First Shohei Ohtani Dodgers Mural Painted in Manhattan Beach

One thing the Dodgers’ newest player, Shohei Ohtani, will learn quickly about Los Angeles is how creative his new fan base can be. They take sports very seriously. Often, their love of sport is revealed through art.

Los Angeles is famous for its public murals in and around the city. The subjects transcend sports, but public murals have become a way for fans to honor players and teams. Just a week after he announced his decision to join the Dodgers, Ohtani was already featured on a public mural in Manhattan Beach.

Los Angeles is a vibrant city that is full of culture and passion. Ohtani has lit a flame under fans, who are as fired up about getting Ohtani as perhaps any player in the team’s storied past.

This mural represents the excitement of seeing Ohtani in a Dodger uniform as much as it is a way to welcome him to the team. Fans are proud of their city. Murals like these are a great way to reflect that fact.

Here’s another, reportedly located at 1501 S. Main Street, in downtown Los Angeles’ fashion district:

While Ohtani wasn’t playing very far from L.A. while with the Angels, there is a major difference in the two teams’ fan culture. The Dodgers are the big brother in Southern California. Their brand isn’t local to one city, one county, or even one state.

Ohtani’s signing has given the organization a welcome jolt. Fans have been waiting for the team to make a move like this for a long time.

These won’t be the last murals featuring Ohtani erected over the years. Each is a way to say thank you to Ohtani from the fans. He means a lot to the city already, and he hasn’t even played his first game yet.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!