"I want to beat them. Beating a team like that and becoming world champions would be the most valuable thing in my life."
"(If there were Japanese people) they'd just tell you anything if you asked, right? I don't really want that. In a way, I want to experience that survival vibe, you know, and when facing cultural differences, making how I overcome them on my own one of the fun parts."
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to attract top international free agents, with recent acquisitions and links to elite talent. Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Tatsuya Imai was posted for MLB consideration but has no interest in signing with the Dodgers and instead wants to face and defeat them. Imai prefers joining a team without Japanese teammates so he can adapt to MLB independently and experience the challenge of cultural differences. Imai has pitched in Japan since 2017, totaling 189 appearances, 1,077.2 innings, a 3.07 career ERA, and especially strong performance since 2022 including a 1.92 ERA through 24 starts in 2025.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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