Shohei Ohtani belongs at the same level as Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant & Magic Johnson in popularity, claims Dodgers executive

In a recent statement, Lon Rosen, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers indicated the level of popularity and influence that Shohei Ohtani has. He stated that throughout the history of sports, Ohtani could be compared to the likes of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.

During an interview with USA Today Sports on Thursday, Rosen made the following remarks about Ohtani's popularity as compared to legendary athletes:

"I’ve been in this business for 40 years, and he’s as popular as any athlete or celebrity I’ve ever seen. There are a lot of famous people in this country, but the impact he’s had is incredible. You can talk about Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe, Magic, this guy is in a place where very few have ever been," said Rosen.

“He’s so popular in Japan that 80 to 90% of all Japanese tourists that come here will stop at Dodger Stadium," he said.

Everyone was shocked about Ohtani signing a 10-year contract worth 700 million dollars with the Dodgers which made headlines across the globe.

In the 2024 season, he set a record of being the first player to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases during a single season. After the season, he was named unanimous NL MVP.

According to comments from former World Series-winning catcher AJ Pierzynski, since Ohtani's arrival at the Dodgers’ team premises, they earned approximately $120 million through sponsorship contracts with Japanese companies.

Shohei Ohtani’s historic 2024 season with Dodgers, comparison to other greats and anticipation for 2025

Shohei Ohtani - Image via Getty

Shohei Ohtani in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024 played 159 games. He had a .310 batting average of, .390 OBP, .646 slugging percentage and a 1.036 OPS. Other than that, he managed to hit 54 home runs and steal 59 bases, which made him the first player in the MLB to do so in a single season.

After his incredible 2024 season with the Dodgers, he won his first MVP award in the NL and the third of his career. Ohtani also won the Silver Slugger Award in 2024.

These achievements were due to Ohtani's batting performances throughout the season. He was not able to pitch in the 2024 season due to a right elbow surgery in September 2023.

Preparations for the upcoming 2025 season are already in gear, as the Dodgers will have their opening game in Tokyo playing against the Chicago Cubs. This will be an important event for Ohtani since he will be playing in an MLB match in his home country for the first time.

The Dodgers kicked off their 2024 campaign in South Korea and this time they will start their 2025 season in Ohtani's home country.