How Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani achieved crossover appeal
"Shotime" is Japan's biggest baseball export and his popularity spans both sides of the Pacific.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani talks to the media at Dodger Stadium during the DodgerFest event on Feb 3, 2024 in Los Angeles, US. (Photo: AP/Richard Vogel)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for "Shotime" Shohei Ohtani.
In December, the Japanese baseball star became the highest-paid athlete in North America, with the then free agent penning a record US$700 million 10-year deal in December with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He is off the market again - this time in the dating market - after announcing his marriage to a mystery Japanese woman on Thursday (Feb 29).
"I wanted everyone to know I am now married," he said in an Instagram post that racked up almost 1.5 million likes in just one hour.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the 29-year-old, who was one of his country's most eligible bachelors, revealed only that his wife is "a normal Japanese person".
"We first met around three to four years ago. We got engaged last year," he said, adding that she was "fun to be with".
Asked why he decided to make the announcement, Ohtani said with a laugh that it was because the media "all are very loud and nosy".
Here's what you need to know about one of the greatest sporting talents Japan has ever produced.
HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETE
After crossing over to Major League Baseball (MLB) from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league to join the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, Ohtani made his biggest career move in late 2023.
Following weeks of speculation, his free agency ended with a blockbuster deal with the Dodgers in December.
Ohtani cited his desire to win as the biggest factor in his decision to leave the underperforming Angels, who are enduring the worst active streaks in MLB with eight consecutive losing seasons and nine straight non-playoff seasons.
His 10-year deal, said to cost US$700 million, is the richest contract in the history of North American sports, surpassing National Basketball Association stars like Steph Curry, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well National Football League players.
It eclipsed former Angels teammate Mike Trout's US$426.5 million 12-year deal deal in 2019, previously MLB's largest.
The deal's structure also reflects Ohtani's desire to achieve team success in the league. He will only receive US$2 million per year for a decade, with the rest of the earnings deferred until his contract is over.
This should allow the Dodgers to build a competitive team around Ohtani during his prime years and try to add to their seven World Series titles.
THE MODERN-DAY BABE RUTH
Ohtani, nicknamed "Shotime" for his exploits at the ballpark, is not just Japan's biggest baseball export - he is the biggest name in the sport at the moment.
While he is not the first Japanese player to make his name in MLB - the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Hideo Nomo were early trailblazers - his feats have surpassed his countrymen.
The sport enjoys immense popularity in Japan and the Nippon Professional Baseball league is the country's biggest sports competition both in terms of attendance and viewership.
When he was a high school player, Ohtani's prodigious skills as a batter and pitcher had already attracted nationwide attention, and he has gotten even better since arriving in the US. He is known in baseball as a two-way player, meaning that he excels at playing both offence and defence.
Ohtani pitched over 100 innings and stepped up to the plate as a batter more than 200 times in his 2021 season, a feat last achieved by Babe Ruth, arguably the most well-known baseball player in history, a century ago.
In his time with the Angels, Ohtani captured the MLB's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice - the first player to win two times by unanimous vote - despite injuries that required surgery.
At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Ohtani was declared tournament MVP after helping his country overcome the defending champions - a star-studded US team - in the final that was dubbed a "fairytale ending".
A SPONSOR'S DREAM
Besides the US and Japan, his popularity also extends to South Korea and Taiwan, which have their own professional baseball leagues.
MLB will be staging their first-ever regular season games in South Korea in March and both Seoul fixtures, featuring the Dodgers, sold out within the first hour of tickets going on sale.
The Tokyo Dome also sold out, when Ohtani-led Japan took on China for the opening match of their successful World Baseball Classic run.
Ohtani is a famously reserved person, despite the constant media and public scrutiny. He has been described as a baseball obsessive, while his teammates have lauded his positive attitude.
Sponsors love his clean-cut image, with his endorsement earnings estimated to be in the range of US$35 to US$40 million last year, more than any other MLB player. Japanese watchmaker Seiko, trading card company Topps and sports apparel maker New Balance are among his endorsements.
Ohtani is set to make his highly-anticipated debut for the Dodgers when they open their season on Mar 20 against the San Diego Padres in South Korea.
