There was something different about this Spring Training game. Everywhere you looked there were cameras, more press, and the atmosphere within the clubhouse and around Camelback Ranch was electric.

The excitement in the crowd increased with each pitch. For many, it was their first opportunity to see Shohei Ohtani in a Dodgers uniform after he signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract this winter.

In the fifth inning of his first Cactus League game of 2024 — a 9-6 Dodgers win over the White Sox on Tuesday — Ohtani, the two-time unanimous American League Most Valuable Player, made sure the wait had been worthwhile.

Ohtani will bat second for the Dodgers this season, which was his position in the lineup at the time. Ohtani got his helmet knocked off his head in his first at-bat following his second major right elbow surgery in September as he swung through the second pitch he saw, a Garrett Crochet fastball.

The 29-year-old ended up striking out looking on a fastball that was hitting 100 mph after fouling off his following pitch.

Ohtani battled right-hander Justin Anderson in his second at-bat, coming out swinging. Unfortunately, he rolled out to second baseman Nicky Lopez, who initiated a 4-6-3 double play, which was unfortunate for both the Dodgers and Ohtani.

At last, Ohtani thrilled the crowd during his final at-bat of the game.  He swung at the opening pitch again, fouling it off, against Dominic Leone. After that, he needed a couple pitches to lead the count, 2-1. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Ohtani made a strong swing, but he swung straight through it. Then, Ohtani captivated the fans with a soaring opposite-field home run two pitches later.

When the Dodgers head to Seoul, South Korea, on March 20 to begin the season with a two-game series against the Padres, Ohtani has given them much confidence during the past few weeks that he will be the team's designated hitter.

The Dodgers also got a taste of the excitement and attention that will surround them all season long during this spring training game. Ohtani, though, appeared to not be affected and kept doing what he does best on and off the field.