Welcome to Los Angeles, Shohei Otani. Your complete otami bubble has burst.
The only thing familiar to the new members of the Los Angeles Dodgers as they move between teams in Southern California is the beach (actually, beaches are a little different along the coast). Everything else would be very different in Chavez Ravine, even if it was only 80 miles north of the Orange County mansion. Especially at the beginning of a mind-boggling 10-year, $700 million deal, Los Angeles will be uncharted territory in every way Ohtani was trying to avoid.
Certainly, Ohtani knows what it’s like to be a global superstar. bigger LA area. But playing with the Angels of Anaheim wasn’t even a dry run for what to expect as a Dodger. We knew that privacy was of paramount importance to Ohtani during the season and especially during the height of free agency. But the fact that Ohtani chose the Dodgers suggests that he is willing to give up at least some of that solitude in favor of what seems most important to the best players in baseball: winning. means.
In Anaheim, Ohtani got away by regularly hiding from reporters who came to interview him daily. The bigger the news, the more out of work he will be, like he did when he tore his UCL near the end of the 2023 season. The Angels’ public relations team, coaches, front office and Ohtani’s agent spoke on Ohtani’s behalf, giving him time and space to hide inside the stadium and vetting reporters’ questions before his already rare appearances. This supported his goal of acting in isolation. . That won’t work now that he’s legally entering the country’s second-largest market.
So if Ohtani didn’t care about the fuss in the first place, accepting a deal with the Dodgers might just force his hand. The turmoil he causes in Hollywood will make it harder than ever for this humble Japanese superstar to escape the spotlight. The number of media outlets covering the Dodgers has increased significantly, and the addition of Ohtani will likely increase that number even further. The Dodgers fan base has grown exponentially, becoming more passionate and more critical. Dodger Stadium would have to build an auxiliary press box just to accommodate some of the media frenzy he would cause.
But aside from the size of the offer, the Dodgers also had other unique factors that made them attractive to Ohtani. At his new club, the demands for success have increased, as has the level of competition. It’s going to be different for him to play meaningful games all year long and it will certainly be a pleasure. Fighting for a postseason berth in September will be new. He will also compete in October. His most similar experience was at this year’s World Baseball Classic, where he struck out his former teammate Mike Trout to give the Japanese team the championship. Ohtani now joins the winningest organization in MLB over the past decade.
But the two-way icon also needs to know that his responsibilities will increase as he joins one of baseball’s most important franchises. It will be significantly more difficult, if not impossible, for him to avoid the many responsibilities that come with wearing Dodger blue.
Just this week, when manager Dave Roberts spoke candidly about his pursuit of Ohtani, the topic of Ohtani’s privacy came up again and again. First, reporters were shocked to hear Roberts reveal mundane details such as the mere existence of a meeting, when, where, and how long they talked, but that’s only because of Ohtani’s reported privacy requests. This is simply because no other club has ever beaten it. ESPN reported that if any details regarding free agency were leaked, Ohtani would withhold it from the team.
Now, Roberts vehemently opposed that edict, giving Ohtani a taste of what he could expect as a Dodger. The captain revealed some details of the meeting, saying he was reluctant to blatantly lie to the media that it happened. With his confession, he also set a precedent. Roberts signaled a commitment to the truth while keeping most of the details private. Balancing Ohtani’s desire for privacy while remaining candid about basic matters is definitely a difficult task. Is it possible that Ohtani actually respected the way Roberts handled interviews?
Going forward, the Dodgers will likely expect Ohtani to make more public appearances and deepen interactions with him. Roberts asked Ohtani, who played for the Angels, about his media policy during the winter meetings. By the end of his tenure in Anaheim, Ohtani was speaking to reporters only after pitching. With Ohtani returning strictly as a (designated) hitter to start his Dodgers career, Roberts was directly asked if Ohtani’s media policy was a topic of discussion during his visit to Dodger Stadium.
What does signing Shohei Ohtani mean for the Dodgers?
“There was no conversation like that,” Roberts said. “I think that, yeah, it’s something we should talk about. I’m trying to figure out what’s best for not only myself but also for baseball. So I don’t know the right answer. That’s my hope.” We can have that conversation, but we can’t really talk about what it was like before. ”
Such an approach is a departure from what he was used to with the Angels. For six years, Ohtani has been spoiled by the Angels organization. He was picky about when and to whom he spoke. He has been secretive about his health, including UCL surgery, injuries, and bruises. Rather than having the team/front office/manager decide whether or not to play in the game minutes after learning of Ohtani’s torn UCL, the Angels gave Ohtani full authority to make that decision. Truly, Ohtani operated with unchecked power in Anaheim. Don’t expect that to work out for the Dodgers.
That said, Ohtani’s team selection shows that his desire to be a Dodger, inspired by the organization’s penchant for winning, was undoubtedly greater than his need for privacy. . Unlike Anaheim, he needs to be the face of the team, but he can’t make all the decisions. And he’ll be in front of everyone, including a packed Dodger Stadium every night. The chaos surrounding him on Friday, with his random private plane being tracked and his dinner reservations being monitored, was just one example of the attention he would attract. His stardom would only explode once he came to Tinseltown.
The only peace and quiet he can rely on is the cozy confines of his secluded home in Southern California. The moment he appears in public there will be chaos. His fans will be watching and waiting more than ever. And his fame will only increase the more he accomplishes, for better or worse.
Just like his record-breaking contract, perhaps Ohtani can set a new precedent for faking celebrities in Hollywood’s fishbowl. After all, remaining truly private in Los Angeles can be just as difficult as succeeding as a pitcher and hitter at the same time. Many people tried, but few succeeded.
Disha Tosar MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Disha grew up on Long Island and currently lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter @DeeshaTosar.
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