Eleanor and I have overcome one big difference to become friends: I’m a Dodgers fan, and she’s a Red Sox loyalist.
“Red Sox!” “No, Dodgers!” When asked what the best MLB baseball team is, Eleanor and I would probably give you very different answers (courtesy of our families).
But one thing we can both certainly agree on is this: Shohei Ohtani is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ever since he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, Ohtani has shattered expectations — and records — at an unbelievable pace. He became the first player in MLB history to be unanimously voted MVP twice, both as a hitter and pitcher. He’s also the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, all the while casually securing a $700 million contract to top it all off. But his story goes far beyond the numbers. In redefining the limits of athletic ability, Ohtani has also reawakened a sense of awe that baseball hasn’t seen in generations. And fans are here for it.
Born in Ōshū, Japan, Ohtani grew up dreaming of the major leagues. Although he demonstrated exceptional athleticism and natural talent from a young age, Ohtani would dedicate much of his early life to honing his skills in Japan’s competitive high school baseball circuit before debuting professionally with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at eighteen. It wouldn’t be long before he then made the leap to American baseball, officially joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2017. There, American audiences watched in shock as he earned several Rookie of the Year honors for dominating the field as both a hitter and a pitcher — a feat practically unheard of in major league baseball. As Ohtani’s success captured global attention, he also opened the door for an entirely new generation of Japanese players to cross the Pacific. His rise inspired stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Masataka Yoshida to make the jump to the MLB, transforming how American teams scout, recruit, and market international talent as a result.
However, Shohei Ohtani has done more than dominate the MLB; the pride of Los Angeles, Ohtani, has transformed the Dodgers into one of the world’s most globally recognized sports brands. In 2024 alone, Forbes estimated that the Dodgers’ partnerships with Japan-based companies have generated over $70 million in sponsorship revenue. This includes deals with major corporations such as All Nippon Airways, Kinoshita Group, Yakult, and Daiso: all eager to align themselves with Ohtani’s international appeal. As the Dodgers expand into Asian markets, they’ve also begun to air Japanese-language broadcasts. Pop-up Dodgers stores in Tokyo sell out Ohtani jerseys within hours. Global merchandise demand, ticket sales, and streaming have all spiked. This is what economists have come to call the “Ohtani Effect.”
Los Angeles has gotten a once-in-a-lifetime gift, and it’s called Shohei Ohtani. In 2024, Japanese tourists to the city exceeded 400,000, nearly doubling total visitors from the year before. President of the Los Angeles Tourism Board, Adam Burke, told The Athletic that 80-90% of tourists visit the city to seek out Dodger Stadium. Japanese tour operator JTB brought in 25,000 Japanese customers last year alone to watch Ohtani play.
Little Tokyo, too, has become a tribute to his talent: Mariko Lochridge, small-business coordinator at the Little Tokyo Service Center, told The Guardian that the Ohtani fever “gives [them] hope that people will find the neighborhood and fall in love with it.” It’s Ohtani-mania at its finest. In Little Tokyo’s Far Bar, Dodgers fans flock to the bar for a complimentary “Shohei sake shot” each time he hits a home run. The Okayama Kobo bakery inside the Miyako Hotel now sells pastries resembling blue Dodger helmets. It’s truly remarkable how one player has transformed both the tourism industry and the local community.
Whether you root for the Red Sox, Dodgers, or anyone in between, it’s hard to dismiss what he’s done for the game. From Japan to Los Angeles, Ohtani has virtually redefined what it means to be both a baseball player and a fan. The way he carries himself today — respectful, composed, and grounded — embodies the same spirit fans fell in love with from the very beginning. His effortless knack for bridging generations, nations, and fan bases alike has reminded us that baseball truly is a universal language. And as he continues to shape the future of the game, one thing remains clear: Shohei Ohtani’s impact will be felt far beyond the diamond.
