Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai has signalled that he has no intention of joining the Los Angeles Dodgers; instead, he wants to face them when he joins the MLB. Posted from the Saitama Seibu Lions, the other 29 teams have time till January 2nd to sign his services.
Speaking on Japan TV’s Asahi program “Hodo Station” on Monday, Imai told former MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka that facing the Dodgers’ super Japanese trio of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamaoto, and Roki Sasaki and snatching a World Series from their grasp would give him more satisfaction.
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki,” Imai said on the show, “but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”
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Imai also added that not having a fellow Japanese in the roster could help him adapt to the American culture faster, as he is excited for the challenge.
“They’d just tell you anything if you asked, right?” Imai added. “I don’t really want that; in a way, I want to experience that survival vibe, and facing cultural differences and figuring them out on my own is part of the fun.”
However, fans had mixed opinions about the 27-year-old’s stance. Few fans believed that he would still be joining the Dodgers, while others felt that his attitude didn’t align with the Dodgers’ team spirit.
Here are a few reactions:
“Didn’t Roki [Sasaki] say same thing,” a fan said.
“So he’s a Dodger pretty much,” another fan said.
“He is saying all this and still sign with the Dodgers,” a fan stated.
“Braves haven’t had a Japanese player since Kenshin Kawakami we must be the favorites if this holds true,” an Atlanta fan commented.
“Quick Mets trade Senga,” a fan joked.
“With that attitude, his presence in a Dodger clubhouse would be toxic! He sounds brash falsely overconfident or lacking of it. Big gamble for other teams to test his mettle with a big signing,” a fan added.
Imai is a career 3.15 ERA pitcher in seven seasons with the Seibu Lions. He had a mighty 2025 season, recording 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 163.2 innings pitched with a 0.892 WHIP. He is a three-time consecutive All-Star in the NPB and has a four-pitch arsenal with a fastball that can reach 99 mph.
Tatsuya Imai singles out Shohei Ohtani as his biggest challenge
Also on the show, Tatusya Imai disclosed that he was looking forward to pitching against Shohei Ohtani. He debuted in the NPB in the 2018 season, the year that Ohtani had joined the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s Shohei Ohtani,” he said. “I really want to test how far my fastball can go against him, or rather, I have a strong desire to pitch against Ohtani.”
Imai is being regarded as one of the prime free-agent pitcher targets for teams. Having already played six seasons in the NPB and being more than 25 years of age, Imai’s signing, unlike Roki Sasaki’s, will not be considered in the international bonus pool.
Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy
