THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
December 10, 2023 at 17:30 JST
Shohei Ohtani belts his first home run of this season in the fifth inning of the Angels game on April 2. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Now that Shohei Ohtani has his money — a record $700 million, 10-year contact with the Los Angeles Dodgers — some fans in Japan are waiting for one more thing to complete the deal.
“I want Ohtani to play in the World Series,” said Isshin Watanabe, a baseball fan speaking on Sunday near Tokyo's famous Ginza shopping area, “That's my hope,” he added.
Baseball fans across Tokyo lined up on Sunday to buy special editions of the Yomiuri newspaper, announcing Ohtani's move across town from the Los Angeles Angels to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This is perhaps the largest contract in sports history, topping highs believed to be set by soccer stars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
Ohtani is likely to only play this coming season as a designated hitter as he recovers from surgery that is expected to keep him from pitching.
“I think Ohtani will return to the two-way role the year after next," Watanabe, the fan, said. "I want him to be the home run king next year.”
Ohtani is a bigger-than-life hero in Japan, the country's most famous athlete who has stoked national pride by reaching the pinnacle of a game beloved by many Americans and Latin Americans.
One fan noted that Ohtani's salary is more than the entire player payroll for at least one Japanese professional team. He used the SoftBank Hawks of Fukuoka as the example,
"That's sounds like a dream," said Yuto Manabe, also speaking in Ginza.
Japanese fans have already been following Ohtani intently through television and other media, but this move is sure to raise his profile even higher with advertisers and sponsors who focus on the Japan market.
Ohtani is one of the most marketable athletes in the world, driving ticket sales, television revenue, and sponsorship deals.
“I’m so happy. I had been waiting for this announcement since yesterday,” said Sho Sato, who said she works as a nurse.
And so has all of the baseball world.
MLB/ Ohtani says he wants to play in 2023 World Baseball Classic
November 18, 2022
BASEBALL/ Joy seen across nation as fans celebrate Japan’s WBC triumph
March 22, 2023
MLB/ Hometown fans say ‘arigato’ to Ohtani after MVP honor announced
November 19, 2021
Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball
March 9, 2023
MLB/ Japan’s Ohtani lands American League MVP award
November 19, 2021
BASEBALL/ ‘Nikkei’ Lars Nootbaar gets his shot to play for Japan in WBC
January 12, 2023
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