ACCORDING to multiple reports, Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani has signed a 10 year / $700m deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The two-way (pitches as well as hits) phenom has secured the largest contract in United States sports history, surpassing former teammate Mike Trout’s 12 year / $430m deal signed in 2019.
Ohtani is expected to start his tenure with the Dodgers as a full time designated hitter, after undergoing UCL surgery at the end of the 2023 season.
Shohei signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 after spending five seasons as a two-way player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
Ohtani won the American League Rookie Of The Year award in 2018 despite his season ending early after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
He entered the 2021 season fully healthy for the first time in his Major League Baseball career and did not disappoint, winning the Most-Valuable-Player (MVP) award and broke numerous records posted by legendary player Babe Ruth.
Arguably, Ohtani performed better in 2022, but missed out on the MVP award because of Aaron Judge’s record breaking 62 home run season.
It is clear that Ohtani is a generational talent, when healthy, he is the most valuable player in baseball, but it is uncertain how his body and pitching arm will hold up as he enters his 30s.
Nonetheless, there is still faith that Ohtani will continue to be a generational player following his second elbow surgery. The Dodgers are certainly betting on it.
