Shohei Ohtani signed a long-term endorsement deal with Rapsodo, which makes the Los Angeles Dodgers star the company’s new technology ambassador.
“Shohei is not just an extraordinary talent; he’s a symbol of where mindset, dedication, and the right tools can lead,” Rapsodo founder and CEO Batuhan Okur said in a statement. “We’re honored to be a part of his journey and look forward to working together, pushing the boundaries of what our technology can achieve.”
Ohtani’s involvement is going to help fuel the advancement of Rapsodo’s baseball flight monitor technology, as well as development for baseball players at all levels who share his passion for the sport.
More than 175,000 baseball players and 7,000 coaches utilize Rapsodo technology.
“I had been using Rapsodo for a few seasons and thought it was such a great tool; I only wished I had started using it earlier,” said Ohtani. “I think to myself, ‘If I had something like this during my Little League years, how much better could I have been now?’”
Among other notable endorsement contracts Ohtani has is a deal with New Balance, who recently held a special pop-up shop event to sell t-shirts and baseball gloves. New Balance unveiled the first Shohei Ohtani logo at the start of the 2024 season.
How does Shohei Ohtani rely on Rapsodo?
Ohtani is said to rely on Rapsodo’s PRO 3.0, the company’s two-way technology for hitting and pitching data. Three cameras and two radars capture advanced metrics when he’s on the mound and in the batter’s box.
The data collected on Ohtani then is delivered live to the Rapsodo Diamond App, where real-time metrics can be analyzed during a pitching or hitting session.
“Mainly to quantify my growth as a player,” Ohtani said of how he uses Rapsodo data. “For example, to check if I am making the correct hits on my swing, or to help me design a pitch that is difficult to hit. Having the ability to see the data and confirm it connects to my growth as a player.
“On the batting side, I have been comparing the data to how I am feeling on those hits; if that data matches how I feel it should be, it helps me confirm my recovery. As for pitching, I check if my pitching data matches the intention that I am throwing it with. Being able to check the data helps smooth out my rehab process.
“I wish these tools were available to me earlier. I think players should use these tools for growth, and the earlier they start using them, the faster their growth will be.”
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