MLB

Shohei Ohtani boosts tourism in Los Angeles

Major League Baseball’s most electrifying player is having a major impact on the number of visitors to his adopted city.

JUSTIN BERLAFP

There is no player in all of Major League Baseball as electrifying as Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese superstar has sparked the interest of baseball fans worldwide, making Los Angeles a must-visit destination to see the him play for the Dodgers.

The Shohei Ohtani Effect

The impact Shohei Ohtani is having goes beyond his performance on the diamond at each stadium he visits. The 29-year-old player is significantly impacting tourism in Los Angeles, with a notable in tourists, many of them from Japan, coming to see him and his compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto play for the Dodgers.

“We could see more than 400,000 Japanese visitors,” said Adam Burke, CEO and president of the Los Angeles Tourism Board, to Josie Huang of LAist. “It would definitely make Japan one of our top four international markets.”

Ohtani’s Stellar Season

Despite not being able to pitch in his first year with the Dodgers due to right elbow surgery, Shohei Ohtani is proving to be the best offensive player so far this season. The team’s designated hitter has hit 15 home runs in 62 games and has 40 RBIs.

The Dodgers have a record of 40 wins and 25 losses, solidifying their first-place position in the National League West Division. The LA team recently defeated the Pirates in Pittsburgh and began their series against the Yankees with a 2-1 victory.

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