For the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki will look to build on their past success while striving for excellence in the majors. Meanwhile, the Cubs feature two standout Japanese players in Opening Day starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and right fielder Seiya Suzuki.

That's a point of pride at home, but also a reason to worry. What happens to baseball in Japan, to the country's pro league, if the stars all leave for the United States? About a dozen Japanese played in MLB last season,

Major League Baseball’s regular season kicked off on Tuesday with an opening pitch thrown from halfway around the world.