LOS ANGELES — After six years of secrecy, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally revealed a long-held video clip during their recent pitch to Shohei Ohtani, the coveted Japanese sensation. In 2017, when they unsuccessfully pursued Ohtani, the Dodgers had held onto this minute-long video as part of their sales pitch. This time around, they weren’t taking any chances.
The Dodgers had been chasing Ohtani for over a decade, but their previous attempts to sign him had been unsuccessful. In 2012, they tried to convince him to be the first elite Japanese high schooler to skip Nippon Professional Baseball and join an MLB organization, but he declined at the last moment. In 2017, despite their efforts to tailor their team around him, Ohtani chose the Los Angeles Angels instead.
However, things were different this time. Every MLB team now had a designated hitter (DH), making Ohtani’s two-way skills a perfect fit. The Dodgers also presented an impressive package, including a history of winning, a strong farm system, and advanced analytics. But the highlight of their pitch was a video featuring a beloved figure associated with Los Angeles sports excellence: Kobe Bryant.
Bryant had filmed the clip back in 2017, endorsing the Dodgers as the best place to win in Los Angeles and the best team to win with in baseball. Although Bryant and Ohtani had never met, the Lakers legend’s message resonated powerfully with the Japanese star. Ohtani described it as one of the highlights of the meeting, calling it a strong and touching message.
Now, Ohtani is a Dodger, signing a historic contract that includes deferred payments, offering the Dodgers payroll flexibility to build a championship team around him. Despite the twists and turns in this free-agent journey, Ohtani’s desire to win ultimately guided his decision. The Dodgers, with their commitment to excellence and their new star player, are poised to embark on a journey towards championship glory, and Ohtani aims to play a central role in achieving that dream.
This marks a significant moment for the Dodgers and their fans, as they look forward to watching the most talented player in baseball history, Shohei Ohtani, in Dodger blue every day. His presence alone has already had a positive impact on the team’s recruiting efforts and financial flexibility, making the Dodgers a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.