LOS ANGELES — That is Shohei Ohtani Day in Los Angeles.
The Japanese two-way superstar was honored at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday and presented a city council resolution declaring May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day during his Dodgers career.
Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the team in December, after six years in Anaheim with the Angels.
The board recognized Ohtani for his athletic achievements, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and members of the team’s front office in attendance.
“Thank you so much LA City Council,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I appreciate you recognizing me on this day. I also want to thank the Dodger organization and all the fans.”
Ohtani became the career leader in home runs hit by a player of Japanese descent in the major leagues on April 21. Nearly a month later, he surpassed Roberts in breaking the record. Dodgers on number of homers hit by a Japanese player. Roberts is of Japanese and black descent.
“Since becoming a member of the Dodger family in December, Shohei has achieved everything we expected and more,” said President and CEO Stan Kasten. “We are grateful for his achievements on the field, his warmth at the club and his character in every aspect, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.”
Ohtani’s brief time with the Dodgers was filled with events on and off the field.
The team’s first Ohtani bobblehead giveaway of the season on Thursday snarled traffic outside Dodger Stadium and created long lines of fans eager to get their hands on the souvenir. This item was quickly sold online at an exorbitant price.
His longtime interpreter was fired by the team in March after prosecutors said Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off sports gambling debts in a multi-pronged scheme. year. Mizuhara appeared in court earlier this week to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud charges.
