The 340-pound Japanese sumo wrestler, who has achieved the highest rank in sumo of yokozuna, was at Dodger Stadium on Friday to take part in pregame festivities and posed for photos with Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Zambrano got into the action, shaking hands with the wrestler, who was dressed in formal black and gold robes. The Cubs pitcher even tried to speak to Hakuho in Japanese.

Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry also asked for a photo of himself and the large wrestler, who then took a few swings in the cage with Cubs coach Ivan DeJesus on the mound. Hakuho made contact, lining one off the screen in front of the pitcher's mound.

When Fukudome and Hakuho posed, they were surrounded by more than 40 Japanese media. Fukudome could smile. The Cubs outfielder hit his first road home run on Thursday night against the Dodgers, his fourth overall. Maybe this is a sign of more power from the left-handed hitter?

"I think once he learns the pitching a little more, I think that will happen," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Friday. "Plus, I think when the weather warms up in Chicago, the wind will be blowing out to left field. He naturally hits the ball in the air that way. I think he'll get some carry that way, too."

Fukudome's single-season career best in home runs in Japan was 34. Piniella hasn't set any expectations for the Cubs outfielder.

"I knew he would be selective and that he knew the strike zone," Piniella said. "I knew he'd be a good on-base percentage guy. Power-wise, I had no idea. Hitting-wise, I thought if he hit .280, .290 his first year, it would be really good."