On a special Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium, the Baseball Hall of Fame honored the Yakyu exhibit coming to Cooperstown in July 2025.
The Yakyu exhibit will pay respects to the “wide-ranging exchange of baseball between Japan & the United States.”
Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dave Roberts, & Torey Lovullo recognized the importance of this exhibit.
“Just to see the relationship between Japanese ball players that come here,” Roberts said. “For me, to be part of this in any capacity is a huge honor. Baseball is bigger than all of us.”
“This is an unbelievable moment for the hall of fame to recognize this unbelievably rich baseball culture,” Lovullo said.
Diamondbacks manager Lovullo played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows back in 2000.
Lovullo & Roberts both said visiting the Yakyu exhibit will be one of their first stops this offseason.
Shohei Ohtani on his contribution to the Yakyu exhibit:
“I’m extremely honored to be here & to be able to be part of the Japan-US baseball exhibit. I am aware that my bat will be part of it & something that I am gifting…I am incredibly honored to be part of this.”
Eliav Gabay
