Angels see Ohtani in blue for first time: 'Definitely different'

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It was a familiar sight watching two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani converse and joke around with Mike Trout, Logan O’Hoppe, Brandon Drury, Zach Neto and other Angels players about 30 minutes before first pitch at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday night.

But this time, Ohtani wore Dodger blue against his former club for the first time, as he served as designated hitter in a Cactus League matchup against the Angels.

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Trout pointed out that he previously saw Ohtani in a different uniform last year, when they competed in the World Baseball Classic that memorably ended with Ohtani striking out Trout to lift Team Japan to the title. But, Trout said, he was happy to catch up with Ohtani in person for the first time since he signed his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason.

“He was over here for six years, and he did a lot for us,” Trout said. “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.”

Ohtani, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against his former team, said he enjoyed the opportunity to catch up his former teammates before the game. But he said it would’ve felt different if the game were played at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He wasn’t in the lineup for the game in Tempe on Feb. 24, and the two clubs don’t meet again in Arizona this spring. But they do play in annual Freeway Series exhibition games at Dodger Stadium from March 24-25 and at Angel Stadium on March 26.

“A lot of the boys were here today, so I got to catch up with most of them,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “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.”

Angels right-hander Chase Silseth admitted it was strange facing his former teammate in the first inning but he tried to lock in and execute. Silseth fell behind with a 3-1 count, but struck out Ohtani on a 3-2 fastball that registered 96 mph.

“That was great excitement,” Silseth said. “It was fun. I got behind him and I was like, ‘Oh, no.’ He's such a great hitter. So I tried to make a pitch, and, luckily, I made some pitches that I was able to make when I was behind in the count.”

It was a good sign for Silseth, who was making his first start of the spring and his second pitching appearance. The 23-year-old threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out two.

Silseth, who is slated to be the club’s fifth starter, was pleased with where he located his fastball against Ohtani and that he was able to limit the damage otherwise against a Dodgers lineup that featured several regulars, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani and Max Muncy.

“I tried to attack him up in the zone and away,” Silseth said. “Especially what I saw him do a couple of weeks ago when he inside-outed that ball and hit it to the opposite field. I wanted to stay away from him this time, tried to go up and away and got it up there enough to miss a barrel.”

Silseth added that he had the chance to briefly catch up with Ohtani before the game but that it wasn’t a long conversation because he was getting ready for his start.

It also looked like he was going to get the chance to face Ohtani a second time in the third inning but manager Ron Washington pulled him in favor of lefty Tyler Thomas because of pitch count reasons. Thomas went on to strike out Ohtani.

“I saw Ron,” Silseth said with a smile. “It was just pitch count, but it was frustrating. I would’ve liked to get him one more time and see what would’ve happened. But, yeah, I was hoping to face him again. That’s why on the way to the dugout, I was like, ‘Dang it.’ But I’m sure we’ll see him down the line, and we’ll see how that one goes.”