TEMPE, Ariz. — Each morning for the previous six years, irrespective of how early Angels gamers and workers bought to Tempe Diablo Stadium, they noticed a throng of Japanese media standing on the Tempe Butte mountain overlooking the staff’s spring coaching complicated. This wasn’t a leisure dawn hike. Each digital camera was zoomed in, ready for the arrival of two-way celebrity Shohei Ohtani.
Whereas spring coaching means early mornings for gamers, coaches and reporters, the group assigned completely to Ohtani made everybody else suppose twice about complaining about their alarms. Ohtani Watch began at 5 a.m., when a lot of the Cactus League was nonetheless asleep. There have been no weekends off and no wiggle room: Everybody was after that one shot, on daily basis, for your complete six weeks of camp.
“Good luck beating them right here,” Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon mentioned of a bunch that routinely included 50 reporters, and will swell to upwards of 70 for particular Ohtani events, like his first-ever spring coaching press convention, which the staff needed to maintain at an off-site resort to handle the gang.
“They mentioned they needed to (be right here),” Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery mentioned, shaking his head. “I requested why, they usually mentioned in case Ohtani confirmed up early.”
Ohtani’s huge celeb, and the eye that got here with it, by no means calmed down. When he got here to Tempe in 2018 as a 23-year-old Japanese star, nobody was positive how Ohtani’s abilities as each a pitcher and hitter would translate. Now, there isn’t a doubt that the three-time All-Star, two-time AL MVP, two-time Silver Slugger and Rookie of the 12 months is a generational expertise.
Ohtani’s star energy is now 26 miles down the highway, at Dodgers camp in Glendale. If you happen to’ve been residing underneath a rock, the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a ten-year, $700 million contract this previous offseason. If you happen to’ve been residing close to Tempe Buttes, nicely, the view simply bought much more scenic.
So what occurs when the mountain is empty once more? What’s life like when the Ohtani circus leaves city?
“Somebody mentioned the previous couple of years perhaps this was what being within the Beatles was like,” mentioned Rendon. “You don’t get used to (the eye), however you type of anticipate it. Now it’s like being kicked out of the band.”
In previous years, the Tempe Butte mountain overlooking the Angels’ car parking zone hosted upwards of fifty members of the Japanese media earlier than dawn on daily basis. (Sam Blum / The Athletic)
The most important change, aside from nobody watching staff members get out and in of their automobiles, has been contained in the clubhouse. It’s, and at all times has been, the gamers’ area. However when Ohtani was there, that huge contingent of reporters made some Angels gamers really feel like friends in their very own home.
“It’s good to have the ability to have our area again somewhat extra,” mentioned Angels outfielder Taylor Ward.
Shedding a nine-WAR participant doesn’t make any staff higher. Nevertheless it’s allowed them to breathe somewhat extra simply.
“Typically gamers bought intimidated by numerous media,” mentioned Carlos Estévez, the Angels’ veteran nearer. “Some youthful guys. They had been like, ‘I’m going to remain out of the best way.’”
Pitcher Patrick Sandoval was considered one of Ohtani’s closest associates, however even he acknowledged it was a “bizarre dynamic” to have the Japanese reporters ask him one query about himself, then 10 extra about Ohtani. If cameras caught you a lot as nodding on the two-way celebrity, the media would ask you to speak about it.
“I at all times felt that (gamers had been cautious of us). We’re principally right here to cowl one man, however we’re making an attempt to get different stuff associated to the one man,” mentioned one Japanese reporter who has lined Ohtani commonly for years, and requested for anonymity so as to converse freely.
The Angels PR workers, usually inundated with requests, would attempt to rotate which gamers they requested to discuss Ohtani, who often restricted his media availability to after his mound begins. Angels communications supervisor Grace McNamee, who speaks Japanese, would make notes on Ohtani’s distinctive schedule and coordinate photograph alternatives.
Now, with Ohtani gone, “I’ve by no means seen Grace so relaxed,” Montgomery mentioned.
One yr in the past, there was hardly sufficient room to stroll within the alley-like hall throughout the Angels’ spring coaching locker room. Now, catcher Matt Thaiss and fellow backstop Chad Wallach have sufficient area there on a March morning to throw a soccer backwards and forwards as a part of a makeshift fielding drill.
Gone are Ohtani indicators and stadium paraphernalia from the stadium and round Tempe. However worry not for those who’re one of many 1000’s of followers who made Ohtani’s jersey the highest vendor in all of baseball final yr: It’s nonetheless in energetic Angels circulation.
Ohtani’s quantity — the famed red-and-white No. 17 — now belongs to … drumroll, please … non-roster invitee Hunter Dozier, who has a profession minus-2.6 WAR, or wins above alternative. Dozier wore No. 17 for practically all of his seven-year profession with the Kansas Metropolis Royals and signed a minor league take care of Anaheim in mid-January. He began to surprise within the weeks earlier than spring coaching began: Would the Angels give it away so quickly?
He bought his reply the primary day of camp. The 32-year-old utility man harassed that the No. 17 doesn’t have any particular significance for him; it was simply what the Royals gave him when he was beginning his profession.
Now that quantity may make him seem like one of the vital widespread non-roster invitees in Tempe Diablo Stadium historical past.
“There could be numerous 17s (within the stands),” mentioned Dozier, who has already been reassigned to minor league camp, that means he gained’t make the Angels’ Opening Day roster. “Simply don’t have a look at the final identify, have a look at the quantity.”
And don’t look too shut within the left clubhouse nook.
Angels beginning pitcher Reid Detmers was stunned when he arrived at camp anticipating to be in his regular locker — solely to seek out that he bought Ohtani’s outdated area to the direct left of the clubhouse door. Any finish spot in baseball clubhouses is usually taken by veterans and stars, offering ample area — they usually use the locker subsequent to them for overflow — and a fast exit from the media.
“It was type of unhappy,” Detmers mentioned. “However on the similar time, it was type of cool. Clearly, it’s an excellent locker, and Shohei was unbelievable. Superior dude. Straightforward to speak to. Speak to him about something. It’s particular to have his outdated locker.”
This spring at Angels camp has seen ample parking, extra ticket availability and smaller crowds of autograph seekers. (Picture by Masterpress / Getty Pictures)
What’s rapidly misplaced its attract is the incessant questions on The Man Who Isn’t Right here. The Angels gamers, nonetheless burdened with every day Ohtani inquiries all spring, had a lot greater queries heading into camp, like: Will there nonetheless be sushi?
Each spring, the Angels ship out a survey to gamers gauging their dietary needs and desires for the upcoming season. With out Ohtani, a number of gamers feared the regular stream of Japanese delicacies would decelerate to a trickle, making “Are we nonetheless going to have sushi?” a typical write-in query. The reply was sure. Ohtani truly wasn’t the largest every day sushi shopper on the staff; that title possible belongs to Mike Trout or Logan O’Hoppe.
Trout can be the one present Angels participant who can keep in mind Life With out Ohtani, and the truth that Ohtani’s arrival in 2018 didn’t truly lead to extra sushi, or in any completely different meals within the staff’s spring facility in any respect. Ohtani had a nutritionist in Japan who communicated with the Angels workers in an early assembly. In the course of the season, he usually introduced in his personal meals. In Tempe, considered one of Ohtani’s earliest English phrases to staffers was, “I’m good.”
Following a disappointing 2020 season, Ohtani used blood evaluation to find out which meals produced his greatest outcomes and optimized his restoration. Timing was equally vital. On a reasonably regimented schedule, his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara would usually ship order requests forward to the Angels kitchen workers so Ohtani’s meals — a rotating menu that at all times included lean protein, greens and carbohydrates — could be prepared when it was wanted, which was rarely in the course of the gamers’ lunch rush. Ohtani’s schedule was so distinctive that he usually ate with simply Mizuhara and infielder David Fletcher.
Nonetheless, Ohtani’s absence might be felt within the meals room. A number of occasions final yr, he introduced in Japanese Wagyu beef for the kitchen to cook dinner up for the staff. A number of Angels lamented the loss.
Potential iron deficiencies apart, the whole lot is somewhat bit quieter for the Angels post-Ohtani. Parking is ample at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Tickets are straightforward to get. The autograph strains for gamers getting into and leaving the stadium are minuscule compared to earlier years. The Angels’ head safety guard targeted a lot of his consideration on Ohtani, and the gang of followers and reporters that entered into and out of his orbit. Even Mizuhara usually had followers with indicators ready for him as he exited the staff bus. As one participant described it, there’s now far much less commotion.
“He brings such a crowd with him, not a nasty factor, as a result of (of) the best way he dealt with himself on the sphere,” mentioned Trout.
“I’ve by no means been round any individual that large. I don’t suppose baseball has seen anyone that large,” Rendon mentioned. “It was bizarre, proper? At motels and locations there could be lots of people looking for him.”
Now the eyes following Ohtani’s each transfer have shipped as much as Los Angeles. Solely a brief drive, however a world away.
(Prime picture: John Bradford / The Athletic; Photographs: Aaron Doster / Getty; Michael Owens / Getty)