Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani reunited for the first time as former teammates on Tuesday.
After Ohtani approached Trout in the outfield before the Dodgers faced the Angels in a Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch Glendale in Phoenix, the two hugged and talked for a while.
The two superstars played together for six years in Anaheim before Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million free agent contract with the Dodgers this offseason.
Despite having two of the best players in the world on the same roster, the Angels failed to make the postseason with Ohtani and Trout.
Ohtani is looking for more success on the other side of Los Angeles. The Dodgers are at full strength again, and not just with the two-way Ohtani. However, he will likely be limited to DH duties this season as he recovers from injuries, Tommy John surgery, as well as Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
They also traded for Tyler Glasnow, giving the former Tampa Bay Rays standout a big extension.
Meanwhile, Trout remains with the Angels, who lose Ohtani and don’t have much hope in the AL West.
He has a 12-year contract worth $426 million.
In Tuesday’s Cactus League game, which the Angels won 4-0, Trout played center for the Angels and Ohtani was the Dodgers’ DH.
There was no drama like the last time the two played opposing teams.
That happened a year ago at the World Baseball Classic, when Otani struck out Trout to end the tournament and give the Japanese team the victory over the American team.
