Dodgers Exhibition Trends in Japan

The Tokyo Node Installation

The Dodgers Experience at MLB Tokyo Series in the Minato Ward provides heavy historical context through an installation at Tokyo Node in the Toranomon Hills Station Tower. This exhibition contains the 2024 World Series trophy and a special corner dedicated to Ohtani’s 50-50 campaign. I find the historical depth satisfying, specifically the game-used uniforms and gear from the 2024 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. Visitors who purchase Champions Pass tickets can take photos standing beside the 2024 World Series trophy and also try on the championship rings that the team members received after their 2020 World Series win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The installation runs until March 30 and contains a dome experience. Michael Spetner, the team’s vice president of business analytics, noted during the Wednesday opening ceremony that the installation has never been done before in an exhibition setting. Takashi Saito also attended the opening ceremony. Although fans expect star power, Ohtani skipped batting practice and hit 0-for-5 in recent exhibition games against Japanese league teams.

International Roster Trends

Nine Dodgers players participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic across seven different countries. Shohei Ohtani bats second for Japan and joins Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. Will Smith plays for the United States, while Edwin Diaz, who posted a 1.63 ERA through 62 appearances last season, plays for Puerto Rico. Hyeseong Kim plays for Korea, and Jake Gelof, the third baseman for High-A Great Lakes, plays for Team Israel. Antonio Knowles plays for Great Britain, while Shawndruck Oduber plays for the Netherlands. I observe that many stars cannot participate because of roster or insurance constraints. Mookie Betts missed recent games in Tokyo because an illness caused him to lose 15 pounds, and Freddie Freeman dealt with rib discomfort. Clayton Kershaw joins the United States roster even though he retired, and Roki Sasaki will not pitch for Japan after his 2025 injury. Will Smith will likely act as the backup behind Cal Raleigh during this international tournament. Christian Suarez, who posted a 3.38 ERA for Double-A Tulsa, plays for Team Venezuela as part of the Designated Pitcher Pool. Jake Gelof, a third baseman for High-A Great Lakes, had a .772 OPS last year. Shawndruck Oduber, a 21-year-old pitching for the Netherlands, posted a 5.98 ERA through 49.2 innings last season. Antonio Knowles, who reached Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, holds a 3.05 ERA through 36 Double-A appearances.

Travel Logistics and Player Health

The Dodgers released their 26-man roster and injury list, which contains nine pitchers. Two pitchers, Brusdar Graterol and Michael Grove, sit on the 60-day injured list. This move allowed the team to place Roki Sasaki and Luis Garcia on the 40-man roster. Grove will miss the entire year, while Graterol expects to return late in the season. Other players on the 15-day injured list include Tony Gonsolin, Eduardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Clayton Kershaw, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Emmett Sheehan. JTB provides specific tour packages for fans wanting to see the Dodgers during the 2026 season. These packages combine game tickets with non-retail goods and include a Japanese-guided tour. I suggest these for those who want to see pre-game practice. These packages allow fans to choose from lower-level infield center, lower-level outfield, or third-level infield seats.

You, as a dedicated fan, might wonder how these hospitality packages impact ticket availability for the upcoming season. How will the team manage such a large injury list while preparing for the upcoming season?