TOKYO — The atmosphere inside the Tokyo Dome for the exhibition games this weekend was electric — chants and cheering, bambam sticks and music, cheerleaders on the field and beer girls in the stands.

Until Shohei Ohtani comes up to bat.

“When he was at-bat, it was complete silence,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the rapt attention with which Japanese fans are treating Ohtani’s every at-bat. “Every time he did something — take a swing, foul a ball off — there was just a gasp. I think that it was a great welcome, but I think there was just so much anticipation to see anything he did, which was different than any one of our other players.”

The attention focused on Ohtani is indeed different than any other player and might be matched by only a handful of athletes in any sport. But Ohtani — who hit a two-run homer in their first exhibition game this week — seems largely unaffected by it.

“I think it’s the Japanese culture. I really believe that,” Roberts said. “I think that with Shohei, with Yoshinobu (Yamamoto), with Roki (Sasaki), Japanese players I’ve played with, there’s just humility and gratitude, respect. That’s just who these men are. They just have a great way of balancing that while being fierce competitors.”

Ohtani returned to Tokyo this week a more mature version than the one who left Japan for the major leagues seven seasons ago. Just in the past year or so, he got married, is expecting his first child soon, and emerged from the gambling scandal involving his former interpreter.

Veteran teammate Miguel Rojas said Ohtani has begun to emerge as a team leader on the Dodgers as well.

“I can’t tell you how much more respect I’ve got for him,” Rojas said this spring. “Not just for the 50/50 (season) and the MVPs and all of that but the way that he’s becoming a leader in this clubhouse, bringing people into this organization (by being a part of the recruiting pitch to Yamamoto and Sasaki), helping others even though he’s got his hands full with trying to come back to pitching, coming back from surgery.

“But he still takes time to hit with (Korean rookie Hyeseong) Kim in the cage. He’s taking time to go to the wings eating contest (during spring training). That’s leadership.”

Ohtani also took “the main role” in arranging a players-only team dinner for Sunday night in Tokyo, according to Yamamoto.

“I can’t give you any details. That’s a secret,” Yamamoto said. “But it’s going to be sushi and yakitori. It should be good.”

Betts out for opener

The Dodgers will open the 2025 regular season without Mookie Betts.

Betts has been suffering with an unspecified virus for the past week and lost “close to 15 pounds” as a result. Though he has started to feel better in the past few days and did work out briefly before the Dodgers’ exhibition game on Sunday, he did not come to Tokyo Dome for an optional workout on Monday and was ruled out of the two games against the Chicago Cubs by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

“He’s still trying to find his way. He’s not going to play in these two games,” Roberts said Monday.

“The thing is when you lose a lot of weight, when you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft-tissue injuries. We’re very mindful of that. So to take the next week, call it, to build him back up, his strength, do some baseball activities to get ready for the home opener.”

The Dodgers will return to Los Angeles after the game Wednesday and play the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels March 23-25. They resume regular-season play with the home opener on March 27. Betts is expected to be available to play then.

Betts’ illness started during the Dodgers’ last few days in Arizona and Roberts acknowledged they would not have had Betts travel to Tokyo if they had known how long the virus would linger. It’s possible Betts will now travel back to Los Angeles ahead of the team.

“We’re contemplating that because there is a thought to potentially get him back home, get him in his normal environment, sleep schedule,” Roberts said. “I think the question is what’s best to get him ready for Opening Day (on March 27). We’re still talking. That’s on the table (sending him home early).”

Roberts said there is still “debate” among the team’s medical staff about what caused Betts’ illness. It doesn’t appear to be contagious. None of Betts’ teammates have gotten ill.

Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas will start at shortstop in the first two games against the Cubs.