Japanese Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers has met reporters in Seoul, South Korea, where his team will play the season-opening series.

Ohtani and teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman attended a news conference on Saturday before an official practice session at the Gocheok Sky Dome.

Ohtani said he has been looking forward to playing in the country as he grew up watching exciting contests between Japan and South Korea at international events.

He said he wants to enjoy both baseball and his stay in the country.

The Dodgers kick off the MLB season with a series against the San Diego Padres, to be played on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ohtani will face Padres' veteran Japanese pitcher Darvish Yu for the first time.

He said Darvish is his favorite pitcher and a role model he has watched since he was little.

He said Darvish has been kind to him, and that he is looking forward to the first match.

Betts and Freeman teased Ohtani with calls of, "Come on, Sho," when the Japanese player was asked how he felt about coming to a game with his wife for the first time. Ohtani said with a smile that the two of them should enjoy a memorable first trip together, and that he wants to focus on what he needs to do.