PHOENIX (Kyodo) Hideki Matsui got an unlikely hero's welcome on Sunday at his new clubhouse from none other than the legendary movie monster he has come to represent: Godzilla.
Matsui, who was making his first appearance for the Oakland Athletics ahead of spring training that gets started on Monday, was greeted at his locker by an inflatable Godzilla dressed from head to toe in the A's yellow jersey.
The only thing missing was Godzilla's primordial scream and the dramatic theme music.
"I feel happy to get this kind of welcome," said Matsui, referring to the prank pulled off by Dallas Braden, the lefty ace who threw a no-hitter for Oakland last May.