Shohei Ohtani is currently the face of the Dodgers. He has gained immense popularity, both in America and Japan, resulting in a lot of deals with brands. The baseball world was in shock when the Dodgers signed the two-way phenom for a $700 million deal, but now, we can see it’s paying off. According to MLB analysts, Ohtani made the Dodgers over 100 million last year – that’s a lot, considering that only a small chunk of this has been paid to Ohtani. 

On a recent episode of Foul Territory, MLB analyst A.J. Pierzynski dropped a jaw-dropping revelation about Shohei Ohtani’s impact on his big-market team. “$120 million was what I was told yesterday,” Pierzynski shared, with a mix of awe and disbelief. “$120 million they just made off [Shohei Ohtani]. They paid him two million dollars this year. They made 120 million dollars.” Now that’s what you call a return on investment! 

This huge amount of money comes from different sources, including sponsorship, Jersey sales, and the increased viewership when the Dodgers game was on. There is a high chance that this number could get even bigger next year as Showtime steps onto the mound since he can both pitch and hit. The Dodgers are planning to use his pitching hands next year. But Shohei Ohtani is undergoing two various examinations for his injured shoulder, and while we do have some updates from the general manager of the Dodgers, things are not certain yet. 

Brandon Gomes shares an update on Shohei Ohtani’s injury 

Shohei Ohtani is on track to be ready for spring training after successful shoulder surgery, which was needed to repair a labrum tear in Ohtani’s left shoulder. The injury, which occurred during his attempt to steal second base in the Dodgers’ historic Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on October 26, was the result of a partial dislocation of Ohtani’s non-throwing shoulder. 

While Ohtani’s powerful swing wasn’t majorly impacted by this, the procedure could have a longer-term effect on his pitching recovery. Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes acknowledged that while Ohtani’s rehab from the surgery is progressing, it may delay his ability to return to the mound. “We don’t know what the rehab process will lead to. I can’t speculate on that any further,” Gomes said; it is a good thing that the Dodgers are not rushing into things.

But there is one significant development that will make the fans go crazy, especially the ones who are yearning for Ohtani to be on the mound: Shohei Ohtani is unlikely to pitch in the 2025 season-opening games in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19. Despite the setback, Ohtani’s spring training participation remains on track, and the Dodgers are feeling good about his return to the field.