Ohtani, a perfect investment for the Dodgers
Despite Shohei Ohtani’s multi-million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the organization has already recouped what it spent on him.
Shohei Ohtani has proven to be a masterstroke and a perfect investment for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are set to play their second consecutive World Series with the help of the Japanese superstar, a player who has more than justified every dollar the organization has spent on him.
Between record ticket sales at Dodger Stadium, booming merchandise revenue, and lucrative marketing deals, the Dodgers have already recouped their investment in the Major League Baseball phenomenon, according to ESPN journalist Joon Lee.
Shohei Ohtani has hit some memorable Postseason home runs.
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2025
Will he continue to add to his legacy this #WorldSeries? 👀 pic.twitter.com/zjuHpqhuuf
Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has posted the best numbers of his career: 54 and 55 home runs, 197 and 172 hits, and 134 and 146 runs scored, respectively, over his two seasons.
He’s also coming off his most dominant postseason yet — hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in his start — an unprecedented feat in MLB history.
Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract is enormous, but according to sources, the Dodgers made back the entirety of the contract in Ohtani’s first season in tickets, marketing deals in Japan/global, merchandise.
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) October 18, 2025
His impact on baseball’s growth cannot be understated.
A September 2024 article in The Wall Street Journal reported that tourism from Japan to Los Angeles increased by 90% following Ohtani’s signing with Dave Roberts’ team.
“The Dodgers made $750 million in 2024, but I think that underestimates the true impact Ohtani is having on the team’s financial situation. It’s hard to overstate what a massive celebrity he is in Japan — they cover him like he’s the president. […] That fame has directly translated into the surge of fans traveling from Japan to Dodger Stadium,” said Lee.
Shohei Ohtani's 10 strikeouts and three home runs in chronological order pic.twitter.com/z51rA0zAx5
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 18, 2025
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Thanks to his unprecedented impact both on and off the field, companies around the world are lining up to sign commercial deals with the man many already consider the greatest baseball player in history.
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