• Gaming
  • Simulation
  • Esports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
Simulation Daily
No Result
View All Result
Sign up for Our Newsletter
Simulation Daily
  • Gaming
  • Simulation
  • Esports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
No Result
View All Result
Simulation Daily

Pokémon Opens MLB Season in Japan and Shohei Ohtani is Officially Garchomp

Giuseppe Nelvaby Giuseppe Nelva
March 18, 2025
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Pikachu from Pokémon at the MLB Tokyo Series 2025 Opening Ceremony
ShareTweetShare

With today’s MLB Tokyo Series 2025 at Tokyo Dome, Japanese fans expected to see national heroes like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto come back home for the highly anticipated Dodgers vs. Cubs baseball game. What they perhaps did not expect was a Pokémon invasion.

You might also like

Capcom Spotlight June 2025 – Here Are All the News and Reveals

Flight Simulation Enthusiast Visits Every Country in the World in 6 Years With Impressive Realism

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 Wave Mode Siege Update Is Out Now for Free

With the popular teams opening their MLB series in Tokyo, the MLB obviously wanted to appease the local fanbase, especially considering that baseball is basically Japan’s national sport and the best common denominator happened to be Pokèmon.

The opening ceremony started with an army of Pikachu mascots in Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs jerseys sporting the popular electric Pokémon’s 025 Pokédex number 025.

On top of that, we even got a cameo of the various Pokémon games throughout history as aPokéball turned into a baseball to prompt the message “Monster Meet Monster… Tonight!”

As Pokémon music echoed through the massive indoor stadium, players were introduced with a corresponding Pokémon on the massive screen and the organizers decided to pay official homage to a semi-recent meme associating Shohei Ohtani with Garchomp (or more specifically “Gaburias,” Garchomp’s Japanese name)-

Back in 2023, Japanese social media was hit by the viral comparison between the player and Garchomp, as their weight and height were very similar, on top of Ohtani’s association with Hokkaido, which serves as the inspiration for the Sinnoh region, the setting of Garchomp’s debut game Diamond and Pearl.

Other players had their own Pokémon: Tommy Edman was associated with Mega Sharpedo while Yoshinobu Yamamoto had Mega Charizard X. Shota Imanaga was Mega Alakazam.

With the game ending with the Dodgers’ 4-1 win over the Cubs and all the Pokémon fanfare, Japanese fans will certainly remember this game for a while.

You can take a look for yourself with the official video of the game’s intro, provided by the MLB itself.

If you’re interested in the latest Pokémon news, you can check out our recap of the latest Pokémon Presents. You can also check out the latest Pokémon esports news.

The series is obviously incredibly popular in Japan, and it often affects other aspects of media and popular culture. For instance, Honda recently revealed a Koraidon bike, while even local airlines are happy to get involved.

Related Posts

Halo Foundry in Unreal Engine 5

Halo Developers Move to Unreal Engine 5 For Multiple Projects and Rebrand to Halo Studios

October 7, 2024
Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact Morel

Today in Gaming News – December 14, 2024

December 15, 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator Embraer ERJ 145

Today in Flight Simulation News – March 13, 2025

March 14, 2025

Browse by Category

  • Editorials
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Interviews
  • News
  • Previews
Tags: GamingJapanMLBPokémonsportsThe Pokémon Company
ShareTweetShare

Recommended For You

Pragmata
News

Capcom Spotlight June 2025 – Here Are All the News and Reveals

June 26, 2025
Microsoft Flight Simulator Departing St Helena Volanta
News

Flight Simulation Enthusiast Visits Every Country in the World in 6 Years With Impressive Realism

June 26, 2025
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 Wave Mode Siege Update Is Out Now for Free
News

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 Wave Mode Siege Update Is Out Now for Free

June 26, 2025
Taxi Life A City Driving Simulator VIP City Guide DLC
News

Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator Update Adds Free Cosmetic Pack and Introduces VIP City Guide DLC

June 26, 2025
American Truck Simulator Iowa
News

American Truck Simulator Iowa DLC Release Date Announced

June 26, 2025
Ground of Aces Key Visual
News

Indie WWII Management Sim Ground of Aces Early Access Release Date Revealed

June 26, 2025

Next Post
Train Sim World 5 Releases First Welsh Route Cardiff City Network

Train Sim World 5 Releases First Welsh Route Cardiff City Network

Simulation Daily Powered by Orbx

Navigate Site

  • About Simulation Daily
  • Our Staff
  • Ethics
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With US
  • Gaming
  • Simulation
  • Esports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

Follow Us

© 2025 Orbx Ltd

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Gaming
  • Simulation
  • Technology
  • Esports
  • Entertainment
  • About Simulation Daily
  • Our Staff
  • Ethics
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter

© 2024 Orbx Ltd

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?