Mike Trout Accepts Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers Turn, Lauds Two-Way Phenom in First Rival Meeting

It’s always bittersweet to see your mate take a different road than you. While the bond may remain strong, there’s an undeniable shift in the dynamic. Recently Mike Trout and his former teammate Shohei Ohtani had a similar experience. For the first time since 2023, the two were standing in the same ballpark, only this time they wore different colors. 

Fans eagerly awaited the reunion of their favorite duo. The last time the two stood against each other gave the world an iconic WBC moment. Would it be the same this time? Simultaneously, something strange was going on inside the head of Mike Trout. The 11x All-Star felt elated but a little “different” from seeing Ohtani in different colors. The two shared a moment, and Trout expressed how unusual this occurrence was for him.

As MLB.com reported, Trout saw Ohtani wearing the Dodger Blue for the first time. The Angles’ star was conflicted, but happy for his friend. “He was over here for six years, and he did a lot for us,” Trout pointed out regarding Ohtani. The two had hugged the moment they saw each other and shared a good laugh. Even Ohtani’s interpreter-cum-friend, Ippei Mizuhara, joined the occasion in sharing some laughs with his old pal. 

“It was definitely different seeing him over there. I just congratulated him on everything and all the stuff that happened over the winter – the marriage, the contract, just all the things that happened,” Trout shared. Ohtani too expressed how good it felt to catch up with his former teammates, but noted it would’ve been a little different if this happened at Tempe Diablo Stadium (the Spring Training home of the LA Angels). 

Nevertheless, the two superstars had a blast when they met. However, the game proved to be a little disappointing for Shotime, but he was positive about his comeback.

Read more: Dodgers Already Striking Gold in Japan After $1 Billion Splash on Shohei Ohtani & Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Shohei Ohtani continues to get more comfortable on the plate

While Ohtani went hitless in his three at-bats, there were a lot of positives to take away from his performance. “I think we can say the hitting part of the rehab is over officially,” the superstar declared. “Now I just need to get more at-bats, have quality at-bats, be able to see the ball and get my timing down.”  

The rehab of Ohtani is seemingly going according to the plan. On Wednesday he’ll get another chance at three at-bats versus the Chicago White Sox – the first time he’d played on consecutive days this spring. With such positive signs, the Dodgers must be relieved – their journey till now has been quite smooth. 

So that was it – the bittersweet reunion for Trout and Ohtani. While things are a little different now, as Trout said, “We were friends, and he was a great teammate. And now we’re just on different teams,” in the end, the bond never changed.

Read more: Shohei Ohtani Opens Up on His Wife, Reveals Hidden Details Behind His Surprise Marriage