Saturday, 4 July 2026
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Friday, 17 April 2026
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
$510 DODGERS JERSEY AND $150 CAPS. BEHOLD THE PRICE OF BEING AN OHTANI FAN IN JAPAN
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| AP Photo |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Mai Fukuo was gift-shopping for a friend. Hideki Chiba was in the same sports store in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo looking for something for his father-in-law.
They each picked up items in blue — Los Angeles Dodgers Blue, of course. This reflects the color revolution that's evident all over Tokyo in the last few months since Shohei Ohtani moved from the Los Angeles Angels — base color, red — to sign a $700-million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.
Angels caps have almost vanished in Tokyo. A Dodgers lid is the fashion item — a bit like designer-label goods.
“Ohtani just changed our store,” said Takuto Yamashita, a part-time worker at a shop called Selection, which boasts Japan's largest array of MLB gear for all 30 teams, and the 12 Japanese pro teams, too.
But there's one team that matters more than the rest in Japan. And only one player, which is why the Dodgers invested so heavily in Ohtani; not just for his pitching and hitting, but for his celebrity status to market the Dodgers as Japan's team.
“The place is completely different. It went from all red to to all blue," Yamashita added. "Without Ohtani in these last few months, the sales in this store would be so different.”
Fukuo eyed a traditional white jersey with “Dodgers” in script across the front. She lifted it off the rack — a quilt of Dodgers and Ohtani garb — and admired it for looks, size and texture.
“I'm thinking of buy this t-shirt for my co-worker because Ohtani is very famous — of course in Japan — and also all over the world," she explained. "He likes baseball and he likes Ohtani so I'm thinking of this.”
Sunday, 10 December 2023
SHOHEI OHTANI AGREES TO RECORD $700 MILLION, 10 YEAR CONTRACT
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| AP Photo |
NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has set a financial record to go along with his singular on-field performance, getting $700 million to make a 30-mile move up Interstate 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His agent, Nez Balelo, issued a midafternoon news release Saturday announcing the 10-year contract, ending months of speculation that began even before Ohtani became a free agent on Nov. 2. In recent days, media and fans had tracked private plane movements and alleged sightings like detectives in attempts to discern the intentions of the two-time AL MVP with the Angels.
“This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player," Balelo said. “He is excited to begin this partnership, and he structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both sides to long-term success.”
Ohtani's total was 64% higher than baseball's previous record, a $426.5 million, 12-year deal for Angels outfielder Mike Trout that began in 2019.
His $70 million average salary is 62% above the previous high of $43,333,333, shared by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with deals they struck with the New York Mets. Ohtani's average salary nearly doubles the roughly $42.3 million he earned with the Angels. It also exceeds the entire payrolls of Baltimore and Oakland this year.
Sunday, 17 September 2023
ANGEL'S OHTANI RULED OUT FOR THE SEASON
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not play again this season after suffering a side strain, the Major League Baseball (MLB) team said on Saturday.
The three-time All-Star's pitching season was already over after he suffered torn elbow ligaments.
Thursday, 24 August 2023
SHOHEI OHTANI WON’T PITCH FOR REST OF SEASON BECAUSE OF TORN ELBOW LIGAMENT, ANGELS GM SAYS
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| Getty |
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch for the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday night.
The Angels don’t yet know whether the major league homers leader and 10-game winner will need surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament for the second time. Ohtani had his first Tommy John surgery in late 2018, following his AL Rookie of the Year season.
“A tough day for him,” Minasian said. “Tough day for all of us.”
The two-way superstar left the mound abruptly in the second inning of his start against Cincinnati after throwing 26 pitches in the opener of a doubleheader. Ohtani, who hit his 44th homer in the first inning, then insisted on playing in the nightcap even after the tear was discovered while running tests between games.
Monday, 14 August 2023
ANGELS' SHOHEI OHTANI TO SKIP NEXT START DUE TO ARM FATIGUE
HOUSTON -- Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his next scheduled pitching start Wednesday at Texas after telling manager Phil Nevin he was feeling some arm fatigue.
Nevin said Sunday that Ohtani is not injured and will return to the rotation during a series at home against the Reds that begins Aug. 21. Ohtani was in the lineup for Sunday's 2-1 win over the Houston Astros and hit his 41st home run of the year.