The MLB Japan Opening Series game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers took place on March 18 at Tokyo Dome, featuring a Pokémon collaboration during the pre-game ceremony.

As part of the player introductions, the big screen displayed Garchomp alongside Shohei Ohtani, a nod to the long-running "Garchomp Ohtani" meme, which highlights the uncanny similarities in height and weight between the two.

Why Is Ohtani Compared to Garchomp?

The Garchomp Ohtani meme originated during the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) when fans noticed that Ohtani’s official stats perfectly matched Garchomp’s Pokédex entry:

📌 Shohei Ohtani (Samurai Japan Official Site)
Height: 193 cm (6’4”)
Weight: 95 kg (209 lbs)

📌 Garchomp (Pokémon Database)
Height: 1.9 m (6’3”)
Weight: 95 kg (209 lbs)

Beyond physical stats, both Ohtani and Garchomp share a connection to Hokkaido, as Garchomp debuted in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (2006), which was set in the Sinnoh region—modeled after Hokkaido. Ohtani also began his professional career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Social Media Reacts: "Pokémon Officially Did It!"

The MLB-Pokémon crossover and official acknowledgment of Garchomp Ohtani sent fans into a frenzy:

💬 "MLB using Garchomp for Ohtani’s intro? Absolute perfection."
💬 "Pokémon really just embraced ‘Garchomp Ohtani’—LEGENDARY!"
💬 "Wait… did they play Cynthia’s battle theme during the ceremony?!"
💬 "Ohtani literally is a real-life Garchomp. Who can stop him?"
💬 "Pokémon just went ALL IN on this meme, and I’m here for it!"

The trend skyrocketed on X (Twitter), with related terms like "Garchomp," "Pikachu," and "Cynthia’s Battle Theme" all making it into trending topics.

Source : ORICON NEWS