Some moments in baseball feel bigger than the game itself. And when the Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome on March 19, it was one of those moments. A sea of fans, or rather Shohei Ohtani fans, had come down to support their star—and it was electric. Everyone felt that energy surge, even Dodger star Enrique Hernandez.

Hernandez couldn’t help but be in awe of how Japan greeted them. And rightly so. From sold-out tickets to the stadium just decked in blue—Japan was a vibe. And Hernandez himself paid them back with a great game.

Hernandez seized his moment in the fourth inning. With one out and a runner on second, he stepped into the batter’s box against Cubs lefty Justin Steele. Then Stelle fired a 146 km/h fastball, but Hernandez was ever ready and sent the ball to the stands. The entire Tokyo Dome erupted. A two-way home run shifted the momentum for the team. But beyond his bat, it was the atmosphere that awed him.

Enrique Hernandez mentioned that he had anticipated the craze, given he was there back in ‘18 during the All-Stars game. However, this time, the atmosphere was something else, and all because of the three Japanese stars they had: Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. “I had a blast. I don’t know how to explain it. These people idolize these guys; they put them on a pedestal. Of course, we had three complete superstars… This was a great experience. We got to see a little bit of it in Korea last year, but Japan was another level.” And this appreciation might be one of the major reasons he is a fan favorite.

Hernandez, though, always has a way of connecting with the fans.

Like before the game, the $6.5 million star walked into the press conference wearing a replica Japan national soccer team jersey. It had his name printed on the back. When asked about it, he grinned and said, “I tried out for the Japanese soccer team, and I made the team.” 

Of course, the real story is different.

Thanks to Enrique Hernandez’s Adidas endorsement deal and a connection with former teammate Hirokazu Sawamura he had been gifted this jersey. But his playful energy made the moment memorable. Even Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts appreciates this trait of Hernandez: “He’s a unique person. He’s a unique baseball player. Not many people have the ability to be a jokester, have a lot of fun, but in the biggest of moments, be able to… perform.”

Yes, even in Tokyo, he did amp up the inner jokester.

And as far as Shohei Ohtani—he sure did put on a show for his fans!

Shohei Ohtani ensures Tokyo gets the show they want

Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning. The entire Tokyo Dome held its breath—they had come to see their homeboy and his big shots. And Ohtani gave them just that. With one swing, Shohei Ohtani sent the ball soaring into the center field. It cleared the wall, and it sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy. It was his first home run of 2025.

It’s not like the Los Angeles Dodgers needed an extra run in their eventual 6-3 win over the Cubs. But Ohtani, of course, didn’t want to leave Japan without giving fans what they were hoping for. And for one 10-year-old boy, this home run is something he will never forget.

Sata Fujimori, a 10-year-old baseball fan from Saitama, was the one to catch the home run ball. He was ready with his gloves in case a piece of history came his way. But the ball had bounced off another’s hands and dropped back. “I thought I missed out at first,” said Sata to reporters. But later the ball was retired and handed to him. Later he even showed the ball to the media after pulling it off his backpack proudly. Dressed in a blue Dodgers shirt, he looked awestruck. And the occasion called for the feels!

Game 2 truly was electric, don’t you think? Which was the highlight moment for you? Let us know in the comments.