Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Makes History as First MLB Player Added to Ultra Popular Video Game
Shohei Ohtani had an other-worldly first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It wasn’t just the National League MVP award, the third of his career. It wasn’t just becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 or more home runs and steal 50 or more bases. But doing all this while helping hoist the Dodgers eighth World Series trophy truly made it a season like no other.
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In the midst of Ohtani ramping up to return to the mound in 2025 while simultaneously preparing to be the Dodgers designated hitter on Opening Day, a new feat has been accomplished for the two-way star, but it has nothing to do with his on-field play.
Ohtani is getting added to the mega-popular video game Fortnite.
There are even posters going up around Japan teasing the Fortnite collaboration that highlight the letters ‘I’ and ‘T’ to make it look like Ohtani’s No. 17.
Since the video game was initially released in the summer of 2017, it has become a cultural phenomenon seeing millions of players as it has broken into many mainstream avenues.
Starting in 2019, Fortnite’s Icon Series featured in-game cosmetics to play the game as notable musicians, athletes, and celebrities.
Ohtani will now join the likes of athletic giants such as LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Patrick Mahomes, Shaquille O’Neal, and many others as he will get his own “skin” in the game for players to use.
The three-time MVP will try to continue his elevated play in this upcoming campaign to defend the 2024 title. The season kicks off with two games in Tokyo, Japan March 18-19 with a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
Although it is not known when fans can watch Ohtani pitch for the first time in a Dodgers uniform, he is still expected to return to two-way status in 2025.
As for his Fortnite skin, fans will be able to play with Ohtani starting March 17, the day before the Tokyo Series.
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Photo Credit: Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
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