By Natalie Rodgers
Every baseball fan knows the name Shohei Ohtani. After several years of playing the sport professionally in Japan, Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, quickly becoming one of the most well-known talents in the game. He is a rare two-way player, a designated hitter, the 2018 Rookie of the Year, a double MVP and has become the first person in MLB to have 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases as a hitter and 100+ strikeouts and 10+ pitching appearances as a pitcher in the same season. On top of all this, Ohtani is known as one of the classiest players in the sport, prioritizing teamwork and sportsmanship with his teammates and rival teams. With his talent and experience in tow, Ohtani has taken the most significant step in his career.
In December, Ohtani announced that he would continue his career with one of the most successful teams in MLB, multiple World Series winners, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers at $700 million, marking the richest deal in sports history. However, the 29-year-old all-star will defer most of his earnings, $680 million, until the end of his 10-year contract, paying him about $2 million per year for the next 10 years.
Ohtani’s overall contract and the numerous offers he received at the end of his term with the Angels demonstrate how valuable a player he has been and will continue to be in the next chapter of his journey. On Dec. 9, 2023, Ohtani took to Instagram to announce his move and his gratitude for the Angels, the first MLB team he joined after moving from Japan.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years… The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my [heart]forever.”
In the same post, Ohtani additionally remarked on his contract with the Dodgers and what the future holds:
“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. 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.”
Following an injury sustained in the 2023 season, Ohtani is hopeful to return to the field for the 2024 season beginning in late March. Ohtani recently announced that he is now married.
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