The Los Angeles Dodgers are opening the 2026 season with sky-high expectations and a realistic shot at making MLB history.
After winning back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers begin another campaign with a chance to accomplish a feat only two franchises in Major League Baseball have achieved.
That pursuit has been the talking point leading into Opening Day on Thursday, as the Dodgers will try to become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win three consecutive championships, and only the third franchise in MLB history—the other being the Oakland Athletics.
Before taking the field against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani delivered a gesture that reflected the team's goal and mindset.
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As second baseman Miguel Rojas told reporters before the game, the Dodgers' two-way star gifted every teammate a Seiko watch worth $4,000, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, along with a note that read “Let’s get a three-peat.”
Rojas described the moment and the reaction inside the clubhouse.
“Yeah, really nice from Seiko. Really nice collection, or piece—watch that he gave us,” Rojas said. “We really appreciate all the guys that we have in this clubhouse. Shohei is being really kind with using his platform to kind of like help his teammates as well. That talks a lot about the kind of human he is, not on the field, but off the field as well.”
Added Rojas: “He cares about his teammates. He cares about the community in L.A. and we’re coming from so many different places, and I know that watch—we’re gonna keep it forever. And we always gonna remember that the best player in the world gave us a watch for 2026 opening day.”
The watches, part of Ohtani’s partnership with Seiko, were one of several Opening Day gifts to go around the Dodgers' clubhouse, with manager Dave Roberts also providing a bottle of Traveller whiskey to players as the season began.
Dodgers and Diamondbacks are facing each other at Dodger Stadium, where the Los Angeles faithful enjoyed the celebration of the 2025 World Series before the first pitch.
