The Dodgers' president, Kasten, reflected on Shohei Ohtani's unique journey in baseball, highlighting their past interest in him during his free-agency phase. Although Ohtani initially joined the Los Angeles Angels and achieved tremendous success, Kasten expressed confidence about recruiting him now, especially as he recovers from surgery. With the Dodgers, Ohtani's contributions not only include his athletic achievementsâmultiple MVPs and All-Star selectionsâbut also his significant role in enhancing baseball's global appeal, particularly within the Japanese community.
We had tried to sign him seven years ago. And when we met, I told him, 'Dude, your life would have been much different if you had signed with us seven years ago. Don't make the same mistake.' And he just laughed when I told him that.
Kasten could not have been more correct in his assessment. It wasn't just a third MVP award, or a fourth All-Star nod, or his first time playing in the postseason and subsequently winning his first championship, or even becoming baseball's first player to hit 50 or more home runs and steal 50 or more bases.
The kind of impact Ohtani is having on growing the game globally in the largest city of Japanese nationals outside of Japan means just as much as what he does on the diamond.
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