Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout Reflect on Bittersweet First Matchup as MLB Opponents

The former teammates squared off for the first time since Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels for the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.

Tuesday night’s spring training contest between the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers marked the first time that former All-Star teammates Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani faced off as major league opponents.

Trout and Ohtani embraced in the outfield during pregame warmups on Tuesday night at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., and chatted about an eventful offseason for the former Angels star, which included a 10-year, $700 million contract, as well as a marriage.

“He was over here for six years, and he did a lot for us,” Trout said Tuesday night, per MLB.com. “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.”

Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.

Reunited. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0g484JeguC

— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) March 6, 2024

Although the first exhibition game against his former team could have been awkward, it ended up being a fun reunion for Ohtani.

“A lot of the boys were here today, so I got to catch up with most of them,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “They didn’t really give me a hard time. It was more a lot of congratulations. They’re happy for me. It didn’t really feel too weird or uncomfortable because it kind of is what it is. If I was playing at the Angels’ home, it might have been a little different story.”

Ohtani and the Dodgers enter the season as World Series favorites, with the Japanese phenom expected to be a key piece in potentially returning the franchise to the top of baseball.

お久しぶり！😇#LAASpring pic.twitter.com/rVMliNIZCA

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) March 6, 2024