LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will throw a bullpen session this Saturday, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. This will be Ohtani’s first bullpen session since February 25. The Dodgers announced earlier in the month that they would slow down Ohtani’s rehab process on the pitching side and focus more on his preparation for the DH spot for the Tokyo Series.
“Once he gets to the pen on Saturday, then I think that we’ll have a better idea what a plan looks like,” Roberts said when addressing the media.
Roberts stated that the Dodgers are wary of Ohtani’s long-term health after he underwent his second Tommy John surgery and had his left shoulder recently repaired. Roberts added that the Dodgers are hoping that Ohtani can be used for the later months of the season and could essentially be a crucial arm for their October run.
“For 2025, the most important piece of this is having him be able to do both through the end of the season and through October,” Roberts said.
Roberts hinted at the agreement that this would begin a new journey for Ohtani as he makes his return back to his old habits of dominating two positions.
“Given what he’s been through, keeping his arm going, I think that’s kind of fair,” Roberts said. “But I don’t know what that looks like as far as leadership. I’m not going to try to prognosticate, but I think that it’s a fair take.”
With no clear date on when Shohei Ohtani will make his debut on the mound, the Dodgers have made it clear that they are in the process of making it a reality sooner rather than later. Roberts also said that he would be happy if Ohtani could get 18 to 20 starts. “We would bank on that right now,” Roberts said.
After Dodgers’ acquisition, Shohei Ohtani’s merchandise sales grew dramatically
Ex-San Francisco Giants’ Blake Snell, who has signed up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has an interesting story to tell. When he was out shopping in Tokyo, Japan, he found a massive billboard with Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani. It was indeed a “I know him” moment for Snell. Ohtani is featured everywhere — be it high end fashion brands or subway stations. This is how big of a deal Shohei Ohtani is in Tokyo.
Shohei Ohtani dominates the advertising world in Tokyo
Shohei Ohtani’s photographs are everywhere, as he dominates Tokyo’s advertising world. His popularity is not limited to just Japan, as he’s making an impression worldwide.
When Shohei Ohtani, the MVP, decided to move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it turned him into a global brand icon. Ohtani has secured sponsorship deals and jersey sales have skyrocketed.
Two years ago, in 2023, Ohtani made over $50 million from endorsements. Ohtani’s presence has broken records with respect to TV ratings in Japan, where 63.9% of fans named Ohtani their favourite athlete.
Shohei Ohtani’s merchandise sales in Japan too have skyrocketed 2,000 percent.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalise on Ohtani’s brand value, both on and off the field. Ohtani attracted high-profile sponsorships too.
Organisations are fighting for advertising space at Dodger Stadium and at away games, as Ohtani’s presence ensures viewership.
Spring training games that featured Shohei Ohtani have seen an influx of Japanese media.
How Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani’s friendship is beyond baseball
With Blake Snell’s witnessing Shohei Ohtani fan base, it explains how big of a deal the Los Angeles Dodgers’ brilliant talent Shohei Ohtani is.
The two — Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani’s friendships go back to their shared experiences, beyond baseball. During the Tokyo Series warm-up, the duo also participated in a fun challenge and tested their chopstick skills. Even the video where Blake Snell is attempting to master the technique with Ohtani’s effortless precision went viral too quickly.
Blake Snell remains a dominant pitcher with a personality and his capability that sets him apart. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw says Snell is his favourite in the league right now. He said:
“Blake is definitely my favourite in the league right now. The way he can throw a baseball is special. It is just pretty, the way it comes out of his hand.”
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