For some Dodgers, Tokyo Series first taste of 'insane' international atmosphere

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All ballplayers are travelers by virtue of their line of work. But the Dodgers' trip for the season-opening Tokyo Series is a whole new experience for some of their players.

Prior to embarking for Tokyo, relievers Anthony Banda and Matt Sauer had not left North America -- and Toronto was the only city outside of the United States that both had visited. Neither was in the organization a year ago, when the Dodgers opened the season in Seoul, South Korea, so they're viewing the week in Japan as a unique opportunity.

Especially when they're in the country with three star players -- Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki -- who call Japan home.

"That's going to be an experience within itself," Banda said before the team left for Tokyo. "They represent Japan at the highest level in baseball. Obviously, the Dodgers are huge over there. ¡­ It's going to be insane."

For both Banda and Sauer, there's appreciation of not only getting to be on the ground with the team in Tokyo, but also the work that has gone into reaching this point.

Banda was traded from Cleveland to Los Angeles in exchange for cash considerations last May. The Dodgers were the eighth team he made a big league appearance with across parts of eight seasons -- but this time around, he was able to establish himself as a key member of the bullpen.

Part of Banda's success in 2024, when he posted a 3.08 ERA across a career-high 49 2/3 innings, was a reworked slider. When he was traded to the Dodgers last year, the team helped him tinker with a new grip that turned the slider into a weapon. Banda became an important high-leverage arm during Los Angeles' run to a World Series title, which meant even more to him because of the years of work it took for him to get there.

Now, Banda gets to soak up the Dodgers' time in Tokyo, from the happenings leading up to the main event to the first meaningful games of the year.

"I want to experience it all," he said. "I'm really, really excited for all these events, or these little side missions, you can say, that we're going to go on. And almost just go get lost. Just experience the city. Enjoy it."

Banda was a lock to be on the trip to Tokyo after his strong first season with the Dodgers. Sauer's inclusion on the travel roster was somewhat of a surprise, although the door was open because multiple L.A. relievers will open the season on the injured list.

Sauer was in big league camp as a non-roster invitee. He made his MLB debut in 2024 with Kansas City, who selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. The Royals returned him to the Yankees in May, and he didn't make another appearance in the Majors for the rest of the season.

This past offseason, Sauer signed a Minor League deal with the Dodgers because he believed the organization would be the best spot for him to continue developing as a pitcher. He's been working to incorporate more horizontal movement into his arsenal by adding a cutter, which is new to him, and throwing a two-seamer that he had previously tinkered with last year.

The Dodgers liked what they saw in the Cactus League. Manager Dave Roberts informed Sauer of the decision during a pitching change in last Friday's game against the Mariners. The prevailing emotion for Sauer was excitement -- but he had also just given up four runs in the ninth inning, so he admitted to having some mixed emotions.

"I kind of held back my smile," Sauer said. "I obviously was extremely excited, and then, walking off the mound, I was thinking about the terrible inning I just had."

All 31 players on the travel roster can appear in the Dodgers' two exhibition games at the Tokyo Dome, but the team must whittle down the active roster to 26 spots for the regular-season games against the Cubs.

It's unclear how Sauer factors into those plans, as he would need a 40-man spot in order to be added to the active roster. He, too, is doing his best to just absorb the experience as it comes.

"It's been a whole whirlwind," he said. "And everything seems to be coming on to us so quick, but we appreciate every moment of it. We're having a blast."