MLB: LA Dodgers presentation: Shohei Ohtani press conference
Goodnight from us here at AS USA!
It's been fun. So, once again, have a goodnight!
And that's a wrap!
Though management has stayed to field further questions, it's a done deal for the Dodgers' new star as he leaves the stage to a round of applause.
Truth be told, it's a little surreal to see Ohtani in a Dodgers outfit, and we imagine there are quite a few around the league who feel the same. With that said, it's now a reality and something tells that in the not too distant future, he will be come synonymous with the white and blue. Indeed, we also imagine the rest of the league isn't going to enjoy that sight.
With that we'd like to thankyou for joining us for live coverage of the Los Angeles Dodgers' presentation of Shohei Ohtani. We hope you enjoyed it and do be sure to check in with us again for all of your sporting news. Goodnight!
Question 13: What do you know of the Dodgers' fan base?
Opting for honesty, Ohtani explained that he doesn't know too much about the Dodgers' fans but does have memories of them when he would go on the road, such that he looks forward to building a relationship with them.
Question 12: You've got a unique opt out clause in the contract. Explain that for us?
Going back to the metaphor of the 'same page', Ohtani explained that he wanted a safety net in the event that one of those in management should depart - those who brought him to the club.
Question 11: You've had ups and downs. How do you feel different now?
Shohei spoke to the sadness of leaving teams, but was quick to point out that he loves challenges and he's about to face a lot of them with the Dodgers.
Question 10: You won't be pitching, but what are your goals for 2024 and where did your dog's name come from?
Ohtani outlined his plans for 2024 by stating that he has been taking 'dry swings' over the last few weeks such that he believes that if he can play in exhibition games, he will be ready.
As for the dog, his name was always 'Decoy' but he changed it to Dekopi to make it more Japanese.
Question 9: What is the name of your dog?
In a cheerful departure, Ohtani was asked about what really matters, the name of his best friend (dog)?
What's the name? Translated from Japanese, it's 'Decoy.'
Question 8: You've stated you want to be the best in the world. Can you explain that idea and what it means?
It's about championships for Ohtani when it comes to qualifying himself as the best there is, and he intends to win a lot of them to prove that he is.
Question 7: What is the shared vision that you refer to when speaking about the Dodgers?
The former Angels star spoke to the idea of being on the same page, something he believes he and the Dodgers very much are.
Question 6: Was there anything that tipped the scales in terms of coming to the Dodgers?
Again Ohtani declined to comment on other teams, but he did indicate that one thing that stood out for him was that when he spoke with the Dodgers, they were definitely not satisfied with the last decade, something that he felt played into his own desire to win.
Question 5: Did the possibility of winning a World Series factor into your decision?
Again, Ohtani was frank as he made it clear that on a personal level he definitely prioritized winning, and that was one of the key factors in his decision.
Question 4: Why did you structure your contract the way you did?
Perhaps one of the things that makes Ohtani so special, aside from his obvious talent, is his charm. The two-way star stated that he was aware of the deferral program which he utilized and so decided to defer as much as possible in order to give the Dodgers the best possible opportunity to be competitive. Interestingly, he made a point to decline comment on negotiations with other teams.
Question 3: Why did you stay quiet initially on your surgery?
Simple and to the point, Ohtani indicated that he had to seek several opinions before making a final decision, such that he felt it better to wait before making any announcement.
Question 2: How was it to come out on stage?
The Japanese star couldn't hide his shock at how many people were in attendance. "You're quite popular," Stan Friedman said.
1st question: What was the major factor that convinced you to move to the Dodgers?
Speaking through his interpreter, Ohtani had an interesting answer which is to say that he indicated there was no one reason, but rather just a feeling which he went with.
Time for questions!
After thanking those in attendance once again, the Japanese star stated that he was ready for his first questions as a Dodger.
Shohei's first words as a Dodger
With the help of his translator, Ohtani first expressed his thanks to all in attendance, before expressing his gratitude to the Los Angeles Dodgers themselves for making the deal a reality.
The 29-year-old also made a point to thank his former team, the Los Angeles Angeles for the 'fun ride' that he had with them.
Yet, what Ohtani made clear is his desire to get started with his new team as he hopes to bring titles back to the city of Los Angeles.
Andrew Friedman speaks to Ohtani's passion
Following an explanation of the Dodgers' long history of talent farming in Japan, the Dodgers' Andrew Friedman (President of Baseball Operations) is describing the love affair that the franchise has had with Ohtani from afar over the years, and more importantly how he believes that will match the Dodgers' ambitions going forward.
And away we go!
Accompanied by Dodgers owner and chairman, Mark Walter, as well as president and CEO, Stan Kasten, the Japanese star is also alongside his interpreter on stage.
Want to watch the Shohei Ohtani presentation?
If you would like to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers unveil their new two-way sensation? You can do so here.
It's almost press time!
With minutes to go, we can say we're excited to get our first glimpse of Shohei Ohtani as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Be sure to stay with us as we take you through his official presentation!
The Ohtani Effect
Though he hasn't even pitched a ball or swung his bat for his new team, it's clear that everybody is excited to see him do just that!
Taking stock of Shohei Ohtani's move to LA
We're now just about half hour away from presentation time and it's hard to not think about just how big a deal this is for both Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers. To be clear, the franchise signed Ohtani to a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract that includes unprecedented deferrals.
To that end, the two-way star will earn only $20 million during the life of the contract and the remaining $680 million from 2034-2043. Interestingly, the idea of how to structure the contract was presented by the Japanese star himself who was more focused on giving the Dodgers the best chance at building the most competitive roster, than simply a large payday.
This should come as no surprise from a player who only left his former team on the grounds that he wanted to contend for titles, not because he wanted more money.
“Dodger fans, thank you for welcoming me to your team,” Ohtani said in a statement. “I can say 100 percent that you, the Dodger organization and I share the same goal – to bring World Series parades to the streets of Los Angeles.”
Apparently we're not the only ones excited to see Shohei Ohtani
The appeal of the two-way star is universal, which is probably why there are currently lines outside of Dodgers stadium. Everybody wants a piece of the Japanese sensation!
Welcome Welcome Welcome!
It's a big night in the MLB and that's precisely why we're happy to welcome you to our coverage of what promises to be the start of something special. The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to present their new star, a player who just put pen to paper on the biggest contract in MLB history: A ten-year, $700 million contract. You read that right.
Shohei Ohtani is quite frankly the biggest talent that baseball has seen in many years and it's not just the incredible numbers in both pitching and batting that he's put on the board. No, it's also his international appeal that makes him a personality that's hard to not to like. Stay with us as we'll be taking you through his official presentation, something you won't want to miss!