Brandon Gomes Reacts to Notion That Dodgers Can Become Pipeline for More Japanese Players
The Dodgers offseason has been nothing short of a dream for the organization. They have committed over $1 billion on a few players to upgrade the team, and the excitement around the franchise has never been higher.
With the signing of both two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Japanese pitching sensation Yoshonobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles has gained direct access to the market in Japan. It was a goal of the team entering the offseason, and they executed it to perfection.
There has been talk about the Dodgers being the team of Japan, and it could open doors for them in future years. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes made an appearance on “The Show” podcast and reacted to the narrative that the Dodgers could become a pipeline for more Japanese talent down the line.
“I would say that it’s directionally helpful, and how much, I don’t really know. Because I think for each player when they become a free agent, they have their own priorities and desires on what they want it to look like ultimately. So I think there’s certainly a benefit to a younger generation where my assumption is that a lot of younger kids playing baseball in Japan are gonna see a lot of Dodgers games and be wearing Dodger hats — that’s our hope. So that can help down the road. But in the immediate future, I’m not really sure. I think it’s unlikely to hurt, but I don’t know exactly how big of a benefit that will be.”
Per Brandon Gomes via “The Show” podcast
Not only will these two signings help the team on the field, but the marketability off of it will be incredible. The front office made these moves with a dual motivation in mind, and it’s worked out very well before they have even played a single game.
This will likely open up direct access for the Dodgers to land more talent over the years when they come to the major leagues. Los Angeles has already been rumored to be one of the favorites to land pitcher Roki Sasaki whenever he gets posted, and that is because of the work they have put in.
They have set themselves up extremely well going forward, and the city of Los Angeles will benefit immensely. International talent is consistently coming to Major League Baseball, and the Dodgers will always be in the conversation. Players want to be around other greats, and Los Angeles has made it a reality for future talent.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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