Los Angeles Pronounces May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day to Celebrate Dodgers Star
The city of Los Angeles is officially recognizing May 17 as “Shohei Ohtani Day.” The Dodgers made the announcement on social media on Friday.
Ohtani was at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday to receive the recognition. Also pictured are Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
“Thank you very much to the L.A. City Council,” Ohtani said. “I appreciate you recognizing me on this day. I want to thank the Dodger organization as well and all the fans.”
“I really want to thank and celebrate the Dodger organization,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said on Friday. “From Jackie Robinson to Fernando Valenzuela to Shohei Ohtani, you continue to make sure that the Dodger organization has a place for every child in Los Angles to see themselves as a future of Los Angeles and a future of sports. So, Shohei, I just want to say thank you so much for joining us here today. For helping us recognize what a tremendous legacy the Dodger organization has continued to be in Los Angeles, but more importantly, what you bring to Los Angeles. Thank you for gifting your talent here in the City of Angels. Welcome to L.A.”
Ohtani, 29, signed a 10-year, $700 million with the Dodgers this offseason. The Japan native has lived up to his contract thus far, slashing .360/.430/.669 with 12 home runs, 30 RBIs, 16 doubles, and 11 stolen bases in 44 games. His 1.099 OPS leads all of Major League Baseball.
Ohtani, who spent the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, is a two-time unanimous American League MVP winner. He’s a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and won the AL home run title in 2023 after hitting 44 longballs in just 135 games.
Ohtani’s free agency was one of the biggest spectacles in MLB history, and in the end, he landed in Los Angeles with the largest contract in North American sports history. Since his arrival, the already popular Dodgers have seen their brand skyrocket.
Ohtani’s introductory press conference drew a whopping 70 million viewers, which was more than every game of the 2023 World Series combined. His jerseys flew off the shelves in record time, and most recently on Thursday, his bobblehead giveaway drew the largest regular season crowd in the last five years.
Ohtani is a talent that transcends the sport of baseball, and he’s single-handedly made the sport — and his team — more popular.
Now, in his first few months as a Dodger, he’s already been given a day to recognize his incredible talent and impact on the sport of baseball and the city of Los Angeles.
Congrats to Ohtani on this incredible accomplishment. And happy Shohei Ohtani day to everyone in Los Angeles!
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
