TOKYO (AP) — The spotlight will be on slugger Shohei Ohtani this week when the superstar returns to Japan and leads the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs in the first two games of the Major League Baseball season at the Tokyo Dome.

After landing in his home nation, Shohei Ohtani took to social media with a simple message for his fans, helping to build excitement for the upcoming two-game set against the Chic

It's the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome to start the Major League Baseball season.

Hundreds of fans lined up 10 deep, hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar on Thursday, but a temporary white wall was set up to shield the players in case they came through the arrival area.

Ohtani spoke with SI to promote becoming the first baseball player to join the Fortnite Icon Series. The first baseball player named an All-Star as a pitcher and hitter and the first to record a 50–50 season, Shohei Ohtani is breaking new ground again: the first baseball player to join the Fortnite Icon Series.

Hundreds of fans at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport lined up hoping to catch a glimpse of Shohei Ohtani, but they saw nothing of the Dodgers superstar.

Take a look as Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto arrive in Japan for the Tokyo Seires. Los Angeles Dodgers; Shohei Ohtani; Yoshinobu Yamamoto; Tokyo Series; team f