Ohtani, who is private about his personal life, said at the time through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
“But she’s a normal Japanese woman.”
Tanaka, a basketball player from Japan, is a 5-foot-11 power forward/center, according to Asia Basket’s website.
Ohtani and Tanaka visited South Korea as many fans attempted to greet them wearing Dodgers jerseys, per reports.
He lightly acknowledged the fans with a smile and a wave.
The Associated Press noted that fans held placards that read like “GOATANI GO.”
Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million deal this offseason, and the Dodgers are among the favorites to win the World Series this coming season after having a high-profile off-season.
They’re set to face the Padres for the first game of the year on Wednesday at Gocheok SkyDome at 6:05 a.m. ET.