A real circus despite the disconcerting humility of Shohei Ohtani! In front of the Japanese phenomenon, who only temporarily showed a $700 million smile, media from around the world were crowded Thursday in Los Angeles to hear him say how happy he was to now be part of the Dodgers. It is perhaps, to this day, one of the greatest frenzies experienced on the sporting planet, at least certainly in the history of major baseball on an international scale.
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“It is with great humility that I see you all here and I am happy, but I was told that there would only be media and I did not expect that there be as many people,” Ohtani quickly agreed through his interpreter and friend Ippei Mizuhara, immediately provoking laughter in the room.
Photo credit: AFP
There were media at this point… In addition to the army of journalists and the numerous cameras on site, the press conference was broadcast live on the various major baseball platforms, including the league website and the website of the Dodgers.
“I met several teams during the process and there is not a single reason explaining my choice,” commented Ohtani, who thanked the Angels for giving him his first chance in major baseball. Honestly, I enjoyed meeting with the different clubs and it was a difficult decision to make, but I had to choose a team… I can’t wait to join the Dodgers, they share the same passion as me and their vision, historically, revolves around victory.”
Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP
We know that Ohtani preferred the Dodgers to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Conquer the world
Through the media fever present on Thursday, the madness surrounding Ohtani is difficult to quantify. Beyond the value of his incredible contract, it was reported on the major baseball website that the Japanese’s number 17 jersey completely shattered the sales record in the 48 hours following the release of a sports jersey. Ohtani even more than doubled the previous mark, which belonged to soccer player Lionel Messi.
More than double Messi, it’s excessive!
Photo credit: AFP
The sweater is obviously all the rage in California, but also in Japan, where Ohtani has become the most popular athlete over the past decade.
“One of our goals is to have baseball fans in Japan convert to the Dodgers,” admitted Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Dodgers, Thursday at a press conference. We want Shohei, along with his teammates, to help grow the passion for this sport and for the Dodgers throughout Japan.
Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP
“The ownership group once again demonstrates that our dedication to winning is unmatched and the goal for the Dodgers organization is to be a premier destination across the league,” Friedman added.
How many championships?
The total amount of the record agreement between Ohtani and the Dodgers is, it should be remembered, greater than those granted to soccer players Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as well as to quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs in the last years. Concerning the annual salary, which is $70 million for Ohtani, the big soccer stars remain in a world apart, but the comparison with Mahomes – who earns $45 million per year in the NFL – clearly illustrates to what extent interest has been unprecedented in Ohtani’s case.
The big question is how many World Series conquests the Dodgers will manage to win during the team’s 10-year stay. Two? Three? Four?
“I can 100% certify that the Dodgers organization and I share the same goal of organizing World Series parades in the streets of Los Angeles,” Ohtani had already stated when reaching an agreement with the club.
Still, Mahomes, younger than Ohtani, has already won the Super Bowl twice. The Japanese, for his part, did not participate once in the major baseball playoffs in six years with his previous club: the Angels. It’s a safe bet that he will have more success with the wealthy Dodgers.
35 years after Gretzky
With the other baseball team from the “City of Angels”, the Japanese should appear at the top of the offensive formation with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. They will logically make up the leading trio. Considered a unique case, since he excels as much on the mound as at the bat, Ohtani will logically be confined to the role of hitter of choice during the next season. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right arm in September. It should be able to launch again from 2025.
It was said that there was a shock wave on August 9, 1988, when Wayne Gretzky left Edmonton to head to Los Angeles. Ohtani finally made even more noise internationally by moving from the Angels to the Dodgers. By the way, reliever Joe Kelly, who wore number 17 with the Dodgers last year, could only give up his number to the superstar when welcoming him.
2023-12-15 01:11:24
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