"Shohei Ohtani paying for his own contract"; "Only reasonable comparison is Lionel Messi joining Miami": Fans react to Dodgers cashing in on Japanese

When the Dodgers pledged $700 million to Shohei Ohtani this offseason, it was historic. However, even for a rich club like the Dodgers, the sum seemed otherwordly. Now, according to new information, it looks like the gamble is yielding dividends.

In a recent edition of his podcast, "Foul Territory", former MLB catcher AJ Pierzynski highlighted how Ohtani has been directly responsible for over $120 million in revenue since joining the team. In the segment, Pierzynski also commented that much of that financial success has been driven by fans from Ohtani's homeland of Japan.

"The Dodgers have made $120M off Shohei Ohtani so far, according to a source that told @AJPierzynski12" - Foul Territory

The astronomical sum sparked reactions online, including those on Reddit and X. Several took to the comments section to marvel at the financial mastery put on display by the heavy-spending Los Angeles Dodgers.

Comment byu/dfykl from discussion inbaseball

Comment byu/dfykl from discussion inbaseball

Considered to be a shoo-in for the 2024 NL MVP Award, Shohei Ohtani's reputation in his homeland bodes incredibly well for his team. In March 2023 - eight months before his Dodgers deal - an estimated 55 million pairs of eyes in Japan watched Ohtani strike out his then Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to win the tournament.

"Ohtani has been living off his endorsements for years so 2 million is chump change" - added a fan

"Best deal in the MLB" - was a claim

"17% of his contract has been recouped" - said another

Throughout the 2024 MLB season, Dodger Stadium became a regular stop on tours for Japanese tourists in LA. During the high-stakes World Series games against the New York Yankees, various "Shohei Ohtani fan clubs" began to pop up around the country. These clubs would host watch parties deep into the early hours in an attempt to witness Ohtani's greatness from across the Pacific.

"Way too low" - said another

"The big winner is Little Tokyo" - affirmed another

"Trolls still thinking 'haha you will bleed money signing Ohtani" - came a final voice

Shohei Ohtani remains a superstar in Japan

Dodgers games have become quite a spectacle in Japan. In the wake of the club's World Series win, NBC News interviewed Yasuo Sakamoto, a 74-year-old superfan, who said of Ohtani:

“Even at my age, I’m really awed by him, in Japan when there’s news about Ohtani, it’s bright news. If they win, it’s going to be even brighter.”

Having already achieved history alongside a World Series in 2024, there is no telling what feats - or financial milestones - Ohtani might help LA accomplish next.