The Los Angeles Dodgers struck gold with the signing of Shohei Ohtani as they landed one of Major League Baseball’s greatest stars on a historic deal.
Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers of course came with a monster price tag, but the business opportunities and other benefits put him a class of its own. There are fans of baseball, and those who are intrigued by the mystique surrounding the unique two-way talent.
En route to winning a third unanimous MVP Award, Ohtani created the 50-50 club by clubbing 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases in his first season with the Dodgers. Overall, he batted .310/.390/.646 and produced a 9.1 WAR.
In the eyes of the Dodgers, Ohtani’s production and celebrity status has him in an elite group of all-time sports athletes, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
“I’ve been in this business for 40 years,” said Lon Rosen, Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer, “and he’s as popular as any athlete or celebrity I’ve ever seen. There are a lot of famous people in this country, but the impact he’s had is incredible. You can talk about Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe, Magic, this guy is in a place where very few have ever been.
“He’s so popular in Japan that 80 to 90% of all Japanese tourists that come here will stop at Dodger Stadium.”
Ohtani was named the NL Hank Aaron Award winner, Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter, NL Outstanding Player as part of the Players Choice Awards, Sporting News’ MLB Player of the Year, and won his third Silver Slugger Award.
In terms to the Dodgers’ overall financial gain from Ohtani’s first season, they’ve seen immense returns through various sponsorships and interest beyond the field. Ohtani joining the Dodgers captivated an wide-ranging audience in Japan, with record viewers in the World Series.
What’s next for Shohei Ohtani?
It would be hard to follow up the peak of his first year, but as he prepares to take the mound after his second elbow surgery, Dodgers fans should can expect a unique season.
Ohtani isn’t going to regress offensively, but his stolen base numbers are expected to tick down. The Dodgers have enough offensive firepower to get it done without his base running aggressiveness, and Ohtani’s slugging, coupled with baseball intelligence, are his greatest qualities.
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