Shohei Ohtani Informed Dodgers Brass They Landed Roki Sasaki Before It Was Made Official
Unlike the rest of the baseball world, Los Angeles Dodgers brass were not informed of Roki Sasaki’s decision via his coveted Instagram post — which was the original plan.
Lo and behold, it was Shohei Ohtani who broke the news to Dodgers brass. According to The Athletic, he sent a text message with three simple words:
“We got him.”
Ohtani, the three-time MVP, put on a few different hats throughout the offseason. He was a recruiter as he met with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim during his free agent process. He was a general manager as he helped navigate the Dodgers’ pursuit of Sasaki. And finally, Ohtani was a breaking news reporter when he gave Dodgers brass the good news.
Should fans really be surprised by Ohtani’s versatility? The Dodgers superstar has always been candid about his desire to grow the game of baseball.
“I’m going to continue to focus on the sport of baseball and just try to get better each day, laying it all on the field and doing the best I can. But at the same time, hopefully, the popularity of baseball continues to increase and baseball becomes more popular in different countries.
“Hopefully, the growth of this sport will continue.”
As Ohtani took on different roles this winter, it’s evident the long-term goal he has for the game was a driving force. The signings of Kim and Sasaki would not have been possible without Ohtani the recruiter.
Many baseball fans have complained about the Dodgers’ continuous success from October and beyond, but most forget the sport has struggled to stay relevant for many years.
While the NFL and NBA reached new heights, the MLB was a beloved, but often, forgotten pastime. Ohtani is on a mission to change that.
A huge part of growing baseball on a global scale is bringing in overseas talent and giving them a platform to shine. Not many organizations aside from the Dodgers can not only give players a platform to be popular, but also help players flourish.
With Ohtani at the helm, the Dodgers are the most exciting team in baseball.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
