Shohei Ohtani signs with LA Dodgers, continues to make baseball history
The new deal for Shohei Ohtani, who was named the WBSC Baseball Player of the Year in 2015, is not only a record-breaking MLB deal but also exciting for a city that will have baseball and softball on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sports programme.
Shohei Ohtani, who starred as a pitcher at the inaugural WBSC Premier12 2015 and led Japan to victory at the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, has broken the record for the biggest Major League Baseball (MLB) contract after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in a $700m, 10-year deal.
“To all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself,” Ohtani wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday. “Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world.”
Having joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 when moving from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league to the MLB, Ohtani's contract surpasses now-former teammate Mike Trout, who agreed to a then-record 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels in 2019.
Not only is it a MLB record breaking deal but also exciting for a city, which will have baseball and softball on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sports programme.
Ohtani, who is believed to be one of the world's highest-earning athletes, made his international debut at the 2012 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup where he pitched, batted clean-up and even patrolled the outfield during the youth world championship in Seoul, Korea.
He was the brightest star of the inaugural Premier12 eight years ago and was the MVP of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Ohtani, who will turn 30 on July 5, dominated as a pitcher during the WBSC Premier12 in 2015. He started two games and didn't allow a run over 13 innings, striking out 21, earning the tournament's WBSC All-World and Best Starting Pitcher honours, for which he was named the 2015 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year.
In March this year, Ohtani earned the World Baseball Classic MVP award going 1-for-3 and earning the save. He pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one walk and striking out one.
The World Baseball Classic was the third consecutive title for Japan after claiming the WBSC Premier12 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Japan never won a Baseball World Cup, thus celebrated a historic first as Baseball World Champions. The win topped an unforgettable cycle, since Japan won the WBSC Premier12 2019 and a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Ohtani is also famous for hitting the ball through the roof of the famous Tokyo Dome during a tri-series against the Netherlands and Mexico in 2016.
